Question about transmission

We just bought a 96 Passat VR6 with 117k for our daughter...I notice that while taking off with the transmission in "drive" the car is a little slow taking off...It doesn't feel like the transmission is slipping...it's just a little sluggish...you really have to step on the gas pedal to get it going....If you put the car in 1st or 2nd when you start it seems fine...
any ideas what is causing this?