94 Cougar bogging/slow to kickdown

I test drove a 94 Cougar V8 today and it was certified but seemed to have a tranny issue, but I want to know from a current owner if this is strange or just a quirk of the model.

On hard acceleration from a stop, it had barely any power for the first 50 feet or so and just stayed at about 2000 RPM. It didn't accelerate any harder than if I had given it half throttle, and then after it got to maybe 15 miles an hour, it seemed to pick it up, and accelerated about as fast as I would have expected.

When I floored it a few times between 30 and 40 MPH, it again didn't do anything impressive, but after about a second downshifted and took off well enough.

I'm not sure if I'm just too used to newer cars with more responsive trannies, or the car has a problem. The slow start, especially, was worrying. I would have thought a car like this would have spun the tires (it was wet), not bogged for the first couple seconds.

Check the transmission fluid smell the dip stick for a burnt smell. Also make sure it isn't a rough running motor. I think you have problems.