MK4 Golf V5 - crap auto box?

[Ian964]

I've just acquired my wife's old V5 (170bhp) Golf, which I'm using as a daily driver. It's an auto, and seems to be the worst auto 'box I've used. It's incredibly slow to respond, even when trying to kick-down (takes about a second). Is this typical of this box, and is there anything I can do about it (e.g. get it re-programmed)?

cheers
Ian