I'm not sure I buy the whole "faster than a manual trans thing". I believe a skilled driver would be able to hustle a manual Crossfire around a road course faster than a auto version. You can use the trans for engine braking, feather the brake, and stomp the gas through the apex without ANY delay, provided you were in the right gear!

In a straight line, yes, the auto is probably faster...but not by much.

As far as sprintboosters go...I don't need to buy anything for my car to make it accelerate faster...just rev it up, dump the clutch and go!