Yeah i agree with you, naturally aspirated engines don't have to
wait for the turbos to spool at a certain rpm range to give the
engine the boost that makes it go faster. 
But i guess in this era of efficiency & smaller engine
capacity to give lower carbon emissions, turbos will be more common
in order to give the bus the pulling power but yet still pass the
emission standards. Not that it is a bad thing if it's done
properly. 
As for the Lance, I'm not sure if it's SMRT's maintenance or a
fundamental flaw that is at fault. Those Lances I board in recent
months, the way they accelerate and pull the bus along at even
half-empty load is like that of a naturally aspirated engine. No
turbo boost at all.
So I'm not the only one who felt the turbo-boost suddenly
disappeared?
The sudden boost kicks in at various times in various buses,
some upon entering 2nd, some during 2nd, and some during 3rd. The
mainteinance also varies (but all within the BAD region). I took
943L last night on 854. Its falling apart and the engine is in a
very terrible state with signs of internal leaks and huge power
loss.
Besides there are stories of crude speed-limitors on some Lances
in the form of bricks under the pedal.
Years ago, when the Lances were brand-new with their blue desto,
the boost was tremendous. Machiam a kick down the backside, and
when some were turned over to 169 (still by far the no. 1
chiongster service even today), you could imagine how pax like
myself feared for our lives.
