AN A320 FLC IS SLOW TO DISCONNECT THEIR AUTOPLT SO AS TO COMPLETE THE TURN REQUIRED ON THE MOONY DEP PROC OUT OF SJC; CA.

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THE SJC8.MOONY DEP SID AT SJC REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE R TURN AT 1.8 DME; SO AS TO COMPLETE A NEARLY 180 DEG HDG CHANGE WITHIN 4.0 DME. WITH THE AIRPLANE ON AUTOPLT DURING OUR INITIAL CLB TO 5000 FT; THE ACFT DID NOT INITIATE ITS TURN UNTIL APPROX 2.3 DME. THE RESULT WAS THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN BY 4.0 DME; AND WE OVERSHOT BY .8 MI. ATC IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE OVERSHOOT AND REQUESTED THAT WE EXPEDITE OUR TURN. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND COMPLETED THE TURN MANUALLY; BUT WAS UNABLE TO TIGHTEN THE TURN TO COMPLY WITH THE 4.0 DME RESTR. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION RATHER THAN TO RELY SOLELY ON THE FMC DATABASE AND SLUGGISH AUTOPLT. BETTER CALLOUTS BY THE PNF COULD HAVE HELPED TO IDENT A POTENTIAL DEV BEFORE IT DEVELOPED INTO AN EXCEEDENCE. THE TRAINING WE RECEIVE ON THE A319/A320 PLACES HVY EMPHASIS ON THE USE OF AUTOMATION; AND IN FACT DISCOURAGES HAND-FLYING THE ACFT IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. IN MY OPINION; THIS EMPHASIS ON RELIANCE OF THE AIRPLANE'S FLT MGMNT/GUIDANCE SYS AND AUTOPLT MAY RESULT IN A RELUCTANCE OF FLC MEMBERS TO TAKE POSITIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION (BY HAND-FLYING THE PLANE) WHEN A CONSTRAINT OR RESTR COULD BE EXCEEDED.