Clutch- Dying here, please help!!!

I have a 96 Toyota Tercel. For two weeks now, my car has had very little power and bad fuel efficiency. When I go into gear the engine guns, but the car barely moves and takes up to 3-4 seconds to build up speed. It's really strange. A mechanic said I needed a new clutch, but I don't want to get burned, in case it's something simple. Any ideas?

Thanks so much for your help!!!


Incidentally, there is no check engine light, so I think that rules out an ignition coil or two, which previously thought it might have been. Oh yeah, and the Tercel has 121,000 miles on it.

Thanks again!

You've described the classic systems of a worn, slipping clutch.

that manny miles, original clutch, it is clutch time. Another way to check to see if it is the clutch is go in first gear at a high rpm and when you shift go into the last gear and floor it, if it starts slipping then it is the clutch, but from what you said, it is slipping with out you even doing this so that clutch is DONE!! Better get it fixed fast befor you will not be able to put it in gear and start to grind.