when i press the gas pedal to speed up quickly (i.e. on an on-ramp to a highway), the car delays before "accelerating". The acceleration itself is very jerky, and the only way i can fix it is by taking my foot off the gas, and accelerating slowly. It only seems to struggle when I hit the gas hard. I don't plan on fixing this myself, but I would like a diagnosis, if possible. Is she dying?

 

It's either clogged catalytic converter, or timing.