Choppy Accerlation -- Bad Timing Belt?

[egsprance]

I just purchased a 1988 Tercel with only 35,000 original miles! The car is a peach ... except its acceleration is choppy. You step on the gas and the car surgess .... then kind of burps ... and surgess again.

I've already replaced plugs and wire/dist.cap (the original wires dated 1987 were still in the car!).

My mechanic now thinks the timing belt may be stretched. Despite the low mileage, he says, the belt was never meant to last 15 years! Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

ERnie