I have a 1998/9 (S reg) Vauxhall Astra, 1.6L, automatic gearbox. It's in really nice condition, only 46,000 genuine miles on the clock, and is now beginning to give me trouble. I'd like to know if it's worth repairing or not, or at least what's likely to be wrong with it.

It won't pull away, or only does so very very gradually, from a standing start. Once it gets going it's fine but it's as if the clutch plate slips until it gets a good grip. I know next to nothing about engines or cars but I thought automatics didn't have clutches in the same way manuals do? If it isn't the clutch, what else might it be?

It will drive fine if I start it off in 1st, then take my foot off the accelerator and slip it into Drive. I'm now getting a sickly-sweet smell though which makes me think that something somewhere is overheating.

I'd really appreciate any ideas you have - the local garages have a reputation of telling you anything to bump the bill up and it would be really useful to have a real idea of what it might be (and even what it probably isn't likely to be) before I decide whether it's worth spending money on.

Which is the question, really - is it really worth spending money on?