I am no mechanic, but I am assuming there is something wrong with either the fuel injectors or the timing...someone point me in the right direction.

The problem I am having is when I tap the throttle from an idle, I get a hiss before the actual RPM's climb. If I do this a few times in a row, the hiss becomes a muffled backfire.

I also noticed this problem when I brought the car home. On a straight strip of asphault, I put some weight down on the throttle and felt a little hesitation before the power kicked in.

Any ideas what might be causing this?

 

check the gasket that goes inbetween the air filter housing or tube and MAF, it might be gone or torn.but if you have a CAI=Cold Air Intake, it will make the air rushing into the TB=Throttle Body audible, you might just be hearing that or if you have removed the air silencer(sp?) box