I have an 05 with 18,000 miles on it and it was my first stick car. For some reason I've been smelling that clutch burning smell, and only in first gear...from a dead stop to engaging in first, it like reallly "chatters" it's a little louder than normal. Is my clutch shot?!?!

 

Cruise around 30mph, put it in 5th gear and floor it.
If the rpm shoots up while the car doesn't speed up, your clutch is shot.