Chances are you can get a transmission off the message board cheaper than a rebuild of your existing one. I have a four speed you can have for cheap, or you can do what a lot of us do. Upgrade to a five speed. That's why I have a four speed you can have cheap:). I love subjective assessments of classic cars like 2002s from some garage hack who probably drives a Chevy Celebrity. You don't want that fools help anyway. Has the car gotten worse recently? If it's been that way for a while maybe it will be that way a while longer. However, lot's of guys won't even drive their perfect 02s cross country for fear of mechanical issues. Going to another country? Well, that's up to you. I guess I would be uneasy. Here's what I would do. If your guy is really "fabulous" like you say, he would have no problem doing a straight four speed tranny swap. Find a tranny from NY if possible off this board or I could send you mine UPS. If you need it you can pay me when you get the money and after the trip. What's a fair price guys? Fifty bucks? I don't really care. BTW, I would make this offer via e-mail but you didn't post an address.