Mitsubishi Repair: Mirage Transmission Issues, 1995 mitsubishi mirage, mitsubishi mirage

Question
I unfortunatly have to provide a long background story before I can ask my question...I apologize ahead of time for the extra reading involved.  So I purchased a used 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage a few months ago, and instantly fell in love with it.  However, it soon became apparent that the girl who owned it before me did not take good care of it.  I started having delayed shifting and gear slippage.  The first thing I did was check the tranny fluid...and it was DISGUSTING.  The car has 92,200 and I would beet it's never been changed.  It was black, and smelled horrible.  When we dropped the pan, it was just as ugly...sludge, and unfortunatly, metal filings.  After changing the filter and fluid, it ran for about two days, and then went right back to having the same problems...delayed shifting and gear slippage, and it also started having serious problems with reverse, and would often completely stall out upon driving in the reverse gear.  I then took it to a shop, where the dude diagnosed it as the torque converter.  He did not actually do transmission work, but gave me numbers to several places.  He also informed me that he thought it was kind of weird that the tranny had gone bad, because it was rare for these cars.  I went on to track down a used tranny, and called one of the numbers and had a gentleman install it for me.  This all seemed to be the best option, considering a rebuild would have been double the cost I had paid for the used tranny and installation.  Everything was fine and happy...until the next morning after I got the car back.  It turns out that when the car is cold, it STILL slips from 1st to 2nd gear.  All of the other problems have been remedied, but this one still persists.  

What I don't understand is that...if these tranny's usually don't go back, how did I get so unlucky that I got 2 bad ones in a row?

I guess I do not have a specific question...I am just looking for general insite or guidance as to what I should do next.  I'd hate to get rid of it...not to mention I really can't afford to (I know, I know....that's EVERYBODYS bottom line, isn't it?).

*crosses her fingers*

Thank you,
     Kim

Answer
Kim: Oh a hard one there. I would take it back to the guy that put this one in, could be he did something when hooking it up to your car. Maybe you could check the shifter control cable as it can be adjusted and could be causing your problems. Maybe you should change the fitler and fluid again, just to see what might be in it. As well have you smelled the fluid does it smelled burnt. But then let's hope not. I know of the love for these little cars but I also know a lot of people do not treat them well. They are a car that will give and give. You might have to learn to live with the slipping. But again I would take it back to the guy that put in the tranny for you and ask him what he thinks. But with time you might have to just have this one rebuilt. Oh got to say I disgree with the guy that told you that those trannys don't go bad. When you think of all the kids that are getting these cars and beating them to death; before moving on to another car. It is the care of the car that will explain how things hang together. I wish I could help you more, hope this helps and good luck!