Slipping automatic transmission, 99 LX
 

G'day. I have a 99 Civic that's been pretty trusty for the past several years. Unfortunately the transmission feels like it's suddenly starting to slip. The problematic gears seem to be first and reverse. I hear the tranny on these are pretty terrible, so at 180K miles, I suppose I'm lucky considering I haven't needed any work on it yet. The most advanced thing I've ever done was a timing belt on this thing, so I'm guessing an attempt at a transmission repair is way out of my league. With school, I don't have much time anyways. So here's my two questions:

1) What sounds like a fair price range for such a repair at a non-Honda dealership mechanic?
2) Is this an emergency? Ie, will it be cheaper to have it repaired now while it's just starting to act up? Or will this thing need replacement and thus I can drive it till it smokes? (Slightly exaggerating but you get my gist.)

Thanks for any thoughts. I'm prepared to shed tears at the thought of a $1-2K price tag.

Edit: I replaced the transmission fluid only once at 125k miles. Honda brand. The ATF fluid was clean then, and it's still clean now.

just because the oil looks clean doesn't mean anything. oils breakdown over time even when they sit on store shelves. if you have the trans rebuilt look into a racing overhaul kit with upgraded clutch packs i know TCI makes them for 7th gens so they must make them for 6th gens. a racing kit if installed properly whould be bullet proof.
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