Sounds an awful lot like your transmission has seen better days. However, since there is not a lot of info to go on and this is a virtual diagnosis - all bets are off!
Check to make sure all shifter cables are secure and in good working order-no loose bolts etc. If the car can go thru the shifting motions without running but it doesn't work when running - yeah, your tranny is most likely the culprit. If it was just the slipping of the gears, I might suggest it could be the clutch.
If you can do the work yourself (are you sure you know how and have all the appropriate tools - in this car, you need to pull the engine and transmission as one unit so, you need a good workspace and a cherry picker) you can probably find an acceptable junkyard transmission for around $300-400.
If you are going to have the work done by a professional shop, you should really consider the value of the car and what it will cost to repair and determine if it is worth it.
Good luck!
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Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 AT 2:01 PM