My niece has a 2008 Ford Fusion with 136k miles on it that has had a transmission failure. It is a 2.3l four cylinder with the five speed automatic. I drove it last night to confirm and sure enough it runs fine, drives off normally in first gear, revs higher then expected, and then shifts to 3rd gear (seeming to skip second). when it tries to shift to fourth, the party is over - nothing there. I can put it in low and it drives fine in first but that roughly 30 mph at 6000 rpm doesn't make for a great highway car 
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She has already moved on and purchased another vehicle. I am not interested in repairing this one as I have plenty of unfinished projects in front of me.
Any thoughts on the best way to move it on? FB marketplace "mechanics special", runs and drives but transmission needs replaced - $500(?) Full disclosure is it also has a front end vibration that I assume is from a curb strike at some point which would also be noted in any advertisement.
Local salvage yards are 25 miles away which means either a trip with a trailer to one and maybe getting $200-$300 (?) or having them pick up and getting much less.
She does have the title so it should be relatively easy to salvage if that is the best route.
Located in NW Ohio in case anyone is looking for a project.
