After a bit of research and lots of phone calls, I've got myself a new transmission, a $600 unit from Brooky Parts Plus, in Smithfield. It's from the exact same model of car I've got at the moment (KR V6), and it's done 105000km, and seems to be in perfect condition.

Now all I have to do is get it in. Reading through the Haynes manual, it looks like a nightmare, you have to pull off just about everything in the engine bay, and to top it off, I don't have any of the tools/machinery needed to do the job...

My mechanic has quoted me $500 to remove the old one and put the new one in, does this seem like a reasonable price?

i got quoted $350 from most places, then told $180 from one guy so i went to him,
after it he turned around and tried to charge me $350 so i told him to shove it and not paying over my quote

it is a hard job to get out ect will take some time but look around, ring gear box places and see

Hrmm sounds pritty fair, you got a nice new gear box so I wouldnt mind paying that much to get it installed.

It's all labour and if you dont have the tools or time to do it, pay the mechanic - least he knows what hes doing, otherwise like suggested try a few more places - but I cant see the price comming down by to much