95 passat vr6 glx nothing but problems

I have had this car 3 1/2 months bought from out of the newspaper. Have only driven it a total of 3 weeks because SO MANY PROBLEMS!! I would love some advise. Here is the story: (This car had 87000miles when I bought) First, wouldnt start 3 days after i bought it. Ended up to be a fuel relay piece. Then I was on a road trip and the engine light came on then it slipped out of gear on the highway.. Took to transmission shop.. Mechanic dropped the pan which had metal pieces in it. He also said this car has been rode hard and the oil was totally fried... Car still ran, although the gears slipped quite a bit. I drove it occasionally, and looked for a used tranny. Go out to start car one day and it turns but wont start (this is Exactly what it did when the relay piece was replaced). Have it towed to a VW dealership shop (BAD IDEA, but thats another story) they got it to start by replacing spark plugs (and charging me $200.00 mind you) (said they were fouled b/c was flooded). 2 days later, it doesnt start just as before. Go back to shop-- they put in (at no cost because they obviously ripped me off the first time ) a new ignition switch (i dont really understand why) and a new fuel relay piece because it was "bad", now it will start, but not right away. The mechanic says the car wont communicate with the computer, SO they cant really diagnose it (he failed to mention this until the car was in there for 2 days). In the meantime, i ordered a used tranny w/ 89000 miles for $900.00 (the best deal I found) and I am having my uncle put it in. I am really at a loss. Do i part it out, do i spend ungodly amounts of $$ trying to find out why it wont communicate? do i just sell it once the tranny is in it? I cant afford for someone to dink around with it anymore!
HELP :banghead:

It's a '95 so you have to use a VW or VAG-COM scanner to access the ECM. It is known as a problematic car.

Bad luck man. The Passat B4 is a great car IMHO.... I've had two and love them both. I drive the urine out of them and they just keep going. They do have their issues tho. The ignition switch is one of them. I've fixed that on both cars. Your sunroof may break. Your windows may begin to do some wierd thing or quit altogether. Fortunatly you have the power of the forum and most of the problems with the car are common and treatable. Your trans problems are unfortunate tho. Good luck!