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I'm looking at buying a 97 Caldina 2.0G or a GT.

As my current car is a manual, I'm not to clued up on what a bad auto gearbox feels like. Anything I should look out for specifically? Also in general what should I look at...such as checking for sludge in oil etc....?

Basically, you want to have nice smooth gear shifts (no harsh bumping between gears), and no sluggish shifts or anything that feels like a slipping clutch if it was a manual.
Check the fluid with the engine warm, the car running in Neutral. The fluid should be a nice red colour, not dark (brown or black), which indicates dirty or burnt transmission fluid.
If you're unsure what to look for, it would pay to have a Pre-opurchase inspection carried out.