Strolling through the local car junkyard on my latest used parts quest, I had my eye out for something specific: a passenger door for a 2012 Toyota Camry. The task wasn't going to be easy due to the popularity of these models and the high demand for their spares.
The beauty about salvage yards is that while you may enter with one goal in mind, it's hard not to take mental junkyards inventory of other finds along the way. It becomes less about shopping and more about discovering options — often at prices significantly lower than buying new or even refurbished components from retailers or dealerships.
A practical case was when I found myself helping another visitor decode which model years' radiators would fit his 2006 Honda Accord; there we were surrounded by vehicles where knowledge directly equated to dollars saved. To our luck, an '08 radiator appeared compatible upon inspection—a relief since pricing came down from roughly $120 retail versus this yard’s tag at only $40.