How To Save Money When Buying Auto Parts
Let us start with ease of obtaining. Obviously newer car parts will be easier to get than older ones. A friend of mine still has a 1975 Pontiac Lemans. To obtain parts for this car he has to literally go to junk yards and even online. No new car dealers keep parts beyond 10 years or so and even auto parts stores limit their inventory to cars under 20 years. A 30 year old vehicle is almost impossible to find parts for. Plus, if you can find the part, depending on where you get it, the cost could be anywhere from 20 to 100% over the original part cost. To say that late model car owners are taken advantage of would be a gross understatement.
I have people call me to inquire about buying a body shop that have no automotive experience at all. You can buy an auto repair shop, muffler shop, brake shop or lube store, and learn the business, with no experience to start. You probably should not buy a salvage yard body shop, or scrap yard with out being raised in the business. If you are a salesman you can buy almost any business.
Another, idea that struck me. Heated seats. This is actually a fairly simple idea. You can pull them from any factory-equipped car. Try the local nearest junkyard around me. Just make sure car junkyard near me can bench test them before you walk out the door. You'll want the thermostat control with this, which can be mounted under the tail for adjustment while riding. Basically, heated seats are no more then a heating pad element that sits under the upholstery, a top the padding. The heating elements average about 100-140 degrees F. I did a search for "Upholstery Heating Elements" and came up with some good results and even installation instructions and tutorials for various seats. Both OEM and retro fits.
Still had the old catalog, and ordered a couple things to "fix her up". Good quality at a price I could afford. (That's what I liked.) Then once, I got a part that was supposed to fit all cars (but not MG's, I guess), and they quickly refunded my money. (That's what I mean.) Now even today, I still trust them for supplying quality parts at reasonable prices. (That's what I appreciate.) I still order from them for my 'Vette, my truck, and motorhome.
Especially for older cars or antique vehicles being restored, used car parts may very well be the only answer to your parts needs. You may not find any auto supply outlet with access to car parts for a '49 Studebaker pickup or a '32 Ford, but you may very well find salvage yards with cars that are being sold for parts.
Sometimes auto parts are a necessity to keep the family car running. Rebuilt cylinder heads for your engine can save you around fifty percent over new cylinder heads. This can really help your budget especially since car repairs tend to not be something you can avoid for very long.
Before you start your search for ATVs for cheap, you should check the ATV Kelly blue book. This will give you a good idea of current ATV prices. It will also give you a tool to either narrow or broaden your search based on the price range you already have in mind.
Hybrid vehicles have been on the road for many years (over ten years now) and like any car, have seen some end up in the auto wrecking yards, there are lots of sources now for used parts and even rebuilt parts. So replacement costs for batteries and other hybrid only parts are becoming cheaper and easier to get.
Ask and get plants from other gardeners. There are people who just give their excess plants or some swaps their plants. Joining a local garden club will give you access to these people and rest assure that you will have transactions with them.
What makes them work is the fact that these junk yards possess auto parts that may not be found in local auto parts stores. This is because there are certain vehicles that are made in other countries that require their parts to be ordered. There are also some cars that are so old the parts cannot be found just anywhere. That is another instance in which the part may need to be ordered from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, that can be extremely expensive.