Salvage (zero VAG content)(ext. long vent also provided- PHIL!)

[Derek Daily <ddaily@SMTPGW.MITSUICOMTEK.COM>]

Hello Respective groups, 
(1)  Can someone please explain the general methods of *salvage*
operations.  Such as, where do these yards pick up the vehicles they
part out?
(2)  I'm interested in trying to sell a vehicle to such a group or
yard...is this possible?

Snip here if you are not interested in venting / or do not like to
read about vehicular devices considerably LESS reliable than your
own.  I'm warning you IT IS LONG!

History of an '87 Chebby Nova (aka Corolla):
(1)  Former girlfriend / current wife purchases said car because of
outstanding Consumer Reports rating....-10 points.
(2)  Same person does not check fluid levels on her own, nor
frequntly do so via full-service stations.  Rather, she allows her
young, somewhat-intelligent academically, however extremely-negligent
automobilia-wise boyfriend to check these levels after months of
non-service....-10 points.
(3)  Lame mate learns the hard way that ATF and engine oil do not
have the same appearance & said fluid level registers are not
necessarily always located on the *right side of the engine*....-0
points (remember, the companion was somewhat less knowledgeable back
in those days...who could blame him?)
(4)  Chebby motor remanufactured at ~30k miles costing approx.
$2500....-10 points (because *new* engine now consumes copious
amounts of oil...the darker / non-red fluid...every week)
(5)  Mileage for vehicle decreases constantly.  Originally ~38-40mpg,
now down to ~27-25mpg....-10 points.
(6)  After return from a long trip some time in the future...couple
unable to start said vehicle.  Carburator needs remanufacture
according to 76 station ACE...Cost of ~$600...because this is the
only place the mechanics trust.  As couple is stuck in nowhere USA,
they somewhat reluctantly agree to these terms....-10 points.
(7)  One week later.  Car, unable to start is taken back to another
service station as it is considered to be related to last
*fix*...here mechanics discover timing belt is shot...after
Audi-esque finger test and visual (teethless) I concur that its about
time for this project anyway (~60k miles)...Cost $350...-10 points.
(8)  Less than one week later.  Car, showing no signs of overheat for
its entire life, pops loudly and spews white smoke from exhaust
(hmm...head gasket?)...husband, having broken leg with cast and
crutches & no phone decides he has had it with the car anyway and
decides to drive it home to safety out of anger...*of course H20 pump
was replaced with the timing belt, however we have no way of telling
if this could be related to prior fix*....after some less considerate
conversation, couple takes vehicle to outside source for engine
replacement...primarily because wife cannot live without her first
car...-10 points.
(9)  Salvage engine installed as old engine toast...Cost $1800
total...-15 points.
(10)  After driving car for one week (of course) another catastrophic
bang is emitted from the vehicle at hwy speeds...car continues to run
*well* but loud grating noise is constant...after tow, revealed that
transmission is blown and that a new one is ~1800$ p&l, old from
salvage ~ $950 p&l...*no way to tell if this had something to do with
engine mounting to trnnny*....-15 points.

Total rundown:
This POS currently has a value of approx ~2000$ when running (if in
very good shape).  Already have over that amount in work over the
last 2 months (almost double).  Won't put a new tranny in. 
Considering urQ as more reliable means of transportation.  Learning
curve while being expedited by Quattro, Passat and Syncro messages is
still somewhat less steep than required.  Just want to ditch this
thing and move to greener pastures....BTW Quantum Syncro just hit
222k miles on original stuff.