A man in a navy polo shirt with "Ron" embroidered on it walked out of the office holding an umbrella. He knocked on the window. "Honda?" he asked. "The Toaster," Maya corrected with a sad smile.

Ron didn't look bothered by the broken car. He didn't even look bothered by the rain. He did a quick 30-second walkaround, looking for rust and checking the interior. He opened the hood, looked at the transmission, and nodded.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, searching for "we buy cars near me" can turn a stressful breakdown into a quick, profitable sale:

Search for specialized junk car buyers in your area for vehicles that no longer run, such as Pull-A-Part or other local junk yards.

It had been a good run. 180,000 miles, three cross-country moves, and one very memorable road trip where the AC broke in Arizona. But as of this morning, when a low, metallic groan signaled the final demise of the transmission, "The Toaster" was no longer a vehicle. It was a 2,500-pound paperweight.

"How long does this take?" Maya asked. "I have to be at work in two hours."