My wife and I purchased a 1999 Forrester two years ago.
It was a one owner car with ALL maintenance history included.
I decided to have the maintenance done at Carter since they are the Subaru dealer in my area and they should know my car best.
I was wrong about that. Even with their quick lube service, I find that I have to schedule it so that I can get a loaner. No waiting for oil changes.
In 2008 we had the 150K head gasket and oil seal service done that Subaru's typically require at that mileage.
That was another HUGE mistake. After we got our Forrester back from Carter it was consuming 1 quart of oil every 500 miles driven!!! This car never burned any oil prior to the service.
We took our car back 4 times within the first 2 months after our service to be told that they would take it apart to inspect the quality of the work, but that it would cost us to have them correct the work and put it back together.
That is unacceptable and I let them know this. The only other suggestion that Carter had for me was to "just make sure the oil doesn't get low" if I wanted to save money and not have them take it apart!!!!
Carter may have a great selection of cars, but that is all they have.
I have an independent shop servicing my Subaru that I know and trust and they do it with the SAME factory parts at a considerably less rate and with the same parts/service warranty that Carter offers.
Dealerships are there for one thing: sell cars. They are not there to service them.
This was a $3000k mistake that I hope no one else will make.
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