My Dad purchased the Subaru Outback 2015 from Carter Subaru in Ballard through Victor Nebre last week. Victor found my Dad's dream car when no one else could!!! He loves the car and the experience he had dealing with Victor in Ballard! The car is exactly what he was looking for, for months and would be a return customer! read more

I first came in on a Saturday back in late November. Just was a walk in hoping to see the two cars I was thinking about seriously at the time. I was introduced to Bill who was very willing to show me both the Crosstrek and the Forester. I stated that I was traveling for work and wouldn't be purchasing anything today but likely would be making my final decision around Christmas/New Years. Rather than push and be obnoxious like most car salesmen, he actually listened and respected what I said. He took the time to let me test drive both vehicles and explain their major differences. During this same time period I did visit two other dealerships and was not treated at all the same. The other dealerships did exactly what I expected and feared - hounded me, pressured me, AND didn't listen to the fact that I was traveling for work to a place with very limited cell service/internet and proceeded to constantly bug me and try to get me to come in and buy a car. But Bill at Carter? No, instead he emailed me before I left asking to touch base when it was convenient for me once I had returned to set up another time to come on in. So impressed, I decided to continue to work with Bill. We set up an appointment time just before New Years. When I arrived, Bill came over and apologized that he was finishing up a deal with a customer who had an earlier appointment. I didn't mind waiting, I understand things sometimes take longer, but rather than make me wait he asked if I was okay if someone else got me started and then he would catch back up with me. This is when I met Archie. Luckily, I struck gold again meeting another car salesman who was not pushy, annoying, and actually listened to my wants/needs. I had basically given up on finding a used Crosstrek since they have only been in production since 2013 and are relatively hard to find used. Rather than just sell me a new one, which I was fully prepared to do, Archie went the extra mile and saw a used 2013 that had only been there 20 days or so (it showed up since my last visit). This car was exactly what I wanted - again with the "actually listening to my needs" the car was the right color, interior color, a limited, low mileage, and more in my comfortable price range. Now, here is where Carter Subaru went above and beyond...most places (at least the last 3 used car experiences I had) you buy the car as is. You see what you get. I noticed a small dent on the side but figured "well...it is a used car...". This was after the paperwork was signed. Archie took an even closer look and noticed a couple small pitch marks on the hood where it had eaten through the clear coat. He then talked to the service team and told me, "we are going to make this car feel brand new and be in its best condition, drop it off this weekend and we will repaint the areas where the pitch ate through, re-clear coat the hood, and remove the dent on the side." I was floored. When I went to drop it off, I was given a loaner car and was in and out in about 10 min. Not only did they fix what they said, but they found another very small dent in the hood and popped that out as well. I received a call the day it was estimated to be done - and due to the nature of popping out both dents they needed a few more days. Two days later I was leaving on a work trip again (for 2.5 weeks) and said I don't mind if they keep the car and need more time - but would it be alright to keep the loaner while I am away on this trip? No problem. The day after I flew home I stopped in, 5 min later I was driving home in my new and improved certified used Subaru Crosstrek. Needless to say, I am one very happy customer. Other dealerships sure could learn a few things from how Carter Subaru operates. Keep up the good work. One last thing - rather than let me leave with my new car and struggle with setting up the blue tooth connectivity/entertainment system on my own, Archie took the time to sit with me and get it all set up and ready for use. And, although Archie did end up selling me the car, Bill checked in along the way and made sure I was being taken care of and everything was going according to plan. read more

Been looking for a quality used vehicle for my son and have been to numerous dealerships from Auburn up to Everett when I came across a Honda on Carters website. I live in Woodinville and work in Bellevue and was hesitant on making the trek down to Ballard due to traffic and my work schedule. I requested a price online was contacted by Tony Robertson. Mr. Robertson communication was crucial with me finally making the drive down to the dealership at the last minute which happened to be his day off but he was able to guide me to Mr. Bill Stutzman. The process was quick and easy and never felt pressured. Very happy with our used Civic. Thank you Bill and Tony for your patience and have to give thanks to the finance department for an easy transaction. read more

I like these people. My other car is a mercedes and I get better, nicer service from Carter Subaru than from Phil Smart Mercedes. We've had a lot of services done and they've been fair and friendly. That and its local and convenient. read more

It's been a week since I purchased a new car from Carter Subaru. While it's a little early to give a thorough review of the dealership in its entirety, I can say that my experience in buying a new car was better than expected. Dare I say it...even enjoyable. After spending time at numerous other local delearships, I went into Carter armed with questions and considered myself a fairly knowledgeable customer. I was able to go into the dealership, sign my paperwork, and be back on the road in a ridiculously reasonable amount of time. The Salesman (Victor), Finance Manager (Bill), and Manager were all a pleasure to work with. I would definitely recommend Carter to a friend/family member/complete stranger, with the caveat that buying car requires some initiative from the consumer. Do your research, and ask questions. read more

My husband and I recently bought our first Subaru at Carter Subaru thanks to the help of our sales associate Lynette R. Lynette helped us make the tough decision of deciding between the Forester and the Outback. She was patient in our decision making process and never pressured us once to make a speedy decision. Lynette was trusting, honest, and never pushy. On our test drive Lynette took us on some great hills that helped us really feel the power and performance of the Subaru. When we had a question on if the Outback would fit in our townhome garage Lynette was more than willing to let us bring the car to our house to make sure it would fit in our garage to ease our nerves. Lynette worked hard to find us a car that fit our needs and our budget. I would highly recommend Carter Subaru. read more

Just purchased our new Outback from Sarah Steele and the whole experience was great. Sarah was super helpful and answered all the questions we had along with getting us a great deal on our car. Definitely will continue to go to Carter. read more

Can't say enough good things about Carter. Customer service is second to none. I wish every business cared as much about their customers (and the environment) as the Carter staff does. They're incredibly knowledgeable and courteous. Best car buying experience I've ever had! read more

Can't say enough about Carter Subaru Service and Honourable Mention to Caitlin C. for helping out last minute. I was driving up to to Vancouver on I5 when a semi's trailer tire completely delaminated right in front of me. Like an action movie playing in front of me in slow motion. Suffice to say no chance to avoid the debris while boxed in traffic doing 70 and drove violently right over it. You can feel and hear that there were damages. Luckily I was near Carter Ballard and they took care of me right away on a busy Saturday morning without an appointment. But, I do recommend an appointment under normal service circumstances. Special shout out to Caitlin and staff for squeezing me in at the last minute with repairs and underbody inspection. Bought a SAAB back in 2000 then the Subaru. Great to see that top notch Customer Service still runs in the family. The road trip continued without anymore drama. Thanks, H read more

I worked with Brittany New when buying a used VW Tiguan, and think she's fantastic! I was impressed at her depth and breadth of knowledge of both Subaru and VW vehicles, which gave me confidence in her opinion. I never felt pressured or pushed to make a decision and was surprised at how pleasant the overall purchasing experience was (except for the reams of paperwork at the end). I'm very happy with my purchase, and would definitely recommend Carter Subaru, and more specifically Brittany for your next car purchase. read more

We bought our first car from Carter Subaru in Ballard and Vic Nebre took good care of us. We shopped around different car dealerships (Honda, Toyota, etc.) before finally deciding on a Subaru. From the get go, Vic was very knowledge and professional in dealing with us. There was no hard selling involved and this made our experience very pleasant. We did our research (comparing pricing around different dealerships) before purchasing our vehicle, and the negotiations at Carter Subaru were pretty fast and straightforward. Overall we are very happy with the entire experience and are now proud owners of a brand new Subaru Forester. read more

Two weeks after totaling my new Mazda 3, I was weary at the thought of going through the car-buying process again. I was referred to Vic Nebre by a friend, and am so glad I was -- Vic was kind, patient, and helpful; he was thoroughly knowledgable about Subaru and answered all of my many questions in detail. And he also did the best thing a salesperson can do, in my opinion -- he let me change my mind without so much as a hint of frustration. This was one of the most positive car-buying experiences I've ever had and I am very happy with my shiny new Impreza. Thank you, Vic!! read more

I walked into Carter Subaru in Ballard expecting the usual car sales treatment I have been getting. I had been shopping around to many different dealers around town in the hopes of replacing my beloved Mazda. I went to University Mazda, University VW, Walker Subaru Renton, Toyota of Seattle and Walker Mazda Renton. At each dealer I got the usual insult of an offer on my trade in, and the high pressure sleazy salesman trying to force me into purchasing a car i didn't want or like. Walker Subaru tried the "let's talk to my manager" tactic expecting me to be intimidated into buying a car. University VW even held the keys to my car and made me speak to the manager to get my keys back! You won't get any of this treatment at Carter Subaru in Ballard. My experience from walking in the door was the exact opposite of other dealers. When I wanted to be left alone to play in the cars, I was left alone. When I had any questions, they were answered promptly and correctly (I do all my research beforehand, and half my questions are tests. wink wink). My sales assosciate, Lynnette Rice, was new at the job, but you wouldn't know it. She was very knowledgeable about the car I was interested in and in no way pushy or agressive. She got me the exact car I wanted, with added options, for a greeat price. Her follow up after the purchase was also very good. If you're the laid back type, make sure to ask for her. She's not like the others. Bottom line: I'd buy from them even if i wasn't to keen on the car. It's a good thing Subarus and VWs are great cars! read more

Best service I have ever had buying a car. Will always purchase my subaru's from this dealership. The customer service went well above what I excepted, thank you Dave and Shelly, I absolutely love my car thank you. read more

Victor Nebre in sales was a joy to work with when I purchased my Subaru. He was straightforward, his dealings were transparent, he went over the features of the car thoroughly, I got a great deal, and drove away with exactly what I wanted at the right price. Thanks! read more

Without a doubt the best car dealership experience that I have had in forty years. Bill Stutzman walked us through the transaction, quickly and professionally. Brandon completed the financials expertly and without any of the tedious up selling. I highly recommend Carter Subaru to anyone who wants to acquire a new vehicle from a professional and customer first dealership. read more

Few people enjoy starting their mornings off at a car dealership getting their car serviced... But Carter Subaru Ballard makes it so much better!! My advisor Diana is the perfect blend of friendly without being obnoxious!!! Exactly what I'd want before 8am... Free wifi, coffee and snacks in a comfy lounge area allows me to keep up with work and play while waiting for my car. From the tech that greets me outside to the advisor checking out afterward, a great experience!! read more

I had a very positive experience with Archie today in shopping for a used Subaru. He's a very nice guy who is helpful and knowledgable, and he bent over backwards to try to help me get the financing that I needed. No high-pressure sales; I felt like he wanted me to get a good car for a good price, which is the most you can ask from a car salesman. I was also very happy with the cars that I had to choose from. Thanks Archie! read more

I recently purchased a car from Carter Subaru in Ballard. Victor, our salesman, was very knowledgeable and friendly... and PATIENT! He listened to what I wanted or didn't know if i wanted and helped me to get a car that was perfect. Victor was the right blend of steering me in the direction he could tell i wanted and letting me make my own decisions. I am really happy with my purchase. read more

We had a wonderful experience purchasing our new Subaru at Carter Subaru. Victor Nebre, our sales consultant, could not have been nicer or more informative. He has a really low-key, no-pressure style that we appreciated. We had done a lot of research on Subarus ahead of time, but whatever questions we had, Victor answered patiently. When it came to price, Victor was very willing to negotiate and in the end, gave us a great deal on a 2015 Forester. We just drove our car all the way across the country from Seattle and we love it! We will definitely recommend Carter Subaru in Ballard and Victor to family and friends in Seattle. read more

This review is only for purchasing a vehicle. I haven't tried the service department yet. Sarah Steele was exceptional. I did the full 9 yards of haggling, comparing dealerships off each other, playing the horrible, horrible, car dealer game. It turned out to be a total waste of time. I should have started and ended my journey at Carter Subaru in Ballard. With Sarah, I she emailed me back the absolute best price on a 2016 Forester Premium. It also just happened to have two free ski passes to my favorite ski resort in the area. That's about a $1k value to me. No BS, just a great offer. I showed up on Saturday morning. Sarah was on time, the car was ready and we were out the door in record time. She spent exactly the right amount of time explaining all the car's features to me. The finance pitch was an easy "No" for me, but I knew it was coming. She didn't try to up-sell me on features I didn't need or want. I didn't get pressured into a higher trim. I knew what I wanted, they sold me what I wanted and kept me informed about everything. Couldn't have been happier with my purchase. My only reservation is that it's probably a bit hard to test drive cars at this location. Ballard is pretty far away from i5. You couldn't really test a turbo vehicle's capabilities, for example. I did a ~5 minute test drive since I had already drive a few models of Foresters at other Subaru dealerships. read more

We just bought our first Subaru, a 2016 Outback, from Carter Subaru Ballard. Sarah Steele, the Internet Sales Manager, is who we worked with. Right away Sarah provided us the best price on a base model Outback and there was no need to haggle. I did considerable research prior to buying so I knew the range of prices to expect heading into the process. I really appreciated that Sarah didn't try to convince me to buy accessories or buy a higher, more expensive model. She simply listened to what we wanted, provided a very competitive price, and ensured our purchasing experience was quick and easy. This was by far my best car buying experience yet and I would definitely recommend Sarah and Carter. read more

I just bought an outback from a private party and got a service engine light at 41k. I went in to discuss my options with the nearest dealer to me. The younger long brown hared service gal was very unhelpful. I knew there was a transferrable warranty on the vehicle but needed the proper paperwork, person to speak with, phone number etc. I left with more questions than I started, did nit fell welcomed into the dealership or helped. I honestly feel like they are trying to intentionally make it difficult so they don't have to honor the warranty. read more

Ezra is a great salesman, wasn't pushy and answered all of my questions ( mostly pertaining to cats ). He really made the experience fun.

Went in to buy a car. They wanted A LOT more money than other dealers. They possibly actually kill more trees! When they looked up the availability of the car I wanted, they made a screen print. THEN they took a photo copy of that print out excluding the VIN numbers. I made an offer on the car, wrote it on the screenprint, and the salesperson took it to the manager. After a few minutes, ... came back with a higher number than I offered but on a different piece of paper??? I asked to look at my original offer so I could compare all the options side by side and there was a HUGE hesitancy to do so, and he asked if I REALLY needed that piece of paper. I said yes. When he brought the paper work back down the VIN number was not on the paper work. A photocopy had been made of the original but this time excluding identifying numbers. After a VERY long time, remember the salesperson was just getting my piece of paper, the salesperson came back. The manager came down also and stayed behind me. The salesperson explained that the car I was interested in had just sold... Oooops. But here is another higher priced vehicle. The salesperson kept the paperwork saying it was property of Carter Subaru. Well it had ink from my pen on it, can I take that back? What about the cup of water I had? Tricks!!! The salesperson tried to refuse to tell me the price of the car unless I provided information as to whether or not I would be financing the car. How would one know if one needs financing without knowing how much something costs. (ME) Hey BANK, can I have financing for this car? (BANK) How much does it cost? (ME) I don't know, they wouldn't tell me! (BANK) ...darned that pot legalization law...!!! How good is your credit and how much can you afford to finance? That is how much we will sell it to you for. (IMHO) SMARMY!!! and polished. I have bought many cars before and they were more polished than usual. I could easily see how an inexperienced buyer could get taken advantage of. read more

My wife and I just bought an outback from Carter and Victor Nebre specifically. Overall the experience was awesome and definitely the most enjoyable car purchase we've ever been involved in. Super nice folks, didn't feel like we were getting the run around at all. Everything was transparent and we left feeling good about our decision. I will be recommending anyone interested in a Subaru or VW to Victor - strait shooter. read more

My wife and I recently purchased a used Toyota Prius from Carter Subaru Ballard. It was as smooth an experience as buying a car gets! Our salesman, Mark Fry, was very helpful in interpreting the car's history, and pointing out some things that we might have overlooked otherwise. He even went so far as to recommend the less expensive vehicle to us (there were two we were considering), thinking that it might present fewer issues down the line. He took the time to give both myself and my wife a test drive, and never pressured us. After we expressed interest in purchasing, he worked with us to bring the total cost down to fit within our budget. After we drove off with our car, the shop was good at following up with some touch up work, and offered a loaner car for the duration. In the end, they delivered on all their promises. We went to many dealerships during our search, and Carter Subaru Ballard felt like the friendliest of the lot. They are a solid place to buy a car! read more

While there was some initial miscommunication, John (Service Manager) went out of his way to solve the problem and make sure that I was satisfied with the repairs. Thanks to him, I will keep coming back to this shop. read more

Excellent car buying experience. The staff was helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and extremely pleasant to work with. The show room was clean, well organized and appealing to the eye. Cresta, our salesperson, went above and beyond in her efforts to work with us. Her professionalism and diligence were impressive, and her product knowledge was excellent. We pride ourselves on being well-informed consumers, and our experience at Carter Subaru Ballard was everything we could have hoped for. Thank you! read more

I just bought a new 2012 Subaru Impreza from Vic at Carter Subaru in Ballard. He was very helpful and easy going, There was no pressure or cheese from Vic or any other staff. I am in love with my new car and can't wait to drive it for years. read more

got the car serviced today. Expensive but wth two kids i dont have the time and now the car runs great. everyone was helpful and friendly.

I am not a seasoned car shopper but am pleased with my decision to purchase my new vehicle from Carter Subaru. Victor was great to work with. He wasn't pushy and provided all of the information we requested. He was knowledgeable about the Subaru cars I was considering and was confident to show the features on our test drive. I worked with him for several weeks and he always responded to my questions quickly and offered competitive quotes. I would recommend my friends and family interested in a new Subaru to stop by Carter and ask for Victor! read more

This is a review for the service department. We took our crosstrek in fit it's first oil change this past Saturday. Was able to book the appointment online. I rooked up at the exact time if the appointment and they got me checked in. I was expecting the pulls change to take a while, maybe 2 hours. The service manager said it should be done in an hour, awesome. My wife and I went out to find some lunch. The Carter in Ballard is in a prime spot for restaurants in Ballard. Half way through lunch we got the call the car was ready, only took 45 minutes... Very nice! What's more is I installed an OEM sports grille on the car but failed to clip it in all the way. The service guys popped it in just because they spotted it and could do it. They went above and beyond. Finally service prices are very reasonable. Well worth it. read more

I had a great experience buying my first car from Carter Subaru. I was nervous going in to the whole experience and brought my brother for backup since I am not good at haggling and feared I would bring the offered price up rather than down. The whole process turned out to be way smoother than I expected. Victor Nebre took me on a test drive of the Crosstrek I'd been eyeing for months. I don't know if I just got lucky or what but Victor was incredibly nice and knowledgeable, not at all the pushy or condescending salesman-type I was expecting. He explained the different features of the car and had me try some driving maneuvers to test them out which I found very useful. I had been looking at prices online for a while and had an idea of what I wanted to spend and the price quoted to me by Victor was within that range so no haggling was involved. I returned the next day to finish the financing portion and Bill Deamer did a great job of talking me through and explaining my options as this was my first time applying for a car loan. Overall, I was surprised and glad at how easy the whole process turned out to be. * I know some people complain about the lack of parking at this location but they do have a corner lot just a block away we were able to park at with no problems read more

I leased a 2015 Impreza last week and was very impressed by the experience, and specifically, by Victor Nebre. He was approachable, informative, and straight-forward. I had never been through the process of leasing before and was a little anxious about it, but it was super easy. Cresta helped me with my financing paperwork. She was efficient and friendly. And, I love my new car!! read more

We leased a Forester through Carter Subaru and had a positive and stress-free experience getting through all of the required hurdles with respect to trading in our used vehicle, financing, and getting introduced to all the great features of our new vehicle. Victor has a very low-key but knowledgeable style as a sales associate, which was much appreciated. He listened to my description of what I was looking for in a new car and why and did a great job explaining the comparative features of different vehicles. We are very happy with our purchase and would recommend Carter Subaru in particular if you have already done research and go in with an idea of what you're looking to buy. read more

First off, I'm writing this on my wife's account. I hate car shopping, I hate the vulture culture, the "what do we gotta do to make a deal today..." nonsense of car world. I have never bought a brand new car in 60 years as I think be economics of buying a good car a few years old makes sense. My current '99 OB has 200k trouble free miles on it, but with 2 transcontinental trips on the books it was time to trade up. Used OBs are very spendy, and to get a used current generation OB costs nearly as much as a new one. The way I deal with cars is be up front, and accept no BS. I found the model and package I wanted after driving a couple at my local Bellingham dealer. (I told that dealer to put their best number on a Premium, and that money wasn't the only consideration but it was a big one). I then shot an email off to all the dealers from Bellingham to Olympia who had the car I wanted, in stock, or arriving soon. All the dealers responded to varying degrees, (Skagit responded by saying they would be in touch soon with their bet price, and have never followed up!). Within a few minutes on Friday night I got a price back from Bill Stutzman, Internet sales manager with a pretty reasonable price, ($2k less than the Bellingham dealers "best price"!) I waited to get other bids back, knowing that price wasn't the only driver, but it turns out that Carter's price was a few hundred less than anyone else, and they give you two season passes to Stevens Pass to boot. I called Bill on Monday to do the deal. We arranged to drive down on Wednesday to pick it up. On Tuesday I remembered that I forgot to add a hitch so I didn't have to do it myself. I phoned bill and he made it happen, getting it installed in time fo my Wednesday morning pickup. Picked up the car with no problems on Wednesday and was back in Bellingham by lunch. (he also advised me that I would get way more for my '99 OB on Craigslist than they could do in trade, a point in thier favor, and one I agree with.) The only reason I didn't give a five star review was the sort of hard sell of the extended service plan, that only came at the last minute when we were going to write the check. The finance guy (whose name escapes me) sprung it on us, and when I hemmed and hawed (since I think extended Warrantees are a suckers bet, and at the very least I wanted some time to research the product. I have no problem with dealers selling extended Warrantees and service contracts but it should have been offered earlier for me to consider, with the costs and benefits spelled out, rather than sort of pressuring me into it at the last time. The finance guy "tossed in a $0 deductible" as a previously Subbie owner, and when I still hemmed and hawed, he lowered the price $200 (always a danger signal as a sign of something that is overpriced IMHO). After assuring me that I could cancel with full refund in 30 days I went ahead and bought the contract. With a bit of further research it seems to be availble cheaper from other dealers on line (it can be sold by ay Subbie dealer as it is a Subaru product) and I am considering canceling and buying from another dealer if I think it saves enough to make the hassle worth while. Aside from that I certainly would deal with Bill Stuzman again, and indeed with Carter again, but next time with a bit of caution Re: the add ons. Tony read more

Victor was so helpful over the 3+ months of my quest for a new car. I finally found it and couldn't be more happy! Thank you!

We are first-time Subaru owners and recently bought a new Outback from Archie Witherell at Carter Ballard. Great experience all around! Archie was great to work with - found the exact car we were looking for, low pressure, great at explaining all the features of each model, even explained how Subaru all wheel drive systems are built that allows them to be so good in the snow. Was also impressed with the buying process and their business department. Will definitely be back and highly recommend this dealership to others. read more

We recently purchased a new Impreza from Ballard Subaru. Jeff R. Was our salesman and was a great experience. No BS, no hard selling, just ease and professionalism. We purchased a Subaru a few years back and went to two different dealerships; one in Puyallup and one in bremerton before purchasing though the bremerton dealership. The experience at carter Subaru exceeded my expectations from my previous Subaru dealership buying experience. I highly recommend Jeff. read more