Despite some of the 1-star reviews, I decided to give this shop a chance because it was close to…read morehome, appeared to have experience with Subarus, and had plenty of positive reviews.
Unfortunately, my experience was consistent with a few of the negative reviews.
I was able to schedule an appointment within two days for an oil change using the manufacturer-recommended oil, OEM brakes and rotors, an A/C recharge, and a tire rotation. When I arrived, the shop immediately gave me weird vibes. There were no other customers, and the office was dark, dingy, and messy. It didn't feel like a professional shop at all.
When I picked up my Subaru Forester, I learned they had used 10W-40 oil instead of the manufacturer-recommended viscosity rating (SAE) I requested. Rather than addressing my concern, I received a long explanation about why the difference supposedly did not matter (it matters; look it up!). They also installed Akebono brakes and rotors even though I had specifically requested OEM parts.
The A/C service was even more frustrating. Kevin told me he had performed a diagnostic and found no parts that needed replacing, so he recharged the system. However, the A/C still did not work. I returned to the shop after picking up my wife from work. Kevin looked at it again and told me the O-ring needed to be replaced. He asked to keep the car for several more hours or overnight, which I declined.
Several other things raised concerns for me. I was quoted around $100 for the A/C recharge, but the invoice came to ~$160. After I questioned it, Kevin reduced the charge by $30. To avoid a 3% credit-card fee, I chose Zelle, but the shop's number did not work, so I was asked to send the payment to his personal phone number. I also received only a photo of the receipt because the printer was supposedly/conveniently out of ink. Every question is met with a long winded spiel, where it's made to be seen as helpful or knowledgable, and to affirm that you've made the right choice by picking them. To me, it's a waste of my time and it exposes their nonsense if you listen carefully.
Kevin also told that my car's control arm bushing was cracking and needed attention. Because I had lost confidence in him, I took the car back to the Subaru dealership to undo his work (e.g. changed the oil with the manufacturer-recommended viscosity, a/c diagnostic and repair, exchange the brake fluid he added with OEM fluid, etc.,) and they also performed a multipoint inspection. They provided a video of the inspection and did not identify the control arm bushing as an issue.
Overall, I spent nearly $1,500 and left with more concerns than I had going in. I should have paid closer attention to the negative reviews. By the end of the experience, I didn't want them touching my car again. I will not be returning.
If you own a Subaru, I recommend looking elsewhere for a shop that knows these cars, uses OEM parts, and operates with professionalism and integrity. The shop offers no warranty for their work. Even if they did, I had already lost confidence in them and decided it wasn't worth wasting anymore of my time or dealing with the hassle.
