All Wheel Drive Auto is a unique independent Seattle area Expert Subaru service & repair facility. We combine years of dealer experience with a local neighborhood shop atmosphere. We use high quality Subaru parts & test equipment and have the expert knowledge to fix it right the first time. Call us at 425-828-3600 to get a quote or find out more.

All Wheel Drive Auto - Seattle Area Independent Expert Subaru Repair & Service

(8 votes, average: 4.88 out of 5)

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by Justin Stobb

Welcome to the All-Wheel Drive Auto Blog!

Who is All Wheel Drive Auto?

All Wheel Drive Auto is an independent Subaru service & repair facility based out of Kirkland Washington. We combine years of dealer experience with a friendly neighborhood shop atmosphere. As an Independent Subaru Specialist, we can save you up to 25% over the dealer service department for the service and repair of your Subaru without sacrificing to quality or your warranty.

Join our auto community!

Start a conversation with everyone from other Suburu enthusiasts to people looking for Suburu information and advice. Expectsome great articles on Subaru maintenance and repair, as well as general auto care tips. Our goal is to create an interactive community of Subaru lovers and owners sharing information and advice. Got something to say? Tips to share? Go ahead and subscribe to our feed to stay updated on new articles and community news or leave us a comment and we’ll happily respond.

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8 Responses to “Welcome to the All Wheel Drive Auto Blog!”

1. deedee Says:
   October 19th, 2007 at 8:43 pm

   Fantastic!

2. Chris Says:
   November 9th, 2007 at 4:30 am

   What a great group of people to have work on your car. Although they specialize in Subaru, I’d let them work on anything I own, afterall, I have personally seen they’re attention to Detail. Quality repairs and customer satisfaction reign supreme at this shop!!

   2 thumbs up to All Wheel Drive Auto!!

   Chris

3. Roger Says:
   November 17th, 2007 at 5:24 pm

   I was searching the Internet for the fix to a problem with my Subaru and I stumbled across one of the answers Justin gave at All Wheel Drive Auto. I called his number and he called me right back with the answers I needed. Thanks, Justin, for getting right back to me and taking from your time to help me. That doesn’t often happen anymore. Gratefully, Roger B. in Thorp, WA

4. Ronbo Says:
   February 10th, 2008 at 1:45 am

   Sure wish you were closer….I live in Denver, Colorado. Sounds like you know your stuff and take pride in your work and have a great shop (cool).
   I have already learned some very importaint things from your site. I just picked up a 99 Impreza 2.5 RS which is great for the snow out here. Thing is I have a slight oil leak from the drivers side head gasket area. Looks like I am about to learn a little more about the 2.5 eng than anticipated and put in some more OT at work for a head gasket repair.

   Keep up the good work!

   Ronbo

5. Michael Says:
   March 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 pm

   Cool! It’s really COOL!Best regards.Respect to admin!Good site!

6. Andy Says:
   March 10th, 2008 at 10:54 am

   Excellent article. I?m looking at some of these stuff for my website right now.

7. Peter Akraboff Says:
   December 8th, 2008 at 5:37 am

   Hi Justin,
   A few days ago I submitted a question to you on the head gasket thread. I was looking at a 2000 Impreza Outback Sport Wagon for my daughter. You said that was a great model, and that the seals on the spark plug extension tubes might be leaking. I bought the car, it’s in great shape and well-maintained. Before the sale was final, I had an independent shop that specializes in Subarus do an inspection. The tech said everything looked good, but that the seals around the spark plug extension tubes were beginning to leak. The shop is called Kuno’s in Redwood City, CA. I left the car at the shop to have the seals replaced.

   I have a couple more questions:
   1) I’d planned to have the 120k service and timing belt and water pump done at the local Subaru dealer - Carlsen in Redwood City, CA. The previous owner had the major services and repairs done there and was satisfied with their work - he recently bought a new Subaru from them. Kuno’s seemed like a good place, the tech was knowledgeable, and there are serveral good comments about the shop on a local Yahoo services site, so now I’m thinking of having the work done there. Have you heard of the shop? Are you familiar with Stan Carlsen Subaru? Dealers are usually a known quantity - will the car be in good hands at an independent shop?

   2) Are Subarus like other cars where you automatically replace the water pump when you do the timing belt?

   3) I was reading through the owner’s manual and it mentions Subaru de-icer gas additive if the car is to be used in sub-freezing temperatures. The car will spend the winter at Lake Tahoe at 6000 feet. Is this still good advice? Any recommendation on specific additives?

   Thanks for your help,
   Peter

8. Justin Stobb Says:
   December 8th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

   Hey Peter,

   I can’t really comment on a specific dealer ship or repair shop. But what I can share is that in my opinion the single biggest misconception in the repair industry is that the dealership is somehow better than the independents, I am obviously biased towards independent but that really comes from having had a diverse career and working at dealerships, independents and franchises a like.

   The dealers are all franchises and in some cases the Techs there may be the bottom of the barrel, this all comes from how well is that line of car doing, if it is a dog and a lot of warranty work is being done the good techs will not stay as they will have to do a lot of repairs for much less than what they are really worth. IF the service department is strong despite the sales department and the quality of the current models it may have a good crew of Technicians.

   The dealer has an advantage over the independents for about the first two or three years of a new model coming out. But as the car has been out for a while the independents have an edge when it comes to making repairs. A good example of this is the fact that most head gaskets repaired at the dealership fail within a couple of years where we have yet to (knock on wood) ever see a repaired vehicle come back with a leak. The guys at the dealer start out by making repairs under warranty and learn how to cut as many corners as possible, as the car becomes out of warranty the repairs are made the same way they were under warranty. There are many reasons I like the independent over the Dealer but it really comes down to what you are more comfortable with. My advice is generally to pick a shop you feel you can establish a relation ship with and go there for all of your service needs, much like you do with a vet, dentist or doctor.

   Most independents really have to work hard at getting and retaining new customers where the dealer service department has a new service and parts customer every time a car is sold. As such I really feel strongly you will always get more value for your money at a good independent repair shop.

   The additive thing is a play it by ear deal.

   The water pump is a good suggestion as is the timing belt tensioner whenever the belt is done.

   Justin

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