At the beginning of 2010, Cars for Keeps welcomed a new auto technician to its team of experienced mechanics (we were so excited that we dedicated a blog post to him). Steve has brought invaluable experience in American and Asian car models to Cars for Keeps, with Subaru repair experience at the top of that list.During my last visit to Cars for Keeps' shop, Steve was kind enough to give me a tour of some of the shop's most recent projects. During that tour, I asked him which vehicle brand was his favorite to work on, and he answered "Subaru" without hesitation. A big Subaru fan (he proudly showed me his own Subaru, pictured below), Steve understands that Subaru vehicles come equipped with many benefits - benefits which require Subaru expertise to repair and maintain.
As most Subaru owners know, Subarus offer two huge mechanical advantages:
Boxer engines. Boxer engines, unique to Subaru vehicles, are flatter than other engines, allowing them to take up less space and provide a lower center of gravity for improved handling. There's a laundry list of other mechanical benefits of the boxer engine, but the most noteworthy are that Subaru boxer engines are able to achieve a higher power-to-weight ratio and are, in general, easier to maintain.
Symmetrical all-wheel drive. All Subaru vehicles are equipped with built-in all wheel drive, but it's no ordinary AWD. Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive works together with Subaru's well-balanced boxer engines to create better stability, better balance and, ultimately, better handling.
These attributes have caused many Subaru owners to become loyalists of the brand. As with any car brand, however, quality maintenance is required for long-term quality performance, and not every mechanic is equipped to work with Subaru's unique design features. Asking an auto mechanic who specializes in Ford repairs to work on a Subaru would, for example, be like asking the Iron Chef to make a tiramisu layered cake. Could he do it? Probably. Would a french pastry chef do a better job? Um...let's hope so. A qualified Subaru mechanic understands how best to maintain Subaru's boxer engine, all-wheel drive and its many other unique features.
Bottom line: if you love your Subaru, hire a mechanic who specializes in Subarus to repair and maintain your vehicle. Here at Cars for Keeps, we just happen to have one on staff.
Safe driving!
