Any Subaru tech's on here?
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 857
From: Portland OR
Car Info: 00 BRP 2.5RS Sold = 04 SRR WRX Wagon, 06 AW STI :(
Any Subaru tech's on here?
I have a question if there is:
Are Subaru's hard to make a living off of? I know for the most part they are pretty easy to work on just from my doing stuff to my personal cars but I wanted to know how they are day after day. Diagnostics, maintenance, repairs, etc.
Im asking cause I work on BMW/Porsche/MBenz/Audi/VW/Volvo (most often->not as often) and was thinking about making a jump to Subaru's. They seems so much easier, granted BMW's are pretty damn easy, I think I would be a little less stressed out working on Subaru's.
Smart move or stick it out?
Are Subaru's hard to make a living off of? I know for the most part they are pretty easy to work on just from my doing stuff to my personal cars but I wanted to know how they are day after day. Diagnostics, maintenance, repairs, etc.
Im asking cause I work on BMW/Porsche/MBenz/Audi/VW/Volvo (most often->not as often) and was thinking about making a jump to Subaru's. They seems so much easier, granted BMW's are pretty damn easy, I think I would be a little less stressed out working on Subaru's.
Smart move or stick it out?
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From: Los Altos, CA
Car Info: 2002 Impreza RS, 2005 Impreza RS-20K
im no certified subaru tech, just a day to day mechanic who saves money and has fun wrenching.
IMO subarus are going to be significantly easier. just by lack of electronic control as seen on German makes; components in our scoobs are easy to access and repair/maintain.
even just replacing my clutch on my 2002 scoob was far easier than my lady's 99 camry, or my 95 corolla.
also one thing i really likr about subaru is the chassis. maintained for the most part (02-07).
not much insight, but hopefully u get a bit of an idea of wqhere im coming from
IMO subarus are going to be significantly easier. just by lack of electronic control as seen on German makes; components in our scoobs are easy to access and repair/maintain.
even just replacing my clutch on my 2002 scoob was far easier than my lady's 99 camry, or my 95 corolla.
also one thing i really likr about subaru is the chassis. maintained for the most part (02-07).
not much insight, but hopefully u get a bit of an idea of wqhere im coming from
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From: Teh Phantom Zone
Car Info: 2013 Toyota Prius Plug In 2011 Toyota Prius
Used to work at an independent subaru repair shop for about 1 year.
Small shop, in total 5 people. Husband wife operation and a nephew and 2 grunts, me and another guy doing various work. Our bread and butter was the normal jobs. We usually lost money on car enthusiasts custom jobs.
We eventually closed shop and ended up at a Subaru dealership, (All of us). The husband became lead foreman at the dealership, the rest of us went our separate ways soon after. As for the husband, he left the dealership, got tired of the BS, works on Fords now at another dealership.
If you are in with the European market stuff, I'd stick there. Hate to say it, that market is willing to pay over the people who buy subaru, but then again this is my opinion based on my life experiences
Small shop, in total 5 people. Husband wife operation and a nephew and 2 grunts, me and another guy doing various work. Our bread and butter was the normal jobs. We usually lost money on car enthusiasts custom jobs.
We eventually closed shop and ended up at a Subaru dealership, (All of us). The husband became lead foreman at the dealership, the rest of us went our separate ways soon after. As for the husband, he left the dealership, got tired of the BS, works on Fords now at another dealership.
If you are in with the European market stuff, I'd stick there. Hate to say it, that market is willing to pay over the people who buy subaru, but then again this is my opinion based on my life experiences
If in doubt, FLAT OUT
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From: Nor Cal SJ
Car Info: 2010 Hatch, 2011 Sedan
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From: Los Altos, CA
Car Info: 2002 Impreza RS, 2005 Impreza RS-20K
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 857
From: Portland OR
Car Info: 00 BRP 2.5RS Sold = 04 SRR WRX Wagon, 06 AW STI :(
Yeah that's what really stands out to me, there are really only 3 engines from 02-now and even the earlier ones were all the same. The chassis is super simple and again all pretty similar. While having to work on BMW's alone there are so many engines and always changing with every body style change. Not that that's a bad thing or difficult, just its easier to focus on one make and fewer variations.
I'm sure there's probably better paying jobs at indy's with European but I'm sure the Subaru dealers or bigger indys pay is competitive to the European shops. Aftermarket installs/project jobs are usually rare money makers, diag and maintenance is always better paying.
I'm sure there's probably better paying jobs at indy's with European but I'm sure the Subaru dealers or bigger indys pay is competitive to the European shops. Aftermarket installs/project jobs are usually rare money makers, diag and maintenance is always better paying.
If in doubt, FLAT OUT
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From: Nor Cal SJ
Car Info: 2010 Hatch, 2011 Sedan
(that was the plan)
Last edited by 04GG; Feb 11, 2013 at 02:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 857
From: Portland OR
Car Info: 00 BRP 2.5RS Sold = 04 SRR WRX Wagon, 06 AW STI :(
Haha why thank you Mike. It's just an idea, getting aggravated at my current shop for many reasons so the thought of working on Subaru's popped up.
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