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Old 08-06-2008, 07:28 AM   #1
KNS Brakes
Former Vendor
Vendor Sales Rating: (127)
 
Member#: 125739
Join Date: Sep 2006
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Raleigh, NC
Vehicle:
2007 1500HD
Need Brakes? 919.420.0021

Thumbs up Johnson Subaru - Cary NC

Johnson is off to a fine start in Cary NC - (near Raleigh NC). Johnson automotive comes from the Lexus camp of customer service and the place is absolutely spotless.

Ryan Davis is the lead technician and he has a lot of experience with both DD and modified cars.

He's pretty much the only guy to touch my car - and they have been extremely good to my 2 DD Outbacks for routine maintenance.
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Old 08-15-2008, 10:19 PM   #2
MKopack
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Member#: 113853
Join Date: May 2006
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Outside of Raleigh, NC
Vehicle:
2005 Baja
Silver / Gray

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That's great to hear for a new dealership (at least to Subaru) starting out. The next time I need to have the Baja looked at I'll check them out!

Mike
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Old 08-27-2008, 11:00 AM   #3
lesteague
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Default second that

Since arriving in NC Ryan Davies has done a fair amount of work on my RS & Forester.

The guy knows his stuff, easy going and takes pride in his work. Always willing help and provide honest information.
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Old 02-01-2009, 10:01 AM   #4
Epic Motorsports
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Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Fayetteville NC
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This dealer is hands down the Best Dealer I have ever stepped in that includes some of the best in the nation for many makes and models.

I order all of the oem parts, and fluids for my shop through them.
And have Worked with Ryan Davis on many cars it goes without saying that He Is the best damn Subaru tech ever. He is a wealth of Knowledge and is willing to share that knowledge with anyone willing to learn.
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Old 04-17-2009, 09:04 PM   #5
bms231
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DMG

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bump for ryan and for johnson. only place and only tech i let touch my scooby.
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Old 10-16-2009, 08:08 PM   #6
AuthenticAMD
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Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Woodbine, MD
Vehicle:
2020 STI
Pure Red

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Although all the above reviews are for the service department, I would avoid the parts department like the plague. They tried to charge me $15 dollars for an oil filter not including the crush ring.

Of course after asking why another dealer was only charging $9, they started negotiating the price of the oil filter / ring. I would have thought haggling ended at the purchase of a car.

TLDR: Avoid parts department.
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Old 10-20-2009, 02:05 PM   #7
Joe@wrxbrakes
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Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Apex, NC
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AKA "Ashy Larry"

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I worked at Johnson as a Tech. for about 1.5 years. Partly with Hyundai and Partly with Subaru. Ryan was a good tech and teacher. Although Ryan is not working there anymore, i would still trust Bill, the lead Subaru tech. there now with any subaru. Overall I think Johnson is a whole hearted Company with a few shady employees floating throughout management. As far as the oil filter incident, I am disappointed in Johnson that that happened to you.
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Old 11-13-2009, 07:33 PM   #8
sporkedtospec
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Location: Raleigh, NC
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'00 SF

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Boo this parts department.

Paid $30.00 for a single header collector gasket, converter doughnut gasket, and two converter coupling bolts (not even including the springs or the nuts, thanks by the way for changing the thread pitch). Got quoted $27.77 for a thermostat this evening...msrp is $15.95 according to 1st subaru parts and they sell it for $11.48.

Something must have changed recently because I picked up Subaru oil filters from them for around $5 each early last year.

I'm done with Johnson and waiting my entire lunch hour for someone to show up at the parts counter.
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Old 12-31-2009, 02:36 PM   #9
Superorb
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So if I bring my car in for them to do the warranty fix on my leaky fuel system, will someone experienced do the work, or will some novice be hacking up my car? Intake manifold must be removed.
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Old 01-18-2010, 10:59 PM   #10
bms231
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Location: In a warm state
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DMG

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Now that Ryan isnt there anymore I go to TurboTime

TurboTime.us


I only trust Ryan to touch my *****..... even for an oil change. Not discrediting anyone who works there presently. I just know Ryan is the man and trust him to do the job right.
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Old 01-18-2010, 11:09 PM   #11
Superorb
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2002 WRX Wagon

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Quote:
Originally Posted by bms231 View Post
Now that Ryan isnt there anymore I go to TurboTime

TurboTime.us


I only trust Ryan to touch my *****..... even for an oil change. Not discrediting anyone who works there presently. I just know Ryan is the man and trust him to do the job right.
I agree with you 100%, but only the dealership will perform repairs under warranty unfortunately.
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Old 01-18-2010, 11:20 PM   #12
bms231
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DMG

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Superorb View Post
I agree with you 100%, but only the dealership will perform repairs under warranty unfortunately.
Very true. Sadly I have to go there for them to put in a new shift boot, ebrake boot, and carpet. I am freaking out bc they have to remove all the seats. I dont trust anyone to do that and I bet they would require the car overnight.
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Old 01-19-2010, 09:42 AM   #13
Superorb
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Vehicle:
2002 WRX Wagon

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Quote:
Originally Posted by bms231 View Post
Very true. Sadly I have to go there for them to put in a new shift boot, ebrake boot, and carpet. I am freaking out bc they have to remove all the seats. I dont trust anyone to do that and I bet they would require the car overnight.
Yeah, well they'll have to remove my intake manifold and half a dozen other crap in the engine bay to fix my problem. I'm afraid they'll break something or do a half-assed job and then deny anything after the fact.
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Old 01-19-2010, 10:17 AM   #14
KNS Brakes
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Vendor Sales Rating: (127)
 
Member#: 125739
Join Date: Sep 2006
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Raleigh, NC
Vehicle:
2007 1500HD
Need Brakes? 919.420.0021

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Can anyone post an actual experience w/ Johnson Subaru service or are we all just saying that they suck because it's cool to be negative?

Ryan is of course a great tech - he's also a good friend of mine. But it's immature and unfair to suggest that there are not other competent technicians who can perform service work there. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they probably do Subaru service pretty much daily and are generating happy repeat customers. It's a bit difficult to stay in business otherwise.
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Old 01-19-2010, 10:18 AM   #15
CyborgX_CZ
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Flat4NC
Vehicle:
0000 RIP 2006 STi
04 FXT / 89 SE30

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Yes they will remove your intake manifold, alternator, a/c compressor (just move on the side), battery, turbo inlet, TMIC, Air box***8230; otherwise there is no way to get in to fuel lines/rails. Cost of parts is maybe $15 but labor at least 2.5Hrs - 3Hrs. Nothing to hard so don't freak out at the end it's free and under warranty and if I can do it I'm pretty much sure they can do it good as well.
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Old 01-19-2010, 10:49 AM   #16
Superorb
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Location: Coral Springs, FL
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Wagon

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Quote:
Originally Posted by WRXBrakes View Post
Can anyone post an actual experience w/ Johnson Subaru service or are we all just saying that they suck because it's cool to be negative?
I don't recall anyone actually saying they suck. Maybe I missed something though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CyborgX_CZ View Post
if I can do it I'm pretty much sure they can do it good as well.
Yes, but people are only human and everybody makes mistakes
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Old 03-01-2010, 11:33 PM   #17
TTJax
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Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Raleigh, NC
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Now in Silver!!

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Most of you know where I work and for whom I work.

Bill at Johnson is an awesome tech. Not super .. hmm what's the word I'm looking for here... "enthralled" about "performance" Subies as Ryan is for sure, but none the less a great factory technician.

Back in the fall, right after Ryan and Johnson parted ways, Bill was lucky enough to have to rebuild the transmission in my Spec B hunting what seemed a somewhat phantom clicking noise. We (Ryan, Bill, myself, and my husband, a Hyundai tech at the same dealership) all heard the noise, but couldn't exactly pinpoint where it was coming from in the car.

Bill, being a great and well seasoned tech that he is, did a fantastic job on the car. I got it back and the trans was quieter than ever. He didn't complain that I was busting his butt about it every few days either. Bill was also super slammed as he was the only Subaru tech at the moment and still was up till a few days ago. I would certainly trust Bill with my car. As well as Quincy at Southern States. Bill and Quincy each have almost as many years working on Subarus as KNS Joe has been alive. Neither one of them care much for the performance end of the things, at least in the sense that it generally makes their jobs harder. However, they will respect you and your vehicle to the fullest extent.

Granted, most likely you will not get the same personal touch that you get with Ryan and TT. But both Bill and Quincy are the utmost competent of dealer techs.

Neither Johnson nor Southern States has novices working on Subarus. Both dealerships have trained and seasoned techs under their wings at the moment. There is a newer guy at Johnson helping Bill do simpler tasks, but the Fuel Smell TSB isn't one of them. So Bill will be the only one actually working on your car. Although I would decline the car wash (automatic brush wash). We at TT know all the Subie techs at a personal level as well.

And granted, everyone does, can and will make a mistake from time to time... It's the folks that will own up to it and make it right, that make them great people.

So there's my novel.. (can you tell I've been working next to Ryan for a while)
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Old 03-02-2010, 02:08 PM   #18
Superorb
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Member#: 135252
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Wagon

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^^ Well said Jax. I got the fuel smell letter from SOA yesterday, I'll be taking it in to Johnson some time this month for the fix.
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Old 03-02-2010, 02:26 PM   #19
oldskoolWRX
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Chapter/Region: South East
Location: www.turbotime.us
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1983 turbo brat
black and white

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my .02:

yes, i think i am awesome, scratch that, i know i am. thanks to those who agree

but all joking aside, both bill at johnson and quincy at southern states are highly experienced, very thorough and straight up technicians. i enjoyed the time i had with quincy, i learned a lot of diagnostic tricks, as well as solid techniques and shortcuts for repair and service. when someone becomes arrogant enough they can't learn from someone more experienced, they start backsliding. as much as i talk, i always respect the guys that have been doing it longer than me. the "old guys" in the shop are a fount of knowledge, i did my best to benefit from this.

your legacy will be fine, interior removal is easy, just have to be careful not to scratch the plastic trim pieces. if they get damaged, they'll be fixed as it was related to the repair. bill stands behind his work, as does quincy, as do i, and as does any decent tech that has worked to establish his reputation. same applies to superorb's intake.

as a technician, your reputation is your paycheck, and anyone that plans long term to work on the same car line, will work to keep people happy. that is a rule to live by, ask for the old guy, with years of experience on that same car-line. insist on working with the guy that drives the same car you are bringing in for service. bill daily drives a 97-ish outback, quincy drives one of his many subarus, ernie at ss has an rs and an 04 forester xt, scotty rhue at ss previously owned my forester and now has an old impreza beater. as far as i know, not one tech at performance still drives a subaru since wild bill greene retired. food for thought.

i have my own issues with one guy at johnson, otherwise, my experience there was pretty positive. as it really was at southern states. the parts guys at johnson are good guys, a shame they are spread thin and not always around the customer window, trust me we had some of the same issues as techs at the back counter. pricing has changed for the better, they used to use a matrix markup system, that has since been scrapped. poncho (terrance) at southern states is great to work with, had to train him a bit, scarboro at johnson as well, but they are both pretty on the ball now!

in all, nas is obviously pretty anti-dealer. while i was a dealer tech at all three local dealers, i did my best to dispel that attitude that subaru ealers, or subaru of america is out to get every wrx or sti owner. we are lucky in this area to have quality dealers (trust me, i have been unlucky enough to come across terrible work performed at dealerships). they may not go out of their way to bring in the performance crowd, but they usually don't go out of their way to screw anyone over either.
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Old 06-10-2010, 09:28 AM   #20
09rexwagon
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2011

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One of my rear diff oil seals (output) had started to seep and while I'll be installing my Bilsteins in a few weeks and could easily replace it then, I need to get this fixed. I generally have brought my car to Performance in CH where I bought the car but they A) didn't have the seal in stock (wtf!?! I'm pretty sure this is the same oil seal from previous R160 WRX diffs and possibly other diffs) and B) couldn't get me in till Monday so I thought I'd give Johnson a try.

To begin with, the person I spoke to at the parts counter to confirm they have the part in stock was very friendly and found the part number fast (the Performance part guy is a grumpy guy who couldn't figure out WRX vs STI).

The person at service who I spoke to (Ron) was as friendly and helpful as could be and got me the very next morning. In contrast it seems the service advisers at performance hate their life and feel that it is an annoyance to bring your car in for service or warranty work.

While waiting on the shuttle, I went to the parts desk to get some PNs for the fender liner parts I need to replace my destroyed fender liner and the parts counter guy got me the pictures right away and I inquired into if they carry Subaru Extra S gear oil and they do (Performance Subaru had never even heard of the fluid) and to my surprise they sell it for $9/qt. Fred bean sells it for $14/qt shipped!

So my experience at Johnson has been night and day better than Performance Subaru at the moment. Assuming my car gets fixed properly and the shuttle can pick me up from work, I'll be one happy camper .
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Old 06-10-2010, 09:38 AM   #21
Superorb
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^^ Awesome, glad to hear! A few people that have worked there also recommend Johnson, so that's music to my ears
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Old 06-11-2010, 04:55 PM   #22
09rexwagon
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2011

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Lame my car came back with a scratch on it....thought it was one of my white cat's hairs, but it's a scratch. Right near the driver's door handle .

As great as every other aspect of going to Johnson was, this is annoying.
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Old 09-04-2010, 08:30 AM   #23
bms231
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2008 Legacy GT
DMG

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I can give you all an update on my carpet replacement. Apparently subaru changed something regarding a clip which holds down a new plastic piece next to the accelerator. Johnson had my car for two weeks waiting on subaru to reply. Finally got my car back without the clip and no reply from subaru. I am happy with the job Johnson did regarding the install. Not so thrilled with subaru. Not sure if Johnson was bugging them enough for a reply or not. Either way, it was no biggy. They were still nice about everything and did a fine job.

Flash forward to 30K service. Unfortunately that was a 700 dollar service. Took it to TT and spent 300ish. But fair is fair in apples to apples... TT did not replace the spark plugs. I agree with that bc 30K is very soon for spark plugs to be changed.

I guess my only small beef is I wanted my shift boot and e-brake boot replaced b/c they both have cracks and through miscommunication only my shift boot was replaced. I went back and we have a date on the books to have it inspected again along w/ my driver's side door panel.

The real test will be this Tuesday/Wednesday when I take her in for a transmission issue. Clutch is making a metal pop noise. Fun. I am right over 30K and 3yrs of ownership.


Oh and p.s. to the rest of the above comments. i specifically said my intention was not to discredit anyone working at johnson. they always have a smile on their face for customers and this last job showed they act as professionals. i just dont like dealerships in general from many bad hyundai experiences. i will still only take my car to johnson for warranty work.
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Old 09-04-2010, 09:41 AM   #24
Superorb
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Vehicle:
2002 WRX Wagon

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^^ You can try calling SOA about that clip issue. Sometimes customers bugging SOA will grease the wheels more than the dealership bugging them.

We're having a hell of a time with Leith Nissan and our Versa right now. The car has been in and out of the shop since we bought the piece of crap.
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Old 12-20-2011, 12:20 PM   #25
sporkedtospec
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC
Vehicle:
'00 SF

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Quote:
Originally Posted by sporkedtospec View Post
Boo this parts department.

Paid $30.00 for a single header collector gasket, converter doughnut gasket, and two converter coupling bolts (not even including the springs or the nuts, thanks by the way for changing the thread pitch). Got quoted $27.77 for a thermostat this evening...msrp is $15.95 according to 1st subaru parts and they sell it for $11.48.

Something must have changed recently because I picked up Subaru oil filters from them for around $5 each early last year.

I'm done with Johnson and waiting my entire lunch hour for someone to show up at the parts counter.
Two years later trying to give these guys another chance, but same bs.
Was just quoted $10 higher per head gasket than list price (1subaruparts list = $42.95 with $30.92 sale price) because I'm a "cash paying customer". Yes, those were the exact words.
When asked why the price was so high, she retracted and offered them for "body shop price", which is $42.95.

I purchased a new OB from the dealership over the summer and have sent several people back with one purchasing a Foz. The car purchasing experience was great.
Dealing with the parts dept. is quite the opposite.
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