Skagway Drive About Car Rental

Question

We have a car reserved for a day with Drive About car rentals in Skagway; should be an older Subaru Tribeca. I can’t find any recent reviews of this company tho I know they have older vehicles. Does anyone have feedback from last summer? Affordable is about $100 more for a newer vehicle so I am debating my choice, my concerns are good tires and maintenance, not worried about looks:)

Answer

Short answer: Drive-About is a very small, locally owned Skagway outfit with consistently positive recent guest comments — people repeatedly report well-maintained cars, friendly owners and convenient delivery to the dock/parking area — so renting the older Subaru Tribeca can be a good, budget-friendly choice if you do a quick pre-pickup check (tires, brakes, warning lights, roadside coverage).

What other people are saying: recent posts and review pages (2023–2025) show a pattern — Drive-About has a small fleet, customers appreciate the drop-off/pickup at the dock and praise the owners, and many travelers rate the cars as “well maintained” despite their age. By contrast, the other local company you mentioned (Affordable Car Rental) also has strong, recent positive reviews and appears to offer newer vehicles for a modest premium. If the price difference is ~US$100 for a newer car, that premium is what you’re effectively buying: newer tires, more modern reliability and possibly better fuel economy.

About the Subaru Tribeca specifically (what to expect):

The good: Tribecas are AWD, have relatively generous ground clearance and are perfectly capable on gravel/Alaska roads and in wet weather — useful for the Klondike Highway and viewpoints. They’re roomy if you’ve got luggage or extra people.
The tradeoffs: Tribecas are older models now and owners/forums note they can be hard on suspension/brake/tire components (uneven tire wear and suspension bushing/strut issues are commonly discussed). There are also a small number of model-specific reliability items owners watch for (cooling/engine seals and other age-related issues). None of that means the car is unsafe — it just means you should inspect a few things before driving off.
Practical point: older vehicles commonly have higher odds of worn tires/brakes and cosmetic wear; the crucial safety items are tread depth, visible sidewall damage, absence of abnormal vibration/noises, functioning dash lights and presence of a usable spare/jack. (These are quick checks you can do at pickup.)

Concrete checklist to use at pickup (do these before you leave the lot):

Look at tire tread on all four tires and the spare — if tread looks shallow or inner-edge wear is obvious, ask for a different car or new tires.
Ask when the tires were last replaced and when the brakes were last serviced; take a short test-drive to check for pulling, vibration or clunks.
Verify there are no warning lights on the dash (check that the check-engine, temp, ABS lights go out after start). If lights stay on, request a different vehicle.
Confirm roadside assistance/towing is included or available (important in remote stretches up the Klondike Highway) and confirm cross-border permission if you plan to go into the Yukon. Drive-About’s site and other reviewers note they deliver cars to the dock and will review local driving points with you — ask them directly about these policies.
Inspect for fluid leaks under the car and check the spare jack and tools are present/usable.

Options to consider (pros/cons):

Keep the Drive-About Tribeca (save ~$100): Good if the car passes the checklist and you’re comfortable with an older vehicle. You’ll likely get excellent local customer service and a lower rate.
Pay the extra ~$100 for a newer car from the other local company: Worth it if you want the extra peace of mind of newer tires, recent service history and probably better fuel economy — simplest option if you prefer “set it and forget it.”
Book a larger national firm or a different local vendor: If absolute newest-model reliability matters, check availability with Avis (seasonal) or other carriers — but note availability is limited in Skagway and prices can be higher. Plan early.

Final practical recommendation:

If you’re mainly worried about tires and basic maintenance (and not about cosmetics), I’d rent the Drive-About Tribeca but do the 10-minute pre-pickup inspection above. If anything about the car’s tires, brakes or dash lights looks off, switch to the newer car and pay the extra — that $100 is cheap insurance if you’d rather avoid the risk of a roadside issue on a one-day trip. Either way, confirm roadside assistance and cross-border permission before you drive to the Yukon/Whitehorse.

Safe travels — the Skagway → White Pass → Emerald Lake drive is spectacular; a well-chosen car makes the day that much better.