It didn’t take long for the new First Team Subaru car dealership in North Suffolk to start doing business.

The doors opened Tuesday at 9 a.m., and the shop made its first sale around 11:30 a.m., said Mike Vinsand, general manager of the Subaru dealership.

“I think it’s just exciting to be a part of the growth in this area,” said Ashton Lewis Jr., chief operating officer.

The effort has been 10 years in the making, Lewis said. The new dealership sells new and used cars. However, Foresters and Outbacks seem to be among the more popular Subaru cars, Vinsand said. “They’re very, very eco-friendly, dependable and great-looking,” he said. They create almost no emissions, he added.

Lewis is also a former NASCAR driver. While he never won a race, he did win second place in two different races, he said. When his racing career was over, he traded in his stock car for a Subaru WRX STI, he said.

Many people have a negative image of car shopping, said Lewis. “Our goal is to change that perception. We want that experience to be a great buying experience.”

One of the ways they are helping create this positive experience is by offering free oil changes to Subaru car owners at their service center during the month of October. The dealership also is including lifetime warranties with all of their new cars and some of their used ones.

The First Team company’s slogan is “you first,” which describes the emphasis they place on customer service and satisfaction, Lewis said. He attributes the business’ success to this emphasis.

The business was founded in 1946 and will be celebrating 70 years next year. Over the years it has grown to five dealerships in the Hampton Roads area, including Chesapeake, Norfolk and Hampton. The company also owns dealerships in other parts of the state.