1996 Subaru Impreza WRX (USA Import) Japan Auction Purchase Review

[@ef7andapp170]

Note to the new owner: buy a coolant tank (the one on the right side of the engine bay with the rad cap on it) and a new radiator...before the car arrives. There is no North American equivalent to the coolant tank, but a later model STI tank can be made to fit. For the rad...i think I used the old Legacy 2.2 turbo radiator for awhile until I got ahold of an aluminum one. Trust me - former 96 GF8 owner, in Canada.

[@FrankZR1]

I definitely need to call Pacific Coast Auto to buy one of these JDM Subaru's. The JDM EJ motors are so much more reliable than the USDM motors.

[@zoomzabba452]

I rebuild Subaru heads professionally. While each engine has its quirks, maintainence is is more important than anything else, followed by understanding the limits of a mechanical design.

[@criticalevent]

@@zoomzabba452 And the limitations of the boxer engine. 2 minutes of right hand donuts and now you're engine is knocking? Odd.

[@drproctologist]

elaborate

[@Codethe_Road]

@@criticalevent LOL

[@wt8213]

I've owned 8 JDM EJ20 Subarus (ej20g, ej20k, ej205, ej207, ej20y. Never had a problem with any of them besides valve cover leaks because there all 15+ year old engines at this point. Further more most of the plastic bits are brittle in the engine bay so things break easy when you got to take them apart. Vacuum leaks are extremely notorious. Idk I've never ever had any engine failure problems just a royal PITA to work on. My best advice if you get one is to pull the engine and trans and do every bit of maintenance all at one (swap all the old vac lines and coolant lines, swap o2 sensor, knock sensor, MAF, timing belt/water pump, ect) and it should be good for 200k km's. Working on them in the car is not fun but very easy to drop the engine and trans. Can be done in 30 min if you know what your doing. They are designed to be worked on out of the car most things aren't accessable inside the engine bay.

[@RobertMilat]

The looks of that Impreza are so perfect to me, so simple, buut so good, I'd rather look at photos of one of these than any Ferrari, IDK, that's just the effect the JDMs have on me

[@DanielPerryRally]

I've had 3 version 2/3s and not seeing a bunch of rust around the rear fenders is amazing. Also, as much work as I've done on these, how have I never noticed that brake cooling duct? My daily was literally a 96 v limited neve noticed.

[@Zenitvk]

Hey, neighbor. You're wrong. Front LSD is usually helical. And for GC generation - only STI TypeRA had a front LSD. Optionally... Nice appliance, but I've ruptured an axle because of that 3 LSDs...

[@iammyworstenemy3807]

i thought the version 3s came with a different hood??

[@eddenney478]

How much is this car for local registration in Japan, Kanagawa area?

[@takumifan3788]

It's a Version 2 WRX 260bhp and the Version 2 STi got 275bhp. Spoiler is from an STi the WRX one is flat. Front diff dont have VLSD. Only some TypeRA (like V5) got helical front diff and that was very cool feature. Car need a lot of work but if the price is fair without a doubt its a bargain.

[@R33Racer]

My 3rd gen Legacy has a helical front diff. Great steering response and feel!

[@bunsofsteeeel]

Yeah it is a version 2 it’s still got the old dashboard.

[@wt8213]

Technically not a V2. Only the STI are called by versions. The WRX just go by year sold (MY93-MY00) even though they made them from 92-99.

[@baitiknaiman170]

Where and how to buy? I live in Kyrgyzstan

[@seanjamesjawns108]

How can you are my dream come true with having an awsome Subaru or vw

[@thatstupidsubaru8996]

A lot of the GC8s ended up in Canada and the UK

[@wt8213]

Yup not many left. They were around every corner in western Canada 2012-2018 era. I'd guess at least 300 were imported back then. Now they have all rusted away. Teenagers got them for $6-9k and thrashed the hell out of them. Lucky I still have my RA in mint condition. People laughed but I knew one day they would all be gone and the ones that are left that are clean are going to be worth big bucks.

[@thatstupidsubaru8996]

@@wt8213 I was one of those teenagers haha., my first car was V2 STi, payed $4500 for it took decent car of it for a 15-16 year old. On a positive note I currently have a V-Ltd RA that I'm selling to fund restoring my 98 Type R and a house. Would love to see your RA, have a insta?

[@dwjfyoung]

Is Derek in N.Z , ?? Lol Thousands of these here , prices are dirt cheap too.

[@AaAa-ei7ds]

I also have not taste te37 or rpf1 my choice always

[@seanjamesjawns108]

I love worn paint

[@criticalevent]

Obligatory mention of the lost WRX videos.

[@patrickrowe1024]

It's a version 2 not a 3

[@tishsiva1533]

SMARTY PANTS SAREK EH

[@tonyquigley6543]

can i ask if the price of the bugeye imprezas are gone up>? STi;s, I'm looing for an STi bugeye or something like it, basically looking for any impreza before the exhause headers were changed for the sound, i have only about 450k yen to spend on the car itself before other fees, do you think it's possible to find one at that or below the price of 450 beofre fees? Thanks

[@lukesawyer8881]

450k yen is no where near enough

[@criticalevent]

My non-STI WRX bugeye wagon with 75k on it was $6800 CAD$ landed.

[@lukesawyer8881]

@@criticalevent damn I’m surprised prices aren’t higher than that. Might have to buy one

[@criticalevent]

@@lukesawyer8881 Once they become US legal they are probably going to go way up, but they are a pretty good deal right now if you can find one. The STI models go for twice as much.

[@wt8213]

@@lukesawyer8881 for $6800 landed he definitely paid that 3+ years ago or so. Now they are going for double. Basically every price from 3 years ago is now double lol. Literally every jdm was dirt cheap before social media influencers made them mainstream and now there is a way bigger pool of people buying them. Importing use to be extremely niche.

[@dianaisabelbaronmaldonado6344]

No

[@dianaisabelbaronmaldonado6344]

Antiguo