The Subaru WRX STi Type RA is the BEST 90's JDM Car I've Driven

[@matty665]

modern day JDM cars don't even come close to the 90's era.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Have to agree... although the new Corolla GR (review coming on Sunday) while naturally still a modern car so no where near as raw as this, it's still a great car

[@blakebucknall4008]

In terms of raw feeling and driver input. Yeah they don't have that vibe no more.

[@RanenPo]

4:29 That is some impressive acceleration! 300hp + lightweight chassis + AWD + manual must make for a great experience

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man I was shocked how fast it was for "only" a 206kW car.

[@TheFatSandwhich]

Nothing beats the raw, older single scroll turbo Subaru’s. These RA’s cost so much now but back in there day when my dad was selling these off the lot, the standard STI’s were more expensive because they had features.

[@ztikmaen]

That's so interesting about the pricing, makes sense though. Also yeah, single scroll turbos are just dramatic even if they're not faster haha

[@TheFatSandwhich]

@@ztikmaen Big time. So much more ‘raw’. The twin scrolls lost a bit of the charm even though they are still great to drive. Losing unequal length headers too..

[@265justy]

Pulsar GTiR Mitsi Evo Celica GT4 323 GTR... 🤔

[@rEspanator]

@@265justy theyre all inline 4's

[@brendangully]

My dad had an STI Ra, bought from a dealer for around $30k, sold it to a kid for $12k about 6 years later, and within a fortnight it had been wrapped around a pole 😔

[@adamwicks768]

Makes me miss mine! I had a STI version 2 with a full Tein coil over setup. Such a great driver’s car. Perfectly balanced power and gear ratios.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh agree, the gear ratios are the best part. Way too many great performance cars are let down by garbage gear ratios. They can never be too short

[@basilfabian05]

The coolest thing about older turbo cars like this is the way the boost comes on. Put your foot down and get nothing for awhile and suddenly just get all the boost. It's not super fast but its a super fun driving experience 👍

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah super cool aye!

[@Zeratsu]

yess I had Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and my fridend's homie thought it was nitrous when he first hopped in my car

[@dash-kt7uf]

They were actually slow though Don’t get me wrong, I loved them and had a gtir-ra

[@Drifty325i]

Love the older Subi and Evos, light weight, short ratios, moderate but still plenty, way more fun and engaging than most of today’s cars. Like Lotus cars

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man awesome fun aye!

[@markmcgrath9098]

That 1st pull after you turned right was genuinely thrilling to watch and listen too. Awesome thank you. Love the low and close ratio gearbox, so engaging. No radio required at all. I’d be giggling like a loon driving this. And probably get myself in a heap of trouble with family, friends and the law.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh yeah man was super fun. The rpm is wild

[@jeremy2demain421]

I agree, for the money it's an amazing car. I've bought an unmodified WRX Type Ra from japan with only 70.000km on the odo years ago down in the south island and drove back up north what a pleasure it was. I was really impressed by the performance compared to cars of the same era (not only Japanese) and even more modern one.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh that is gorgeous. Yeah I was surprised, apart from the 3.0R Legacy I had (which while good was still outclassed by my 130i) I haven't really driven any other Subarus I've been impressed by. But this was amazing

[@pyonshige3114]

日本のスバリスト(Subie)です😊 この車をたくさん褒めてくれてありがとう。 運転している時の表情から、楽しそうな様子がすごく伝わって来ます！

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man it’s a great car

[@stanleychung88]

This is the ideal version. Tried one side by side decades ago with an Evo 3. The Mitsubishi felt also had a similar feeling. The push just felt endless. They were so light compared to now. This one you are driving is so quiet though.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah haha just a light muffler modification, weird to hear mainly subaru engine noise. In theory this is from the unequal lenghth headers era of warbly boxer 4's but because it's basically stock it sounds like a BRZ HAHA

[@ArunaVidu]

Best part of the video starts at 4:32 . Seeing the reaction makes me feel as if I am driving it. 😊

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yessss that was an epic pull

[@taelee347]

GREAT review! Your jaw dropping the whole time tells the whole story! Your expressions really make me feel like I'm riding the car too. Manual transmission + short gearing + 8k rpm + turbo + AWD grip = FUN!!!! While not as raw as this GC generation, I still have my GD 2006 STi and will never part with it. Just put a new short block on it after 161k miles (~259k km) due to excessive oil consumption as a preventative measure... but technically was still running. In comes new short block, new clutch, new engine mounts, new turbo, new oil pump, new valves, new hoses and good to go! Would love to get a S2000 or Civic Type R (FD2 or before) to go with it someday.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nice man! Yeah these things are impressive aye!

[@GandhiBeatz]

Now thats what you call a real sports car. Full video and Im smiling

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yessss

[@constantinelheman]

When the WRX was raw and wild.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Absolutely

[@spadgm]

Great vid as always mate, I have always admired these cars, I had a stock 1996 WRX Wagon and it was awesome fun!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Thanks man! Yeah if even the WRX was good, this is another level!

[@thomaswilding8818]

I thought literally every RA had been turned into a rally car. Can't be many left. Very special

[@VincentViolence]

Heaps left.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah there's plenty in NZ

[@stancenz2095]

Glad to see a WRX on the channel finally! These cars are so amazing to drive, the way you reacted to it is pretty much how I did when I got my V11 STI :D

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man incredible cars!

[@ziv]

Hey man! 2nd video ive watched from you. I like your content as someone with limited car knowledge. I like the length of the videos too

[@KiwiCarLife]

Thanks! Glad to hear

[@JamesMorris-d4z]

I had an 89 Subaru legacy RS back in the day painted Blue with silver pearl and wrx gearbox and diff with a group N chip was so much fun! Luv subby rumble

[@KiwiCarLife]

That would have been epic

[@17t135i]

Great car miss mine, I had one in 2005 ish, definitely one of the most fun cars I've ever owned, I tried to relive the experience 5 years ago, but someone else wanted it more than me and within 3 months was stolen, after losing my no claims bonus and going through all the hassle I decided against getting another, but definitely love the gc8

[@JaneDoe-ft7ln]

That's what happened to my RS Legacy back in 2003. 😭

[@KiwiCarLife]

Rough man... so annoying absolute retards do that.

[@Dholi1]

You are so lucky to have those beautiful roads to drive on!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yesss there's plenty of good ones around here!

[@bla855]

These are by far the best drivers car EVER

[@KiwiCarLife]

Up there for sure!

[@toxaq]

As a long time rally fan I’ll never forget the first time I saw these sliding through the forests. Even met Richard Burns when he crashed out on the Motu in 95 I think it was.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Awesome! I've been watching some old rally footage in making some of these recent videos like the 2016 WRX STi, Type RA and Celica GT4. Golden era and incredible to watch. Camera quality is decent too

[@toxaq]

@@KiwiCarLife and the Evo3! Tommi Makinen was the man. Francois Delecour in the Cosworths. Have some good memories of the GT4 before they were banned. Was a golden age for sure. Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae in the subbies, Possum Bourne too…

[@leestevenwj]

Close. Try the S204 if you can. Not as raw, but much more polished in power delivery and chassis balance and it still remains to me one of only very few road cars that doesn't need any modifications at all.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man I've heard they're really cool. 6 speed too!

[@chrisyoung9998]

Good review, have a 500hp 99' 2 door in Chch but I'm in Canada for a couple of years. Miss it, not much compares to a GC8 even stock, they're great!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Wow that's both rare and also extremely fast!

[@TheOriginalCoke]

A lot of things peaked in the 90s. Cars didn't get better after the 90s, they just simply went in a different direction.

[@KiwiCarLife]

This is true

[@kohipook1445]

Good to see you experienced one man. Wish I had you drive mine back in the day. Still in the shed for rust repairs xD

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh no haha well when you get it back on the road I'd be keen!

[@jovanciric4264]

Man that sound is awsome i got goosebumps, now i want one 😂

[@KiwiCarLife]

Awesome aye!

[@kiwiryker]

I had the opportunity to go in Joe Mcandrew / Bob Haldane Subaru it was K555PRO 555PRO , ex Possum Bourne , Joe took me around mystery creek at full noise . It was the greatest experience of my life , Thankyou Bob and Joe . BC

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh that's awesome so cool!

[@Birmingham_racing]

Subaru is what got me into jdm

[@KiwiCarLife]

Honda for me! But Subaru and Toyota are probably my two other favourite JDM brands

[@Sean-f1j3k]

Great review of such an iconic car 😎

[@KiwiCarLife]

Thanks!

[@Exzd]

Love these old models, own a japanese imported blobeye STI which has the same twinscroll 2.0 engine as this does. Absolutely fantastic to drive and surprisingly reliable unlike what all the Subaru haters state

[@ztikmaen]

This one has the single-scroll turbo still, but yeah all the early STIs are pretty fun!

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah especially given how low the k's are on this one I would expect it to be a solid runner

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

ej205 rebuilt heads with brian crower bits - and brand new ej207RA STI JDM short block from factory - arp - and iag alloy sump - std forester cams - 2001 sf5 GT Forester 4.44 lsd trac cont = tdo4 440cc ! my ride is !

[@KiwiCarLife]

How good!

[@thatguyben3128]

_Absolutely my favorite version/model of the WRX. This example is amazing, love the finish❤_ .. _cool review_

[@KiwiCarLife]

They're epic aye!

[@lateralus6512]

I like these, the early model Evo’s and the R32 GTR Skyline. JDM peaked in the 90’s.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh yeah man, super era of cars

[@RanenPo]

How do you find this compares to the 2015 WRX STI you reviewed recently? About the same horsepower and still manual turbo AWD, but some 20 years newer...

[@roybatty2030]

I think later cars (bugeye onwards) were quite a bit heavier, 200kg comes to mind, due to safety features.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah honestly they don't even feel remotely alike. New one is very European in its drive. Quiet, compliant suspension, smooth power delivery. This is just a 1200kg bullet with ZERO thought given to comfort or refinement haha

[@skux93]

Subie gang ❤

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yessss

[@brandonotte3359]

Fantastic as per

[@KiwiCarLife]

Thanks!

[@kapualaniananialauagiagi8371]

Props to whoever was in the bmw behind you keeping up!😆

[@burgerman-nb3cv]

It was trying its hardest to😂

[@KiwiCarLife]

Haha that was the owner of the STi, driving my M135i while I reviewed his

[@Zeratsu]

a little strange that you didn't tell it's price, however you did tell the price in the EVO 5 vid. I assume this a little cheaper than EVO right?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Not sure tbh haven't looked at the prices of either of these in a while. I'd assume they're fairly similar?

[@Zeratsu]

@KiwiCarLife in Japan and in the regions near Japan the WRX STi's should be cheaper than Evos, as long as I know. But obviously the 22B is pricey as hell.

[@stpetersburg6176]

Hi! I've got a 2005 skyline 350gt coupe, But I'm planning leaving NZ, and now it's selling with a good prize, did you guys interesting it?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Hey man, not for me sorry! All the best with your new adventure though!

[@riggidyboo]

My daily driver for the last 20+ years is a 96 Legacy with a STI RA conversion.

[@KiwiCarLife]

That’s epic

[@perpetualgrin5804]

At last you test a car I have driven, my nephews 5 speed, fast but so nervous always wanting to go faster, not for me. My stately 380 is ideal for myself.😅

[@KiwiCarLife]

HAHA up the mighty 380

[@HunterLord458]

This is why I love that Toyota is making the GR Yaris and Corolla now. They're the only Japanese car company still making a car that captures that "rally car for the road" feeling. By comparison the current WRX is too plushy and compromised.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah definitely man! You'll like the Corolla GR video coming this weekend!

[@HunterLord458]

@@KiwiCarLife excellent!

[@antonpetersen3183]

Awesome cars aye, my mate had v2 ra back in 2010 when we were doing our mechanic cert at uni, went like a cut snake sideways and helis all day 😂

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man epic cars

[@michaelmorley7678]

That gearset in an 04 usdm WRX makes it feel so fast but no good for highway

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh I’m sure, need the short 4 gears and long 5th

[@IBOO57]

That is so good, can you remember what speed it would do in each of the first 3 gears?

[@KiwiCarLife]

1st: 55, 2nd 87, 3rd, 125

[@IBOO57]

@KiwiCarLife thanks for that more manufacturers need to embrace shorter gearing. None of this 8 and 10 speed transmissions where u still hit 100 km an hour in second gear.

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@IBOO57 Yeah fortunately my M135i only gets to 80 in 2nd so definitely short gears

[@IBOO57]

@@KiwiCarLife thats awesome.

[@MajorYass]

Do a Legnum or Galant VR4 8th Generation

[@Oldhex1978]

He did a Legnum a few months back

[@MajorYass]

@@Oldhex1978 link? Or video title? I couldn't find it

[@KiwiCarLife]

That would be cool! Haven't done a Legnum or Galant?

[@MajorYass]

@KiwiCarLife please do! You can't quite compare it to this bone stock STI, but maybe hit up ProjectVR4. Surely, he could loan you a nice example of an 8th Generation VR4. Also, I love the videos keep it up!

[@pauldonovan3954]

is the boost controller not on? factory power?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Factory yep

[@aydan2914]

How does it compare to my STI you reviewed 2 years ago?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Gee it was so long ago I can't really remember. That one was a lot louder I remember, this felt like more of a race car because of the reduced weight and shorter gears

[@markcompton6750]

I had a mk3 STI. Still miss it 😢

[@KiwiCarLife]

Nice!

[@mossy7961]

Cant beat them, there that good I got 2 :)

[@KiwiCarLife]

What a combo!

[@Jay_emm]

unless you have been in one, you won’t understand just how scary first gen gc8’s are … absolutely no weight in it, with 200kw it is deadass frightening

[@KiwiCarLife]

I wouldn't say scary... I found it to be a very balanced and predictable car. Pretty easy to drive all things considered and very confidence inspiring. To be a passenger in though... well given how quick it is and the stability through turns, that's where I'd probably be scared if someone was pushing it haha

[@dash-kt7uf]

Haha…bro hasn’t obviously been in even a semi fast car.,..

[@Jay_emm]

@@dash-kt7uf you got no idea kid

[@dash-kt7uf]

@@Jay_emm someone hurt. I think I do bro and it’s you that wouldn’t have any idea

[@Jay_emm]

@@dash-kt7uf its funny that you need to type things that dont make sense on the internet to make yourself feel better about how your life turned out 🤣🤣

[@AaronFong-u7j]

Lots of torque

[@KiwiCarLife]

And power!

[@chiefrocka8604]

Try a RS Ra legacy OG next

[@KiwiCarLife]

That would be cool!

[@paulking2039]

Had one for a while, big ends went :( Drove like a dream and just drove itself.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Oh no, yeah unfortunately it's a common thing on those

[@deathtoming2201]

Nothing beats that feeling of leaving your foot planted through a corner and not spinning but actually pulling through like it’s on rails is insane and all that from factory no wonder why it was commonly used in robberies in the 90s early 00s put a driver who knows how to drive and handle that car in the city streets sorry but the commodores and falcons couldn’t keep up.. highway is properly another story but at that speed it’s considered to dangerous to the public yanno 😂

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man it’s incredible!

[@moereefer]

Mine didn’t come with those seats and that steering wheel??

[@KiwiCarLife]

Haha yeah nah the owner swapped them out

[@creechaaa]

Want to buy a GC8 type r in Wellington?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Look on trade me man!

[@Niponnai]

Repping the Lawson, nice

[@TheFatSandwhich]

It’s 2021 Alpha Tauri kit sadly

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah haha I got it when I worked at Honda

[@Niponnai]

@@KiwiCarLife loving the content

[@joshuapetherick5794]

Yup 90z subarus are were it was at

[@KiwiCarLife]

Awesome cars

[@dash-kt7uf]

They were at the garage the whole time!!! Notorious unreliable cars

[@evil2rs]

Had a 97 STI RA back in 2005 wasn’t overly impressed, unreliable as hell , all the typical issues from back then. I had a 94 EVO 2RS before it in 2001 so much better car in every way

[@KiwiCarLife]

Interesting, I've driven an immaculate 98 Evo 5 and this 97 STi Type RA, and there was no comparison. Evo was much slower, more understeery, felt heavier, less raw, less connected, boring engine sound. I'd have the subie any day but glad you enjoyed your mitsi. They are good cars for sure

[@evil2rs]

@@KiwiCarLife you are comparing 2 totally different cars there , 1 is a lighter car by about 100kgs , & set up totally different. Go drive an Evo 5 RS if you are comparing to a 97 RA STI . and a Evo 5 gsr with yaw control will leave this for dead in the corners , the 4s onwards with yaw control do feel strange at first but the more you push them the more they reward you , if you crash any Evo with yaw control then you shouldn’t be on the road .EVOS feel slower because they have a lot smoother & more linear power delivery. On a side note , I would donate a kidney to own an any of the mentioned cars again. Love the old school JDM .

[@zeroyon4562]

I agree. The Subaru gives you an illusion of being quicker because they really only come on hard at like 3500rpm, whereas the Evo are more linear. The later twinscroll/avcs cars are a bit better though. Evo steering rack is faster and feel is better too. A Subaru benefits a lot by throwing out the chewing gum bushes throughout the suspension and replacing them with Group N/Hardrace/Nolathane items, to get a Subaru to turn in you need to sort out the rear end. Other items where the Evo is better is the hub and bearing setup, the 5x100 Subaru hubs are small and can’t handle much heat (I cooked wheel bearings in my Type R and version 8) and they flex causing pad knockback, especially with brembo equipped cars. Subaru only sorted that from version 9 onwards when they moved to the 5x114 setup. The version 5 and 6 GC8 are a bit stronger and more reliable than the earlier versions, after they changed to the EJ207 and TY754 case box. GDB shell is a lot stiffer than the GC8 too, drive one back to back and it’s quite apparent. Even though I love Evos and driven them a lot, I’ve never owned one and have had 5 Subarus. There’s something about them, like a Honda, or a BMW. I grew up watching Colin McRae which is probably part of it too. I find the Evo has less soul somehow? I don’t know. The version 7-9 spec c is the ultimate Impreza imo. Thanks for the video kiwicarlife, this made me straight up look on trademe as soon as this was finished lol.

[@ztikmaen]

​@zeroyon4562 Agreed with most of your points but the Type RA gets the 13.1:1 steering rack, so it is a fast ratio. But yes the Evo Vs I drove were certainly more composed and invincible, but the RA just felt a bit more raucous and involving to me personally - It doesn't really hide the sensation speed. This particular car also has solid diff bushings, full cusco body bracing and cusco mounts which make it feel tighter than otherwise

[@barron204]

Damn I want one.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Me too!

[@VincentViolence]

Wait until you drive an R32 GTR. It's like a Subaru on Steriods. Once you have nothing will ever compare to it again. Yes I've driven both.. in fact I was going to buy an exact STI RA before I got the 32. Glad I didn't. 😂

[@ztikmaen]

Very heavy cars

[@simpleisbest3977]

@@ztikmaen yeah I'd rather have a Honda

[@ztikmaen]

@simpleisbest3977 best motoring compared the R32 GTR vs a DC2. The Integra got the better Dougscore.

[@KiwiCarLife]

I've got one in the pipelines, very interested to see how it goes.

[@ztikmaen]

​@KiwiCarLife That will be cool, from what I've experienced they are definitely fast but very different linear power delivery with good power up to redline. Noticeably bigger and smoother cars

[@sircefiro]

Knock knock Who's there? EJ20 Haha, na not bad if they were well serviced, late 80s to early 2000s had the best jdm cars.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah man I reckon even the late 2000's ones were great too, but after that the JDM scene went pretty quiet

[@nix123ism]

Subaru wasn't the only manufacturer to do a boxer powered 4wd, I had an Alfa 33 16v P4 which was boxer powered and 4wd.......it was introduced years before the WRX

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ahh I knew there'd be another one somewhere haha. I even googled it to be sure! I'm eating my words like with the Celica video where I said the 2ZZ and Honda VTECs are the only variable valve lift engines.

[@camleggett2647]

someone give this guy a Pulsar GTI-R to test ;-)

[@KiwiCarLife]

That would be awesome!

[@thedon9670]

Sounds like this has gone ELH on it which is a shame. No boxer rumble.

[@KiwiCarLife]

It does, I prefer it. More sophisticated sound

[@G.RUSH_WGTN04]

That sounds faster than stock

[@KiwiCarLife]

I would have thought so too, but I'm assured that's stock power

[@G.RUSH_WGTN04]

@KiwiCarLife can u do a review on early shape Evo 123

[@Vikturus22]

At least it doesnt sound like all boxer engines under load.

[@ztikmaen]

Yeah haha this one has equal length headers so no rumble this time

[@KiwiCarLife]

Ohhhhhhh that's why! I was wondering why it sounded a bit BRZ'y... the ver 3 WRX STi I reviewed last time sounded verrry rumbly like most Subarus do. I was surprised this one didn't, but that makes sense now

[@jingorooroad2559]

There's a more hardcore, the WRX STI Spec-C Type RA-R. The RA-R is always the ultimate version in all Impreza generations (only the 22B, was better than the RA-R). RA-R are limited editions, that's the only problem. The RA-R is famous for making more power, and being amazingly tuned by STI. It receives turbo with balls bearing, giving it a great responses at any rpms, and giving it litteraly no lags. The most finely tuned. It seems like on the GC8 there were only calling it Type RA, not yet RA-R. Need to investigate it more.

[@ztikmaen]

There is no RA-R GC8

[@KiwiCarLife]

Quick google suggests there is an RA-R? Interesting nonethelesss!

[@jingorooroad2559]

@@KiwiCarLife There was a Spec-C but the RA-R only arrived on other generations. Honestly the type RA really feels like a RA-R by the speed and the way it takes the corners.

[@PulsarOCE]

Bro said this was the best one it's a 4 door the 2 door is the type r

[@KiwiCarLife]

The 4 door is actually lighter believe it or not, and they have the same wheelbase. So there wouldn't be much of a difference in the drive

[@AllDayBlazer89]

Only thing faster was a ra coupe!

[@Birmingham_racing]

Or 22b

[@ztikmaen]

There is no RA Coupe, but there is a Type R. It's heavier though with the same powertrain

[@thedon9670]

no such car mate.

[@RandomlnternetGuy]

RA means 4 door. R means 2 door. Not the same as the RA's from the GD+ generation.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah weird how Japanese brands would change the name like that to denote subtle differences. I remember the Torneo SiR was the manual one and SiR-T was the auto.

[@spacedog2980]

Looks hella fun to drive but who the hell drives without music

[@bestcrazyboy8487]

Listen to the engine ffs

[@spacedog2980]

@@bestcrazyboy8487 bro even says on long drives you should wear earplugs lol. Fun toy but completely impractical in the real world

[@ztikmaen]

​@@spacedog2980I use a Bluetooth speaker for music haha

[@joshklaver47]

People with nice sounding cars.

[@spacedog2980]

@@joshklaver47 so nice that you need earplugs?

[@pnmanktelow]

That front lip is disgusting

[@KiwiCarLife]

I think it's alright?

[@keesie75]

That homemade gauge pod too with that ugly cupholder. It would've had one stock covering up those screws.

[@doaSkid69]

Didn't they have a 5th injector ?

[@KiwiCarLife]

Maybe? Not sure