RE: Spotted: Subaru Impreza R205

RE: Spotted: Subaru Impreza R205

Tuesday 29th May 2012

Spotted: Subaru Impreza R205

The Japanese are always keeping the best special editions to themselves - this one made it over though!



Keeping track of special edition Imprezas is a thankless task, the Japanese love of spinning increasingly rare and eclectic versions off essentially the same platform meaning there's a whole sub-culture of hardcore Subarus we never even see. Back in the day of course an import signifying square rear numberplate was enough to gain added kudos among fellow Scooby drivers. Turn up with a two-door Type R or - better still - one with a roof vent and you were nothing short of a hero.

Relatively subtle outside, hardcore underneath
Relatively subtle outside, hardcore underneath
These days it's all a bit more underground, Subaru UK catering those who can't kick the Scooby habit with its limited run Cosworth enhanced CS400 versions and diehards like Crossroads Subaru developing specials like the time attack inspired TA340C Harris drove recently. The Japanese still dig on their ultra-exclusive hot Scoobies though, like this R205 offered for sale in Manchester.

From the outside it looks pretty much standard fare STI hatch. Underneath it's a whole lot more exotic, the super-zingy, 8,000rpm JDM 2.0-litre boxer four offering a much more explosive delivery than the 2.5-litre chugger we get.

OK, equal length headers means no Subaru burble but that's a fair trade for the kind of throttle response regular STI owners could only dream of.

Based on the 2009 STI Spec C, the R205 takes that car's roller-bearing twin-scroll turbo, stiffer suspension bushings, Torsen rear diff, reinforced front cross member, aluminium bonnet, lighter glass and lightweight battery ... and goes further still!

Just 400 R205s were built and one is here
Just 400 R205s were built and one is here
Drawing on experience gained in the Nurburgring 24-hour, the R205 gets inverted strut STI dampers up front with STI springs and dampers at the back and specific STI adjustable upper strut brace and additional bracing across the lower suspension arms. The engine gets a tweaked ECU, specific exhaust - titanium on this car - and various other upgrades. Officially power rises to 320hp over the Spec C's 308hp but this one is apparently packing 400hp. OK, it can't match the Cosworth for torque - 318lb ft as standard against the 2.5's 400lb ft - but it'll be very much zingier in character.

A Subaru geek's delight in other words, the R205 the latest in a long line of super special Imprezas that started with the spectacular (OK, spectacularly ugly) S201 back in 2000 and has evolved through S202, 203 and 204. There's now an S206 too, this hatchback 205 the only one on the country according to the vendor.

OK, it's not cheap at £40K. But it's a fair comparison to the prices asked for the Cosworth CS400s also in the PH classifieds at the moment and, arguably, even more hardcore.


SUBARU IMPREZA R205
Engine:
1,994cc flat-4, turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 320@6,400rpm*
Torque (lb ft): 318@4,000rpm*
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 5,000
Price new: 4.5m Yen (plus taxes)*
Yours for: £40,000
*All figures as per official manufacturer spec

See the original advert here. The full geek spec on the car from Subaru's Japanese site can be seen here.

 

 

 

Author
Discussion

Trusty Steed

Original Poster:

288 posts

193 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Soon to be seen racing round a council estate near you!!

Shade

91 posts

167 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Want. Badly!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Trusty Steed said:
Soon to be seen racing round a council estate near you!!
That is such a dumb ass view of the world rolleyes

HonestIago

1,719 posts

185 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Trusty Steed said:
Soon to be seen racing round a council estate near you!!
Yeah...all £40k's worth rolleyes

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
I'm not a Subaru geek, or even much of a Japanese fan to be honest, however have the upmost respect for their abilities and their following.

This car, however, is something to covet. The fact that it's so annonymous only adds to the appeal.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
mat205125 said:
This car, however, is something to covet. The fact that it's so annonymous only adds to the appeal.
yes It's just a shame that the top-mounted inter-cooler requires that rather tacky bonnet vent. It'd be much nicer with a smooth bonnet.

And it has equal length headers, which is a major plus point for me.

v8will

3,301 posts

195 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
HonestIago said:
Yeah...all £40k's worth rolleyes
More likely to get nicked! hence being seen in a council estate somewhere

What happened the epic Sub/Mitsi battles of the late 90's/early 00's? The motoring press seems to be quiet with tales of the Evo and Impreza in the past few years.

JMF894

5,478 posts

154 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
No thanks

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
thats a lot of money for a fast taxi ..

Crow555

1,037 posts

193 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
v8will said:
More likely to get nicked! hence being seen in a council estate somewhere

What happened the epic Sub/Mitsi battles of the late 90's/early 00's? The motoring press seems to be quiet with tales of the Evo and Impreza in the past few years.
With both having left the WRC in recent years, I think that was the start of it. Mitsubishi Evos became more focused and hardcore and Subarus got softer (in comparison), they weren't like-for-like rivals anymore.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
v8will said:
What happened the epic Sub/Mitsi battles of the late 90's/early 00's? The motoring press seems to be quiet with tales of the Evo and Impreza in the past few years.
I agree, although I guess cost and in some cases the lack of anything really interesting compared to what they used to do might be the reasons. Also I suspect current road tax regs and fuel prices have hit such cars badly. So much so I can't even recall the last time I saw an Evo X on the road, reckon it was about this time last year in fact.

Graebob

2,172 posts

206 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Read the article, interesting.

Saw the price.

Read the price again.

Laughed.

KB_S1

5,967 posts

228 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Dave Hedgehog said:
thats a lot of money for a fast taxi ..
Yeah, you could buy a Golf for that money...

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
KB_S1 said:
Dave Hedgehog said:
thats a lot of money for a fast taxi ..
Yeah, you could buy a Golf for that money...
What, you mean a slow taxi? hehe

AWG

854 posts

155 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Obviously big fan of teh scoob but £40k... they can keep it!

You can build your own rare and unique track beauty for less than that.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
AWG said:
You can build your own rare and unique track beauty for less than that.
That depends rather on how much you value your own time at.

v8will

3,301 posts

195 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
I agree, although I guess cost and in some cases the lack of anything really interesting compared to what they used to do might be the reasons. Also I suspect current road tax regs and fuel prices have hit such cars badly. So much so I can't even recall the last time I saw an Evo X on the road, reckon it was about this time last year in fact.
I can't really subscribe to the road tax and fuel thing, plenty of motors in the highest tax band and there seems to be more v8s and the like on the road than ever.

In fact, thinking about it I saw at least 3 63 AMG Mercs yesterday, rare enough in these parts, maybe 1 Sub and certainly not a single Evo.

Maybe 'that' type of buyer has moved on from the turbo nutter bd AWD cars to heavier stuff?

Edit: Crow mentions the WRC thing, that'll be it...

Johnboy Mac

2,666 posts

177 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
I'm sure this is one hell of a car and can justify it's price tag when it comes to actually driving. But it's not for me. The general Impreza image, on top of which you're stuck with the bonnet scoop as already mentioned, the Subaru blue, the darkened windows, the front bumper (the ducting for the brakes) and the dark alloys. Otherwise I'd love to aspire to buying this or the Euro version. No doubt my loss.

Limpet

6,293 posts

160 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
It's one of those cars whose ability I have a huge amount of respect for, but I just don't "want" one. Can't explain why.

DanDC5

18,747 posts

166 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
quotequote all
Never thought I'd say this, but the hatchback Impreza's are really growing on me finally.