1995 Subaru Impreza STi Type RA

[RESSE]

My STi Type RA car that is gradually being tidied up and returned to standard as much as possible.

It has just passed 50,000 miles and in very good condition - just a few cosmetic 'tweaks' to do, but a good starting point, and is a perfect weekend 'toy'.

When the car was imported (firstly into Guernsey and then to the mainland) DVLA decided it should be on a 52 plate (no idea why).

[The Nur]

I've always fancied an RA. Does this one have all the fancy diff controls, etc?

[RESSE]

The Nur said:

I've always fancied an RA. Does this one have all the fancy diff controls, etc?

Short answer is 'yes'.

[rainmasterb]

Very nice. How much further will you go in terms of returning it to standard spec?

I'm quite surprised these don't command more attention and therefore money. Rare, lightweight, fast, adjustable, reliable....And awfully cheap! Granted, it's not something the wife will take much pleasure in, but as a driving-for-fun tool, I can't think of much else that gets close against the criteria I just listed.

I'm quite tempted with a bone stock v1 or 2, original 15" rims and no boot spoiler - would certainly stand out from the typical Impreza crowd.

[RESSE]

rainmasterb said:

Very nice. How much further will you go in terms of returning it to standard spec?

I'm quite surprised these don't command more attention and therefore money. Rare, lightweight, fast, adjustable, reliable....And awfully cheap! Granted, it's not something the wife will take much pleasure in, but as a driving-for-fun tool, I can't think of much else that gets close against the criteria I just listed.

I'm quite tempted with a bone stock v1 or 2, original 15" rims and no boot spoiler - would certainly stand out from the typical Impreza crowd.

Standard wise - not too much to do (thank goodness).

She needs new clutch and new inter-cooler and that is about it.

[melvster]

Fantastic Nice to see you are keeping it close to OEM spec.

[Nikko 40691]

Jesus I love these.

[The Nur]

RESSE said:

Short answer is 'yes'.

Thanks, really informative. What is the point of posting pictures if you aren't going to post any detail?

Or is this a Scooby snob thing and you aren't willing to tell me because I don't already know the full spec that an RA should come with?

Apologies if I have got the wrong end of the stick but I just don't understand the purpose of posting a thread about your car and effectively batting away interest in it.

[Terminator X]

He did answer your question though, perhaps you should have worded it better to avoid a yes / no answer?

TX.

[The Nur]

Terminator X said:

He did answer your question though, perhaps you should have worded it better to avoid a yes / no answer?

TX.

You see, normally when people post a thread like this they post some information about the car along with pictures. Typically more information than just the mileage.

Is it really that unusual to expect some information to go with the pictures? Isn't that the point of Readers Cars?

I'll put it another way. Why post pictures and then snub someone when they want to know more? I specifically asked about the diffs and other equipment that are specific to RAs but I was still snubbed. Whether it was open to a yes or no answer is irrelevant.

[GravelBen]

Very nice, have been a couple of times I've come close to buying ver.2 STi-RA V-ltds but both times ended up going a bit more practical instead. Getting really hard to find good ones now though.

[deltashad]

A friend of mine had one of these, well, a neighbour, I had the integrale and he had the Subaru.
I thought my car was far superior to his, until he told me about the whole RA thing and gave me a shot. I was wrong.

It was imminent we would either become best friends or arch enemies. Thankfully we became good friends, haven't seen him for about 6 years, no idea if he still has the car. He vowed it would never be up for sale.

Very nice car OP. Hold onto it, these will become appreciating assets.

[RESSE]

The Nur said:

Thanks, really informative. What is the point of posting pictures if you aren't going to post any detail?

Or is this a Scooby snob thing and you aren't willing to tell me because I don't already know the full spec that an RA should come with?

Apologies if I have got the wrong end of the stick but I just don't understand the purpose of posting a thread about your car and effectively batting away interest in it.

Apologies my answer was typed in haste.

The car is a WRX STi Version (I don't think there was an official Version 1) and was produced between November 1994 and August 1995.

Number Produced build-to-order production of 50 units per month
Price new (Yen) 2,738,000
Power Output 275ps / 235 ft/lb torque
Turbo Mitsubishi TD05H

Available Colours Feather White: 230
Aerial Position Driver A pillar Length
4340mm Width 1690mm Height 1405mm Weight 1200Kg Mirrors Manual / Black Side Skirts None
Wheels/Tyres 16″ 205/50/16 RE010
I/C Water Spray Yes Rear Wash/Wipe No
Fuel Tank 60 Litres
Front Disc Size 277mm
Front Calipers 2 piston opposing
Rear Disc Size 266mm
Rear Calipers Single pot
ABS No
Front Diff Open
Centre Diff DCCD
Rear Diff Mechanical LSD
Steering Rack 15:1 with optional 13:1 quickrack
Gearing
1st: 3.454
2nd: 2.333
3rd: 1.750
4th: 1.354
5th: 0.972
Final Drive
3.90
DCCD Yes
Red Line 7500 RPM
ECU Z5

DCCD

DRIVER'S CONTROL CENTER DIFF
The intent of this mechanism is to adjust the diff lock ratio of the LSD (limited slip differential) as necessary.

Adjusting the dial to "diff free" (indicator: green, empty square, empty triangle) under normal driving conditions, and "diff lock" (bright orange solid triangle) on gravel, snow, in the rain, is effective (probably means suggested). By setting the diff lock ratio as necessary, depending on the various roads and running conditions, unrivaled driving mobility will be demonstrated.


USING THE CONTROL DIAL

The dial is located next to the handbrake lever, rotating it fully forward is diff free, rotating it fully backward is diff lock. You can continuously change the diff lock ratio using the settings in between.

DIFF FREE: No front and rear LSD (Front to rear power distribution=36:64)

DIFF LOCK: The front and rear have an almost direct connection. (Front to rear power distribution=front/rear load distribution)

INDICATOR (ON THE METER DISPLAY)

The diff lock ratio is displayed at one of six settings, as it is linked to the control dial. The upper lighted block (orange solid triangle) indicates a greater direct connection.

The true lock ratio can be continuously changed.

ADVICE

• The indicator is the criterion.

• Regardless of what the dial settings are, LOCK will illuminate for one second after the key is turned to the on position.

• At night, while your driving lights are on, the display may appear to go dark for a moment, but this is normal.

CANCELLATION OF DIFFLOCK

Even if the DCCD is set to LOCK (orange), by pulling the hand brake lever, it will automatically go to DIFF FREE, moving all power to the rear wheels. (linked to the brake warning light) However, the indicator will not change.

Once you release the hand brake lever, the DCCD will return to its proper setting.

TIGHT CORNER BRAKING PHENOMENON (makes more sense once you read the following)

When the indicator is orange while driving on dry tarmac/asphalt, corners, and even reverse parking, due to the rotational difference between the front and rear wheels, there are cases where heavy vibration and noise may occur during braking.

Though this is not out of the ordinary, and to resolve this "problem", you can simply either set the DCCD to DIFF FREE or pull the hand brake enough so that the brake warning light illuminates.

While you may feel a light "shock" when using the control dial during quick acceleration and tight cornering, due to the movement of the center diff, this is normal.

I hope that answers your question in more detail?

Please let me know.

[RESSE]

When Subaru Tecnica International produced the cars there was an extensive options list - unfortunately I do not have access to this at the moment.

Some had wind up windows and no air-con (mine has air-con and electric windows (no central locking)).

There is a 'myth' (is that the right word?) that the glass was thinner and panels were alloy.

The bonnet is alloy and all the other panels are as per standard Impreza.

[Terminator X]

I used to own a Spec C. On the day I picked it up the wife went out for a spin in it and when she returned it was making an awful racket, we both thought it was broken turns out that she had switched the diff from auto to manual (thought it was the central locking button!) and it was making a simply awful grinding noise as she reversed the car in to the drive on full lock! Put it back to auto and all was ok

TX.

[The Nur]

Thanks very much

I now know many things that I didn't know before about Impreza RAs

[RESSE]

The Nur said:

Thanks very much

I now know many things that I didn't know before about Impreza RAs

Delighted you found the information helpful, and once again sorry my initial reply was so short.

This is a link to the Japanese Domestic Market Impreza Timeline:

http://www.type-ra.com/impreza-timeline/

[GC8]

My favourite Impreza:

Altered production STI Type-RA. Converted from series production WRX Type-RAs (so keeping their applied model number) and far more desirable than the original altered production STIs, or the STI Version 2 series production cars that followed it (and the SP STI Type-RAs too).

That this wasn't used for seven years and is therefore cleaner and newer than any of the others that I have seen just makes me want it even more.

275PS
DCCD

WANT!

/Impreza geek

[plenty]

rainmasterb said:

I'm quite surprised these don't command more attention and therefore money. Rare, lightweight, fast, adjustable, reliable....And awfully cheap! Granted, it's not something the wife will take much pleasure in, but as a driving-for-fun tool, I can't think of much else that gets close against the criteria I just listed.

I'm quite tempted with a bone stock v1 or 2, original 15" rims and no boot spoiler - would certainly stand out from the typical Impreza crowd.

I presume it's the perceived image that keeps people away. Another MY95 STi RA in what appeared to be in excellent low-mileage condition went for (an advertised price of) £4,300 the other week. That's a ridiculous amount of performance and raw driver appeal per pound.

[GC8]

RESSE said:

The car is a WRX STi Version (I don't think there was an official Version 1) and was produced between November 1994 and August 1995.

Spot on. STI built altered production Saloons and SportsWagons (Saloons initially with Acropolis plaques, then with number of month plaques for both types).

This is their second take on the STI, again theyre converted series production cars, but now WRX Type-RAs rather than WRXs. Rarer and definitely more desirable with the introduction of a driver controllable centre diff and a rallyesque air vent in the roof.

The first STIs were B-Series cars and the STI Type-RA is a C1-Series. When the C2-Series launched for the 1996 model year they started building WRX STIs (and STI Type-RAs too) on the production line, which have their own applied model numbers (ending 4ED and 4DD respectively), which were launched as the WRX STI Version 2.