Subaru Impreza WRX Type RA STI Limited Version 6

[Prohibiting]

Welcome to my Readers thread for possibly one of the longest vehicle names ever….

I imported this car from Japan in February 2022 using an import agent and it has been a dream car of mine for years. Prior to this Subaru I’ve owned a humble Turbo 2000 and a Version 4 Type RA STI.

This Version 6 is a Limited model to just 2,000 models released for the Japanese market but only 1,577 were produced.

The Type RA model stands for “Rally/Race altered” that focuses on being a fully-fledged sports model. It includes weight saving measures plus a range of special enhancements to offer an incredible raw driving experience. Being an STI version, it also includes the addition of various fine tunings dedicated to Impreza STI models. Finally, as a Limited edition model, it includes extra unique features (mainly cosmetic).

Subaru models can get extremely confusing with all of the different versions and models but I will summarise to the best of my knowledge about my car. I may not be 100% accurate but have taken the research mainly from Type-ra.com.

Special Enhancements/Features as standard:
- WRC type roof flap/ventilator
- Adjustable DCCD (Driver's Control Centre Differential). Allows you to adjust the differential lock ratio of the LSD (limited slip differential) as necessary. Adjustable torque to the rear wheels 70:30 front, or lock it up to a 50:50 split
- Front helical LSD and R180 rear diff
- Quick steering rack (13:1)
- 16 inch RAYS lightweight forged wheels
- Lightweight aluminium bonnet and thinner glass
- No ABS, no side skirts, no fog lamps, no rear wiper
- Manual/auto intercooler water spray
- Exclusive ‘sonic blue mica’ body colour with colour coded wing mirrors
- Serial number plaque
- Six-star front grille emblem (cherry red)
- Titanium WRC gear knob
- Exclusive blue front seats
- Exclusive blue dash and gear surround
- Aluminium sports pedals
- Auto air conditioning
- Power windows and wing mirrors
- Central locking
- Super lightweight, 1260kg

Standard STI Specs:
- 2-litre EJ20 STI engine, 280bhp and 260 ft/lb torque standard specification
- 7900 RPM red line, stronger engine/factory forged pistons, and a more aggressive setup
- VF28 turbo
- 4-pot fronts, 2-pot rear callipers
- Close ratio 5 speed transmission
- STI suspension
- STI strut brace
- STI intercooler
- Larger rear spoiler

In Japan going through USS auction house


Collection day


Home

Edited by Prohibiting on Saturday 5th March 17:16

[R12many]

Lovely car, great choice.

[emmetb]

Epic car and the right colour too, had 5 Impreza in my time and the classic shape is still the icon. I remember this particular version as being somewhat special. Presumably coming from Japan there is less chance of the nasty rear end corrosion that afflicts many of the classic shape Imprezas in the UK. Will you be undersealing it at all?

[RB Will]

Great choice, a friend of mine has just picked up another nice RA

[AC43]

I test drove a Version 4 back in the day. Astonishingly capable through the bends. Quite unlike anything I'd ever driven up to that point.

[MDL111]

That looks very nice - congrats

[Prohibiting]

emmetb said:

Epic car and the right colour too, had 5 Impreza in my time and the classic shape is still the icon. I remember this particular version as being somewhat special. Presumably coming from Japan there is less chance of the nasty rear end corrosion that afflicts many of the classic shape Imprezas in the UK. Will you be undersealing it at all?

Correct. The Version 6 (year 2000) is the last of the “classic” Impreza shapes and are very sought after, especially the STI versions from Japan. This is super clean underneath being a Jap import and yes, I had her undersealed as soon as she landed on UK shores!

I took her to Caffeine and Machine today and was put right at the entrance



There’s a few bits I want to do and I will update this thread accordingly, but she’s staying pretty much factory standard.

Edited by Prohibiting on Sunday 6th March 16:13

[SteveGrosvenor]

Very nice indeed. Happened to have a good look at this today at C&M, then come home and spot this thread!

(fellow Subaru owner, although nothing like yours, sadly).

Edited by SteveGrosvenor on Sunday 6th March 16:39

[scottos]

That looks awesome, great buy! A friend had what i think is a very similar model, it was a 3 door and didnt have the roof scoop (from memory) but was a JDM model with that engine and all the rest of the fancy bits. We went over to the Nurburgring in it and i really kinda fell for it, it was awesome!

[Stevil]

scottos said:

That looks awesome, great buy! A friend had what i think is a very similar model, it was a 3 door and didnt have the roof scoop (from memory) but was a JDM model with that engine and all the rest of the fancy bits. We went over to the Nurburgring in it and i really kinda fell for it, it was awesome!

Think that'll be the Type R by the sounds of it. I remember nearly going for a Type RA myself around 15 years ago, but it was just out of reach back then and I always look back and wonder.

Looks awesome and I hope you enjoy many happy years in it.

[emmetb]

Prohibiting said:

Correct. The Version 6 (year 2000) is the last of the “classic” Impreza shapes and are very sought after, especially the STI versions from Japan. This is super clean underneath being a Jap import and yes, I had her undersealed as soon as she landed on UK shores!

I took her to Caffeine and Machine today and was put right at the entrance

There’s a few bits I want to do and I will update this thread accordingly, but she’s staying pretty much factory standard.

Nice one, she's a beauty and yes I think more or less standard is the way to go as apart from anything it will preserve the value. I modded the heck out of a couple of mine and to be honest it devalued them even at the time. That said the WRX Type RA Ltd V6 is a substantial road weapon out of the box. Look forward to the updates.

[plenty]

emmetb said:

Nice one, she's a beauty and yes I think more or less standard is the way to go as apart from anything it will preserve the value. I modded the heck out of a couple of mine and to be honest it devalued them even at the time. That said the WRX Type RA Ltd V6 is a substantial road weapon out of the box. Look forward to the updates.

100%. With such a special car factory standard is the only way, except for perhaps a remap and P1/P11L springs which drive much better than STI v6 springs on British roads and are easily reversible.

[ChrisCh86]

A beautiful and very special car, it must have cost a lot given the recent price increases in anything JDM!

Enjoy

[Prohibiting]

plenty said:

emmetb said:

Nice one, she's a beauty and yes I think more or less standard is the way to go as apart from anything it will preserve the value. I modded the heck out of a couple of mine and to be honest it devalued them even at the time. That said the WRX Type RA Ltd V6 is a substantial road weapon out of the box. Look forward to the updates.

100%. With such a special car factory standard is the only way, except for perhaps a remap and P1/P11L springs which drive much better than STI v6 springs on British roads and are easily reversible.

To be honest, the JDM STI springs aren’t too bad. But this is probably because my daily driver is a Clio 172 Cup with Cooks springs. The 172 Cup is very hard in comparison!

In terms of mods, I’m basically aiming for a stage 1 remap (exhaust, panel filter, map) and that’s it. But no rush!

ChrisCh86 said:

A beautiful and very special car, it must have cost a lot given the recent price increases in anything JDM!

Enjoy

Yes, to be honest it was now or neither. As said, it’s been pretty much a dream car of mine. I remember just a few years ago you could get one for £10k and 90’s/00’s JDM cars are rocketing in price. I made the man maths work, just. But it means I won’t be moving house anytime soon

[Prohibiting]

First few goodies have arrived… I managed to find a mint condition OEM factory upgrade Subaru-Kenwood Limited stereo as per the brochure which will replace the aftermarket Japanese SatNav unit currently fitted.





Upgraded OSRAM headlamp bulbs to replace the candles:


Gear linkage and knuckle rebuild kit to remove the play/slop in the gear stick:

Edited by Prohibiting on Wednesday 9th March 09:52

[RB Will]

OP your Mrs looks thrilled with the trip to C&M
Car looks good though

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca4WNy6MoHI/?utm_mediu...

[Prohibiting]

RB Will said:

OP your Mrs looks thrilled with the trip to C&M
Car looks good though

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca4WNy6MoHI/?utm_mediu...

We’ve both had a laugh at that! She’s told me she is more than happy to be dragged along to car shows but she gets cold with the roof vent open

Edited by Prohibiting on Wednesday 9th March 19:35

[Prohibiting]

I’ve been busy this week cramming in some jobs after work before the evenings get dark.

Seats before:


Seats after (wet vac’d and logo touched up):


All wheels off, cleaned and sealed. Before:


After:




Gave the STI backbox a little polish while the car was up on stands:

[austinsmirk]

Lovely. I had one ooooooh maybe in about 2005 I wish I had tucked it away and kept it. Awesome thing. Full black leather interior and heated seats. Nice !

[trails]

That is lovely. Great to see totally standard without the splitter and side skirts too.

Head unit is pretty darn cool, never even seen one before. Looking forward to seeing it fitted