Thursday 6th April 2017

Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C RA-R: Spotted

With the £100K 22B now a reality, a £25K RA-R is looking even more tempting

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Theory goes that the more numbers and letters after your JDM special, the more exciting the car they're attached to. Put an 'RS' after 'Mitsubishi', 'Evo' plus any number of roman numerals and you're onto a winner; add 'Spirit R' onto an RX-7 and, while it may sound like an air freshener, the result is awesome. And the 'V' in 'V-Spec' sounds for victory - who wouldn't want that?

An Impreza to most, but you know better...

Nowhere is that theory more strongly supported than with Subaru Imprezas. A WRX STI is an interesting car. A Spec C is a bit special. But a WRX STI Spec C RA-R? Now we're talking, if you can actually say it.

This car was the last fast Impreza saloon, what with cars now simply badged 'WRX STI'. But it's far, far more special than simply being the end of the line. This was STI showing exactly what could be done with an Impreza, and the end result was spectacular. The 2.0-litre engine as used in the JDM Imprezas was fully blueprinted and used a new twin-scroll turbo, revised intake and new exhaust to make 320hp, this in addition to the more aggressive cams, uprated pistons and stronger con-rods used in the Japanese cars that the British ones didn't have.

It was 70kg lighter than a WRX STI thanks to reduced soundproofing, thinner glass, a lighter battery and even a thinner roof. The steering was quickened. The brakes were made bigger with huge Brembo six-piston calipers. The suspension was overhauled too, lower than a Spec C and with 'STI aluminium pillowball lateral links with bushings'. Which sound fancy. Everything was ramped up to make this the most intense and rewarding Impreza ever. Sounds like quite the car, doesn't it?

Trick internals, revs to eight and goes fast - good

Just 300 were made for Japan, so to find one in the UK is rare. To find one in white - of which just 125 were made - is even more notable. This car was imported just last year, has less than 60,000 miles recorded and will be sold with a fresh cambelt. It has been modified, which initially sounds concerning, but is nothing more drastic than a tad more power, a couple of tweaks inside and some different brake pads. Nothing has been fundamentally altered, it would appear.

The advert is knowledgeable, the seller is clearly a fan (he's had a Spec C Type RA at the same time, and is selling to buy a GT-R) and it's MoT'd until the end of the year. You will never be spoilt for choice of RA-R Imprezas, but this one looks particularly nice. To some £24K for a 10-year-old Impreza will look ludicrous; to others it will be one of the most thrilling cars to ever come out of Japan and, in a world of the £100K 22B, the £50K Evo VI and the £85K GT-R Nur, perhaps not all that excessive.

Just as a final point, here's a Tsukuba Best Motoring vid from when the RA-R. In it the Impreza posts a best lap three tenths off an NSX-R and makes mincemeat of the other assembled Japanese metal. It's that good!

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SUBARU IMPREZA RA-R
Engine: 1,994cc, turbocharged 4-cyl boxer
Transmission: 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 324@6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 319@4,400rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 58,000 miles
Year registered: 2006
Price new: 4,284,000 Yen
Price now: £23,950

See the original advert here

[leef44]

Wow, this car is spot on. It would be my perfect Impreza had I been in the market for one. I like the honesty of the owner in terms of having bought it originally for investment purpose but I would want to really use it. Difficult to gauge the price but I guess it's what it is due to exclusivity.