Thoughts on the first generations (GC8) WRX? I'm thinking

There is a Ontario guy here with a white GC8, hopefully he can help you out.

It's the only car that beat Dagumi so it must be good.

>>16152878
Why? What does it do better than a civic or corolla xrs or a sentra ser?

>>16152907
More powerful engine with AWD.

>>16152878
They're easily the best generation of STI if you don't mind the fact that it's a deathtrap compared to the GD.

>>16152923

Can't you just tune/swap a normal Subaru? Going through all that trouble to import a fancy Impreza doesn't seem worth it. At least get something more unique.

Everything here in Canada is going to be rusted to hell, at least an import should hopefully be rust free.

>>16152923
Awd is unnecessary and you trade reliability for that power.

>>16152878
Don't daily drive it that's a waste, use it as a fun car.

JDM classic sti's, a Type-R will be the best investment and will probably rocket up in value over the next few years and you get the DCCD box.

Very fast car, very light, excellent for backroads/mountain roads/"touge"

Really comes to life with some handling mods

Modding is also not terrible hard but the key part is the tuning.

Basically every impreza part is interchangeable which means you can drop in gearboxes, engines, diffs, brakes etc from a lot of generations into the classic - common mods are the brembo brakes from the more modern STI which are v cheap for what they are, dropping in factory 2.5 shortblocks, 2.2 stroker kits, twinscroll conversions, dropping in 6spd or DCCD drivetrains from more modern imprezas.

All those modifications can make an insane car, the later ver GC STI's are around 2800lb and with 280-300hp they are fast, going to 400-500 with some of the more common mods makes a crazy car.

>>16152967
It's actually pretty easy to import a car from what I've researched. The hardest thing is finding a decent RHD insurance plan.

The used Subaru market is pretty retarded here.
>2003 WRX STI (NOT ACTUALLY AN STI, BUT IT HAS SOME STI PARTS!)
>60,000km!!** (**330,000km on the body)
>Only on it's third engine!
>Rusted to shit
>$13,000, no low balls or test pilots

>>16152993

The cost of a clean import plus those mods puts you into used BRZ/FRS with a turbo kit territory. Is it worth it?

>>16153007

That's the used turbo Subaru market EVERYWHERE.

>>16152923
their are awd civics and other car for that role. you could also simply buy a cheap AWD station wagon for much cheaper . so your argument is invalid .

>>16152993
Pretty much, at least he's saying he won't drive it in the winter. Given that most WRXs in general are rot boxes (even in Japan, yes it snows in the North and Mountains) that should preserve it for a while.

Go for a Ver4-6 STi Wagon. Just get a conservative retune by a guy who knows those cars after doing little BS boltons (exhaust, tmic, intake) and get a AFR/oil pressure gauges to keep it from imploding.

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>>16152878
long story short we have the highest subaru ownership outside of japan.
>going to import gc8
dont. you can spend crazy money on that or convert or non turbo or buy a forrester turbo(same wrx engine etc just more ground clearance)
if you are going to import a car for fun, get a fun car like a TVR something that they cant have in the usa.
subarus have more problems than your average car.
>cambelts
>water pumps
par for the course
>oil pump drives
> coil packs
also
>head gaskets and thats a engine out job...
>sometimes clutch and gear boxes the bane of WRX ownership. there is no standard gearbox that will handle any decent horsepower unless you upgrade to straight cut gearset. $$$$
requires premium fuel if you want your turbo to stay alive and drinks worse than a v8.

easily stolen too

in conclusion: money pits. save your cash for something better.

If it makes any difference I plan on keeping it completely stock (or as stock as I can get it). Only thing I would do is tune it for 91 octane.

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>>16152878
get a GT4 instead

>>16152878
I'd do it. But then again I am very attracted to that car.

>>16153030
With the mods I listed it would blow the doors of near anything on the street or around the track.

It's a far, far faster car than a BRZ stock with a lot of tuning potential but it's also a different type of car.

The DCCD ones are set up much more for oversteer but AWD GC8's are a different experience than an FRS

The GC8 STI is a very raw experience though, much more than a BRZ.

>>16153102
>cambelts and water pumps
Why would you list these, this is every car unless you have chains and those can be an equal nightmare

>coil packs and oil pumps
Erm, again never heard anything on these more than any other car on the EJ207 engine code which is what he wants (import)

>headgaskets
Again not really an issue if an import and you keep the service proper.

>Gearbox
STI JDM Boxes are fine, and replacement boxes aren't expensive since pretty much any part from any impreza fits everything else and if you ever want to go for power you can pick up 6spd transmissions from later models that are easily good for 600hp

>Drinks fuel/premium fuel
I get 28-30mpg driving sensibly but why would you import a GC8 STI to drive it sensibly, you're going to be hammering it in which case any car will drink fuel.

Any decently tuned turbo car will require premium gas and almost all 'performance' cars do since knock-resistance is by far the easiest and best tuning method.

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my 00 gc8

great car desu

>>16153403
It's hilarious how old reviews used to complain about the ugliness of the GC8 generation.

It's by far the best looking Impreza.

>>16153007
Find a used one from an older enthusiast. Yes, it will be modded and slightly overpriced like every WRX, but it will at least be in good condition.

>>16153403
I love how they look so much.

>>16152967
A lot of the Jap imports have rusted underbody's. They salt the roads there too. I just had to have my freshly imported JDM 07 STI redone for that very reason.

Having owned a gc8 but the 2.5rs model I can say the following:
>DDable
>fun handling
>parts are like legos, every model fits everything.
>maintenance is "meh"
Some engines are more prone to fail than others. People go after the 2.2 NA because of its closed deck properties, in other words, indestructible.
Same for the turbo engines I reckon they are called the "ej20g"
If you have to swap for an STi make it worth it and dish out the big boy bucks for the v8 STi engine from the bugeye usdm for readily available parts and obd2 and jdm is close to the same but I think it made more power.

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>>16153007
my rhd insurance(01 forester stb) is the same price as a regular subaru forester turbo. I find it interesting that BCIT doesn't even inspect the car when they insure it. for all they know the car could be on fire in the parking lot and they'd give you the plates to insure it.
>>16153083
shut the hell up with your "Buy a civic" rhetoric. Dude clearly isn't looking for a grocery getter.
>>16153102
>shits on subaru reliability.
>Suggests getting a TVR
Quality logic there. RHD cars are far less common to be stolen because of how uncommon they are and how uncomfortable they can be for a thief to drive. The premium fuel gambit is going to be par for the course for any turbo'd sports car.
>>16153241
Decent answer, gt-4's are pretty damn cool cars.

The first gen WRX is a nice looking car and due to it's lightweight style it can be a total sleeper. Unfortunately they are pretty damn small, the fuel consumption is high and the prices won't be getting any lower anytime soon. The cheapest i've seen is 8,000$ for one that had 100,000+km's on it. Keep in mind that japan doesn't have the long distance roads we have here in canada so 100,000km is actually quite a lot considering the potential amount of city driving it has been through. The safety standards are also sketchy.

>>16154271
forgot to add that a rs might be a bit smarter of a purchase. The WRX definetly has a lot more power, but you can easily get that same power with an engine swap in an RS. And then you don't have to deal with driving a LHD car which comes with all sorts of annoying obstacles.

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>>16152878

I say do it. I've daily driven my v2 TypeRA for over a year now and I don't regret it. But it really depends on where live in terms of insurance pricing

>>16154209
They don't salt the roads in Japan in most areas which is why you make sure you import cars from the mainland and mainly south areas.

Cars from the North and Hokkaido where it snows and salt is used often the cars are often as rusted as ones from Canada so you do it properly and grab one from the warmer areas.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I will probably try to order one in the Spring. I live in Halifax so the shipping part will be pretty straight forward.

I've been talking go Brian at BPro and I'm trying to decide if I should get an STI or just a regular WRX. I'm not planning to really mod it much and they both were rated at 280HP. Maybe it would be worth it to go all the way with a Type R/Ra and let it appreciate.

>>16155194
>I'm not gonna mod it

That's what I said and now I'm knee deep in a shit load of mods.

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Just a heads up on type ra's. Gears are real short. I knew this getting into it and I don't mind it. The early versions at least

>>16155693
So get a 6 speed if you can OP

>>16155194
If you aint gonna mod it, you are buying the wrong car

>>16155723
Why would you want longer gears, the short gears are one of the best parts.

>>16155816
I agree with you. I've been dailying my ra 5 speed. But if you're going to be an the highway prepare to be passed by everyone unless you want to sit at 4k to go 120kmh. The 6 speed will help dropping your highway rev

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Thoughts on the Type-RA limited? I have one for sale near me.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/calgary/97-sti-type-ra-v-limited/1189634368?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

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Why do people have fog light covers?

What's the point? Purely cosmetic?

>>16155923
>5 new posts
Most gc8 sti came with fog light covers from factory. The thing is theres no foglights behind them. You install foglights then mod the covers so that they fit over the lights

>>16156088
no idea how i greentexted that

>>16155832
That's a pretty huge mod for a silly reason

If you're gonna change the box do it because you're going for 400+ HP, no reason to otherwise.

And honestly go for a DCCD box, when you're spending that kind of money may as well go all out.

>>16157176
I don't think I ever said anything about swapping trannies. I'm just saying to get later model type r / type ra s cause they have the 6 speed DCCD. I'm fine with my 5 speed DCCD

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This thread piqued my interest and I found this while looking for 2.5 RS swap candidates in the US:

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f171/t226942-1997-impreza-2-2l-na-t-v3-4-type-ra-replica.html

The build and part list makes it look like it would be a blast. What are big wrx issues other than rust (seems repaired judging by seller's build journal)?

>>16157275
There are no classic shape imprezas with a 6spd.

>>16157353
bad tune, bad maintenance - knocking, turbo issues, general wear and tear (transmission, diffs, suspension etc) turbo wastegate, crash damage.

>>16157459
my mistake

>>16157472
May I ask how you came to that conclusion?

>>16157707
I think anon was referring to common wrx issues (at least I hope), the linked car seems to have a pretty well-documented maintenance and modification history.

I found this too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv5JfYGr9ko

>>16158114
As always
Touge > highway pulls

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>>16158114
Seeing this in first person is intense as fuck.