Guide
The Ultimate Buyers Guide to Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza remains one of the most iconic rally inspired Japanese performance cars ever built.
There are only a few cars that carry the weight of rally heritage quite like the Subaru Impreza. For an entire generation, the sound of a flat four boxer engine on full boost and the sight of gold wheels spinning up beneath flared arches has defined performance motoring. The Impreza was never about polishing it endlessly. It was about full traction, aggression, mechanical simplicity and having smiles for miles.
Today, the early cars have moved from affordable performance bargains into serious collector territory.
Understanding which models matter most and why they’re important is very important before you start bidding on your dream Subaru.
The Origins
The first generation Impreza WRX arrived in the early 1990s and immediately established Subaru as a force in the World Rally Championship. Lightweight, turbocharged and all wheel drive, it offered real world performance that embarrassed far more expensive machinery.
The early GC8 chassis cars are now firmly placed into modern classic territory. Rust and modification are the two major concerns, which is why carefully preserved Japanese examples are increasing in value and becoming very desirable.
WRX vs STI
The standard WRX is quick and usable. But it is the STI models that command all of the attention.
STI cars were built with stronger internals, they had revised turbochargers, upgraded suspension and sharper differentials. They were much closer to the rally cars in character and driver dynamics. The limited production runs and special editions make certain STI variants extremely collectible.
Version I to VI
Within the early GC8 generation, Subaru released multiple “Version” updates. Each brought incremental improvements to engine strength, ECU tuning and to the responsiveness to the chassis.
Version V and Version VI cars are especially sought after. They represent the most developed evolution of the classic shape before the transition to the so called New Age body style.
The 22B
No Impreza conversation is complete without the 22B.
Built to celebrate Subaru’s WRC success, the 22B was based on the two door chassis and featured wide arches, a larger 2.2 litre engine, unique suspension tuning and limited production numbers.
It was never intended to blend in. It was built as a statement by Subaru.
Today, genuine 22Bs sit firmly in unicorn territory. Values reflect rarity, originality and documented history. Finding an unmodified, correctly maintained example is increasingly difficult, which is why Japan remains one of the few markets where they still occasionally surface.
The New Age Cars
In 2000, the Impreza evolved into the GD chassis, often referred to as the New Age model. The controversial “bug eye” design softened the look, but underneath the rally DNA remained intact.
Blobeye and Hawkeye revisions followed, refining the styling and improving power delivery and chassis rigidity.
These later models offer stronger engines, improved braking and more usable interiors. For buyers who want daily drivability alongside performance, they represent a compelling balance.
What to Look for
Rust is the primary concern on UK and European market cars. Sills, rear arches and suspension mounting points must be checked carefully.
Japanese market examples often benefit from better preservation, especially when underbody inspection images confirm they have minimal corrosion.
Modification is another factor. Many Imprezas have been tuned. A well documented, professionally modified car can be excellent. A poorly mapped, heavily altered example can become expensive quickly so be very careful when going down this route.
Originality is increasingly valuable and rightfully so in our opinion.
Service history matters. Cambelt intervals, turbo condition and gearbox health should all be noted in the history records.
Why the Impreza Matters
The early Impreza represents the pure era of performance motoring. Manual gearbox. Hydraulic steering. Mechanical grip over electronic assistance.
It is raw without being crude. Fast without needing huge power figures because of the lightweight chassis and emotionally connected to one of the most dominant periods in rally history.
At Autoselecta, we regularly monitor Imprezas passing through Japanese auctions. The best examples, especially low mileage STIs and limited editions, attract immediate attention. Clean, unmodified cars are becoming harder to find each year, but you’ll always be the first to know when they’re being auctioned.
If you are searching for a specific version, whether it is a Version VI STI, a Hawkeye Spec C or the ultimate 22B, register your interest and we will notify you when the right car appears.
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