Overview of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C
This is a December 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C, chassis code CBA-GRB, finished in black (colour code 32J) and offered at USS Yokohama as lot 30217 on 13 October 2026 (Japan). The sheet records 89,906 km, approximately 55,865 miles, an overall grade of 4 and an interior grade of C. It has a 2000 cc turbocharged petrol engine, four wheel drive and a six speed floor mounted manual gearbox, in a five door hatchback body with right hand drive.
The Spec C is the stripped back, driver focused version of the GRB. This one carries the optional STI Recaro seats, STI wheels, STI brake calipers and navigation with TV, and the sheet notes it was bought in directly from a private owner. It also comes with honest warnings: oil seepage, underside rust, a faulty rear window and a replaced front wing, all covered in detail below. If you are looking for a Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C that is usable and not a trailer queen, this lot deserves a careful read.
The Drive Review
The GRB STI is the hatchback generation that turned the Impreza into a heavier, more mature and more composed car than the earlier blob eye and hawk eye cars, but it kept the hardware that matters: a turbocharged flat four boxer engine, a driver controlled centre differential on the STI, and a proper six speed manual. The Japanese market engine is the EJ207, a 2.0 litre turbo, and it delivers its boost with a distinct surge in the mid range, with that uneven boxer beat at idle and a hard edge when you go through the gears.
The Spec C was built for people who wanted the sharper end of the range. It trims some comfort equipment from the standard STI and works from a lighter, more focused brief. Steering is quick and talkative for a car of this size, the four wheel drive system pulls you out of corners with a confidence that rear drive rivals cannot match in poor weather, and the brakes carry the STI calipers. Compared with a modern hot hatch, there is no drive mode menu and no software smoothing the edges. You feel the turbo, the gearbox and the road surface directly, which is exactly why enthusiasts still chase these.
This car's own seats are the optional Recaro items listed on the sheet, which will hold you far better than the standard chairs on a twisty road. Whether the driver controlled centre differential works as intended is not something the sheet comments on, so that is not confirmed.
Auction Details
Auction house: USS Yokohama. Lot number: 30217. Auction date in Japan: 13 October 2026. Sheet title: Domestic Prime Corner, with the first preference marked as Domestic Prime. Auction grade 4, interior grade C, exterior grade 4. First registration: December 2009 (Heisei 21). The sheet inspection expiry box is blank. The member number at the bottom of the sheet is cut off and cannot be read.
The auction start price is ¥500,000. The Autoselecta guide bidding range for this car is £5,000 to £9,750. Twelve similar cars sold at Japanese auctions between £4,636 and £9,225, typically about £6,357. These are auction results rather than Autoselecta sales, and they include other versions and conditions. The guide is an estimated bidding range, not a guaranteed purchase price, and the car may sell above or below it. For the current minimum bid and landed cost for your country, use the price panel on this page.
All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction. For this lot that means before 9pm UK time on Monday 12 October.
Vehicle Specifications
Manufacturer: Subaru. Model: Impreza WRX STI Spec C. Generation: GRB hatchback. Chassis code: CBA-GRB. Frame number: GRB-009624. First registration: December 2009. Engine: 2000 cc turbocharged petrol. Transmission: six speed floor manual. Drive: 4WD. Body: five door hatchback. Seats: five. Exterior colour: black, original colour with no colour change recorded, factory colour code 32J. Interior colour: left blank on the sheet, although the photographs show a black cabin. Mileage: 89,906 km, approximately 55,865 miles. Recycling deposit: ¥12,360. The steering position is not ticked on the sheet, but the photographs show a right hand drive cabin.
Factory Features and Equipment
The sheet marks genuine alloy wheels, power steering, power windows and airbags, and automatic air conditioning is recorded. The sales points list navigation and TV, optional STI seats made by Recaro, and STI wheels with STI brake calipers. The photographs show a dash mounted navigation screen, an STI branded steering wheel, red lit instruments, a manual gear lever, a bonnet scoop, a roof spoiler and quad exhaust tips under the rear bumper.
The service book box on the sheet is blank, so a maintenance book is not confirmed. Owner manuals, spare keys and the number of keys are not mentioned, and the spare wheel circle on the diagram is unmarked, so a spare wheel is not confirmed either.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The sales points on the sheet say the car was bought in directly from a private owner, has navigation and TV, optional STI Recaro seats, and STI wheels and calipers. This translation has been translated and checked by Autoselecta.
The inspector's report records seven items. Oil seepage is noted, meaning a light weep of oil somewhere on the engine or drivetrain, with no location given. The left rear power window is faulty. The seats are scuffed and worn. There are scratches and stains inside the cabin. There is rust on the underside. The wheels are scratched. There are also light surface scratches on the bodywork. No warning light, engine noise, gearbox or clutch problem is recorded, but the sheet does not say these were tested at length, so treat them as unconfirmed.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
The diagram shows ten marks. At the front bumper there is an A1 small scratch, written as a scuff scratch. The front left wing carries XX, which means a replaced panel. The roof shows stone chip scratches, noted in Japanese as トビ. On the left side there are three W2 marks, one each on the left front door, left rear door and left rear quarter panel. W2 means a repair mark or panel wave of medium visibility, so those panels have likely been worked on or are slightly uneven, though the sheet does not give the cause.
On the right side there are A1 small scratches on the front door, the sill and the rear door. The rear bumper also has an A1 small scratch. Overall the body reads as a usable enthusiast car with a tidy right side and a left side that has clearly had attention. The photographs show clean black paint with reflections that hide fine marks, so judge the left flank carefully when it arrives.
Interior Condition
The interior grade is C, which means visible wear but nothing alarming for a car that has covered nearly 90,000 km. The inspector records worn and scuffed seats and scratches and stains in the cabin. The rear bench in the photographs shows darker patches and fabric marks, and the front Recaro seat is covered with the auction's yellow card. The dashboard, centre console and navigation screen look orderly in the photographs. The faulty left rear power window is the only electrical fault the sheet lists. Odours, smoke and headlining condition are not mentioned.
Japanese Auction Grades
Grade 4 is a good overall score on the Japanese auction scale, indicating a car with some wear or repair but no serious problems. Interior grade C reflects normal to heavy use inside. Here the grade 4 sits alongside a replaced wing and medium repair marks, so read the diagram and not just the number.
Model History of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI GRB
The GRB generation arrived in Japan in 2007 as the first five door only STI, built on the third generation Impreza platform. Subaru's motorsport arm, STI, tuned the chassis and drivetrain, and the line carried the manual gearbox and four wheel drive that had defined the nameplate in the World Rally Championship. The Spec C variant was offered to buyers who wanted a lighter, more basic STI for road and track use. Production continued through to the early 2010s before the model moved to the WRX STI sedan form.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C sits at the end of an era. The turbocharged boxer engine with manual gearbox and mechanical four wheel drive is a combination that cannot be replicated by today's electrified cars. Japanese domestic market versions like this Spec C were never officially sold in most countries, which adds appeal for buyers overseas. Unmodified, well kept examples are getting harder to find as many cars were tuned hard, crashed or left to rust. Demand for the model is global, though prices today remain within reach compared with the classic generations. Nothing here is a promise of future values, and this should be bought to drive and enjoy.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
On the EJ207 engine, check for signs of hard use: a healthy idle, even boost build, no smoke and no oil in the intake pipework. Ask for evidence of oil changes and any history of tuning. This car's sheet records oil seepage, so look at the cam covers, sump and turbo joints for fresh weeping. Gearbox and clutch wear is common on manual STIs, so check for crunching on third and fourth and a clutch that bites cleanly. The centre differential and driveline should be checked for noise on lock.
The sheet reports underside rust, so look carefully at the sills, subframes, suspension arms and exhaust. The left side shows a replaced wing and W2 repairs on three panels, so check panel gaps, paint match and the inner structure on that side. The inspector also recorded a faulty left rear power window, wheel scratches and worn seats, and these are probably cosmetic or minor repairs but worth costing.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japan offers a wide range of GRB cars with documented mileage and clear auction sheets, many of them from a single owner. This car comes from a private owner direct sale, which often means careful use, though the sheet does not confirm service history. Buying through the auction system gives you a detailed independent inspection before you commit.
Ultimate Guide For Japanese Imports
A typical import follows a clear path: choose a car, bid before the deadline, pay after a successful bid, and Autoselecta arranges export paperwork and shipping. On arrival you register the car under your own country's rules, which differ widely, so confirm eligibility and emissions requirements in your country before bidding.
Why Import Through Autoselecta
Autoselecta gives you direct access to Japanese auctions, auction sheet translation, vehicle sourcing and bidding assistance. We handle export documentation and shipping, offer tracking where available, and provide support on arrival and import in your country. Our team stays in contact throughout the process.
Browse This Week's Japanese Auctions
New lots are added each week, including more Subaru Impreza models and other turbocharged four wheel drive performance cars from USS Yokohama and other major auction houses. Check back to compare this car with other GRB hatchbacks.
Live Auction Search
Use the live auction search on this site to filter by make, model, grade and mileage, and to find other WRX STI listings. You can also contact us to source a specific specification.
Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale, but they are still used vehicles. An auction sheet is an independent condition guide, not a mechanical warranty. A performance car of this age may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase. For this car, the inspector's warnings to bear in mind are oil seepage, underside rust, a faulty left rear power window, worn and scuffed seats, cabin scratches and stains, scratched wheels, and a replaced front left wing with medium repair marks on the left doors and rear quarter.
