Overview of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C
This 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C (chassis code CBA-GVB) is a four door, four wheel drive, six speed manual performance saloon with a 2,000 cc turbocharged petrol engine. It is finished in original pearl, factory colour code 37J, and carries 181,247 km on the odometer, approximately 112,622 miles. It is offered at USS Tokyo as lot 29272 with an auction grade of 3.5 and an interior grade of C, and the sheet says it was bought directly from a private owner.
The Spec C was the stripped back, driver focused end of the Japanese STI range, and this one has been personalised in a tasteful, motorsport minded direction. The sheet lists HKS coilovers, an HKS air cleaner, an STI strut tower bar, STI side skirts, WedsSport 18 inch wheels, Brembo calipers and an aftermarket rear wing, plus Defi additional gauges and an aftermarket steering wheel. It is a used, modified car with honest cosmetic wear, priced in the budget end of the GVB market.
The Drive Review
The GVB generation of the Impreza WRX STI is the last of the traditional Japanese rally bred saloons, and the Spec C was the version for people who wanted to feel the chassis rather than be cushioned from it. Power comes from the turbocharged 2.0 litre flat four, a boxer engine with the rumble and the abrupt midrange surge that define the breed, driving all four wheels through a six speed manual gearbox. The cluster in the photographs shows the SI-DRIVE and AUTO C.DIFF displays, which tells you the car has the driver controlled centre differential and the selectable engine mapping that make an STI so adjustable.
On a good road an STI of this type is fast, tactile and slightly raw. The steering is direct, the turn in is eager, and the car puts power down out of slow corners with a grip that front drive hot hatches cannot match. Modern performance saloons are heavier, quieter and more digital. An STI makes more noise, asks more of your hands and rewards commitment. This example has HKS coilovers and a tower bar, so expect a firmer, sharper feel than standard, and the ride quality will depend on how the dampers have been set up and how many kilometres they have covered.
Auction Details
The car runs at USS Tokyo on 15 October 2026 as lot 29272, in the sheet section marked Prime R Corner. The auction start price is ¥280,000. The Autoselecta guide bidding range is £3,500 to £7,250. That range is an estimate of where bidding may land, not a guaranteed purchase price, and there is no promise the car will sell inside it. For context, twelve similar cars sold at Japanese auctions between £4,798 and £7,137, typically about £5,968. Those are auction results rather than Autoselecta sales, and they include other versions and conditions.
For the current minimum bid and the full delivered cost for your country, use the price panel on this page. All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction.
Vehicle Specifications
Manufacturer: Subaru. Model: Impreza WRX STI Spec C, four door saloon. Chassis code: CBA-GVB, frame number GVB-006626. First registration: November 2012 (Heisei 24). Engine: 2,000 cc turbocharged petrol. Transmission: six speed floor manual. Drive: 4WD. Colour: pearl, original colour, code 37J. Seats: five. Mileage: 181,247 km, approximately 112,622 miles. Shaken (Japanese roadworthiness inspection) expires 27 November 2027. Registration plate: Mito 301 Hi 3026. Recycling deposit: ¥12,260. Auction grade 3.5, interior grade C, exterior grade 3.5.
The feed rounds the mileage to 182,000 km. The sheet reads 181,247 km, and the dashboard photograph shows a very similar figure, so the sheet reading is used throughout. The sheet leaves the steering side box blank, though the photographs show a right hand drive car.
Factory Features and Equipment
The sheet marks power steering and power windows, and lists automatic air conditioning. It also records ETC toll equipment and keyless entry. A touchscreen head unit is visible in the dashboard photograph, but the sheet does not describe it, so navigation features are not confirmed.
The sheet lists a large block of aftermarket and STI parts as sales points: HKS coilover suspension, HKS air cleaner, STI strut tower bar, STI side skirts, WedsSport 18 inch alloy wheels, Brembo brake calipers and an aftermarket rear wing. The inspector also notes an aftermarket steering wheel and Defi additional gauges. The photographs show a Defi boost gauge on the steering column, bronze multi spoke wheels with orange calipers behind them, a large rear wing on uprights and quad exhaust tips under a diffuser style rear bumper. The new car service book box is blank, so the service book, owner manuals, spare key and spare tyre are not confirmed. The spare tyre circle on the diagram carries no mark.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The auction sheet was translated and checked by Autoselecta. The inspector's comments read as follows. Distortion on the lower part of the R panel; R most likely means the right side, though this is not certain. Seat torn; the inspector wrote a question mark about whether the seat is aftermarket. Cabin dirty, with scuffs and scratches. Rear spoiler paint peeling; R is read as rear, again not certain. Scratches and dents in various places.
The points to note are the aftermarket steering wheel, the Defi additional gauges, the ETC unit and keyless entry. The sales points are the private owner purchase, HKS coilovers, HKS air cleaner, STI tower bar, STI side skirts, WedsSport 18 inch wheels, Brembo calipers and the aftermarket rear wing. The inspector records no engine, gearbox, clutch, leak, warning light or air conditioning faults in the readable text, though a sheet is a snapshot and not a mechanical inspection.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
The front bumper is marked AU and Y2: a scratch that has been touched up, plus a medium crack. The bonnet shows paint peeling and a U1, a small dent. The left front wing carries W2, a repair mark or panel wave. On the left side, in the front door area, there is another W2, a medium repair mark or wave. The left sill has A3, a large scratch. In the left rear door area and on the left rear quarter panel the sheet shows W3 twice, which means obvious repair marks or waves that may need repainting. The exact panels for those four left side marks are best readings, as the leader lines end inside the outline.
The rear bumper is marked Y2 with uneven paint and misalignment: a medium crack, a paint mismatch and a bumper that does not sit true. Added to the inspector's note of distortion low on the R panel and scratches and dents in various places, the body is that of a driven, modified car with signs of a repair history down the left side. The photographs show clean looking pearl paintwork from a distance, but they will not show the waves. Overall this is a usable enthusiast car, not a collector grade one, and a refinish of the left side and bumpers may be worth budgeting for.
Interior Condition
The interior is graded C. The inspector notes a torn seat, possibly aftermarket, and a cabin that is dirty with scuffs and scratches. The photograph shows a black interior with dark carpet, a fitted cup holder, an aftermarket steering wheel, a short shift gear lever with a custom knob and a touchscreen head unit, with clothing left on the passenger seat. The cluster shows the STI logo and a Defi gauge. Smoke and odour are not mentioned on the sheet. Expect a tired, lived in cabin that would benefit from a deep clean and a seat repair.
Japanese Auction Grades
A grade of 3.5 means a used car in average to fair condition with visible cosmetic wear or repair. Interior grade C is below average and fits the torn seat and scuffed cabin. The grade is only a guide. The inspector's comments and diagram carry the real detail.
Model History
The GVB is the four door Impreza WRX STI of the third generation, sold in Japan with the 2.0 litre turbo engine and a six speed manual. It was a Japanese market saloon, built alongside the hatchback GRB, and carried the STI badge as the performance flagship until the Impreza name was split from the WRX. Spec C cars were the leaner trim, aimed at buyers who wanted to modify or compete.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The appeal of these cars comes from the rally heritage of the STI, the turbocharged boxer engine, the manual gearbox and the driver controlled centre differential. This is the final run of the saloon in the lineage that carried Subaru through the World Rally Championship, and good, unmolested examples are getting harder to find in Japan. Most were modified or driven hard. The Spec C is the sort of car that tends to attract serious buyers, though nobody can promise how values will move. This example has changed hands via a private owner, and the modifications are mostly well known performance brands.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
On a high mileage EJ20 powered STI, ask for a compression test and a check on oil consumption, then listen for rod bearing noise on a cold start. Clutch wear and gearbox synchromesh are worth testing, especially on a car that has probably seen hard use. Check the turbo for shaft play and the boost control, and ask whether the HKS air cleaner has been paired with a tune. The centre differential and rear differential should shift and engage cleanly, and the cluster shows the controls work.
This car's sheet asks you to look at the left side in particular: the W2 and W3 marks suggest repainting or repair, so check panel gaps, paint thickness and the sill. Look at the rear bumper alignment and crack, the front bumper crack and the peeling spoiler paint. Inspect the torn seat, and the coilover condition given the mileage. Check the rust behind the rear arches and the underbody as well.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japan is where STI cars were sold new, and domestic market examples often arrive with fuller documentation and clearer sheet grading than cars sourced elsewhere. A right hand drive GVB is also a sensible option if your country drives on the left. Check your own import rules for a car of this age before you bid.
Ultimate Guide For Japanese Imports
The process runs from choosing a lot, to placing a maximum bid before the deadline, to winning, paying, deregistration, shipping and clearing the car in your country. Autoselecta can explain each stage before you commit.
Why Import Through Autoselecta
Autoselecta gives you direct access to Japanese auctions, a checked and translated auction sheet, sourcing, bidding assistance, export handling, shipping and import support in your own country. We stay in contact throughout, and track the vehicle where tracking is available. We do not promise savings.
Browse This Week's Japanese Auctions
This Impreza is one of many cars running this week. Browse the current listings to compare other GVB and GRB STI cars with this one.
Live Auction Search
Use the live auction search to filter by model, grade, mileage and price, and set up an alert for other Subaru STI cars as they appear.
Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale, but they are still used vehicles. The sheet is an independent condition guide, not a mechanical warranty. A modified, high mileage turbocharged performance car may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase. Please keep the inspector's warnings in mind: distortion low on the R panel, a torn seat, a dirty and scuffed cabin, peeling spoiler paint, repair marks on the left side, cracked front and rear bumpers, and scratches and dents in various places. The service book, spare key and spare tyre are not confirmed.
