i bought my car a couple of month ago, its supposed to be an sti,but since then ive noticed a few things that have made me wonder wether its an sti or just a wrx.So ive bin on a site that shows how to work out exactly which model you have ,the code number on the vehicle id plate is gc8c48d which on the site says it is a wrx.The log book just says impreza wrx,the seats are wrx.But car as the logo saying tuned by sti,and it has sti clocks,badges and i bought it thinking it was an sti.is there any other way i can find out. greatful for any help. thanks.

 

gc8c48d is indeed a WRX code. Think I am right in saying that an STi from that year would have an E where that last 8 is.

My WRX also has a lot of sti parts on but it has been dressed up during its life.

 

standard wrx that is
have you been led to believe that is a sti b4 you bought it?
sti from same year is thus
GC8C4ED 275 WRX STi2 4 door First full production STi
or 5 door
GF8C58D 260 WRX STi2 5 door
the above info was from sidc faq

steve

 

yes we was told it was an sti,my mate bought it thinking it was an we bought it off him, i am posting some pics on l8r if anyone can tell off them.

 

just bin out in my m8s 1998 sti and it dont seem any different can any one tell me the difference between a 1995 wrx and a sti engine.

 

just bin out in my m8s 1998 sti and it dont seem any different can any one tell me the difference between a 1995 wrx and a sti engine.

 

STi is closed block
WRX open block
Sti 275ps
WRX 260ps (verII)
Sorry to hear that your car was misrepresented (the salesman who sold me mine tried the same trick), on the bright side the verII WRX has a damn good engine and it's easy to get an extra 15bhp out of it. Obviously, if you paid STi money for it, you may want to persue that matter with the dealer. If you're happy with the deal and the car, don't worry about it. Nowt wrong with the WRX.

 

not the case, early wrx had the closed deck block. sti has stronger internals and i believe different heads

 

Had this discussion recently about the verII block, as I also believed the early WRX engine to be of closed deck design. David at API gave a good explaination of his experiences with them.
Here's the original post...
Link

 

Mate, I've got a 1996 STI 2 - GC8C4ED(hopefully ).

The engine should have a red intake manifold although most of the red coating will have come off, unless it's been recoated. I've also got the FJI carbon strut brace which I don't think the WRXs had.

The front seats should have STI stitched into them in red and you should have a Nardi steering wheel with red stitching and STI pressed in to the leather at the bottom, as long as it hasn't been replaced. Gearknob is leather with red stitching also.

The other main mods are the engine internals, as previously stated, but that's not much use as far as IDing your car is concerned.

Oh - pink 'i' badge on the grill also, although it wouldn't be difficult to change that.

I can send you some photos for reference if you like but it sounds like you may have been duped. I know how easily it can happen.

Regards

Jeff

 

yeh you can send me some photos if you like! i have posted some som of my car on the scoobynet general take a look on there