Spec C prices
 

Looking for a Spec C but prices recently seem to be a bit all over the place :wonder:
What sort of money would you be paying for a standardish hawkeye with low to reasonable mileage?
There's an RA with most of the original bits stripped off on eBay atm for 20k? Really?

Spec C and Spec C RA are very different cars. An RA is worth several £k more, although the one on eBay has been spoiled somewhat. Don’t see him getting £20k any time soon.

Was lucky to find mine, although it’s not a Hawkeye I still paid a fair bit, prices are getting up there now

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...600741dda.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...9d77625a0.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...962fd4115.jpeg

It’s my Spec c type RA on eBay.Ive been offered £18500 this week which I’ve declined.The car has been looked after by scoobyclinic and they commented its the cleanest Impreza they have seen.The wheels were changed as it came into the country with blue “ fast and furious “ alloys.The shock absorbers were also changed in Japan.I have the other standard parts for the car like the ecu/air box etc.Everyones entitled to their opinion but I don’t agree that it’s been spoilt.

In what way do you think the car has been spoiled.

Very different? Not really.
There is way more difference between a regular STI and a Spec-C than there is between a Spec-C and a Spec-C RA.

The type RA has the carbon fibre rear wing, 4-way adjustable STI suspension and a different set of alloys compared to a regular Spec-C, and that's it.

What makes it so special is plain and simple the limited run of only 300 units. Anything that only comes in limited quantities is naturally valued higher.
Having said that, 20k does sound reasonable to me.

Wrong car. You’re talking about a Blobeye, not Hawkeye.

Replacement ECU and Tein suspension. Needs the pukka STI suspension to hold value IMO

+ all pillowball trailing arms and lateral links.
Retrofitting all the above to a Spec C would cost ££££

You're right, the blobeye type RA pics in the 3rd post threw me off.
So minus the carbon fibre rear wing and plus STI trailing arms and lateral links, and I believe 350 units total iirc for the Hawk.

True for Hawk RA, Blob RA however only had std trailing arms and laterals as found on STI / Spec-C.

You learn something new every day, cheers!

Shocking that Tein's could end up on a Spec C

OP, if you want something totally different that will hold its value then look at the S203/S204 models (there is an originaland unspoilt S203 for sale on ebay).
The mechanical differences between the Spec C and post MY05 JDM cars is very little, they share the same geometry and larger ported engines (MY03/04 cars didnt), and an S series car is rare as rocking horse poo. Worth looking at.

My heart was originally set on an S204 but I think I would always have a feeling I should have had the spec C for the superior weight and chassis. The spec c is the ultimate for me. Also I don't think I'd fit in those tiny Jap seats!!

I didn’t think I would come back to Subaru’s and had been looking at Evo 8 & 9’s until a Hawk Spec C popped up and changed my mind

Have to say an evo IX RS or GT would be a tempting proposition.....

I had a modded Evo 8 MR in Grey a few years ago, was a great car and shouldn’t really have sold it

The Spec C may be lighter but the S car has the superior chassis and all STi chassis upgrades (e.g. STi pink 4-way adjustable shocks, pillow ball lateral links & trailing arms etc.)

I don't believe it has the reinforced strut towers, extra seam and chassis welding and strengthening though as it's based on the JDM as opposed to spec c?
Trailing arms etc can be upgraded/replaced

I am not sure on that but for a road and occasional track car I prefer the S car unless you are going to rally it.

You will feel more the suspension upgrades rather than the chassis welding etc. but that's just my opinion :) .

Hawkeye Spec C RA has all of that though, with all of the lightweight benefits too :)

I wouldn’t have an Evo 9 GT over my RA, as it’s not ‘special’ enough - only an MR 360 would tempt me.... HKS edition 360 in red for me please!!

I may be wrong, but I’m sure the Ra cars are smaller in numbers that the S models?

Tbf it would be worth it just for those BBS :banana:

Yup, nearly twice as many.

555 S203 vs 300 Blobeye RA
600 S204 vs 350 Hawkeye RA

I don't suppose anyone has been keeping their eyes on Jap auction prices recently? I know the Yen is terrible atm but would i be likely to get more car for the money? What could I expect for say £16k on the road in UK?

comon as muck, what does that make my STI ltd worth being 1 of 25?

I've owned 2 Spec C's, but if it were between a Spec C and an S car, the S car wins hands down.
Its easier to live with, more power out of the box, all the goodies, comfier, rarer (yes they are, only about 3 S203's in the UK and about as many S204's), hold their price better (just look at the S202's now, going up in value), and generally far better equipped (carbon fibre Recaro's anybody? a mere 2.5k each!!).

Seam welding and strengthened suspension turrets, absolutely wont notice that on the road, its for rallying, mainly the Grp N cars as they get a bit of abuse on the rough stages, it can be done with a standard shell (Prodrive used the GL/KL's in 2003/04 instead of the Spec C's) for rallying.

Also, if you are buying a limited edition car, don't touch one that has been modified and does not have the parts to put it back to standard, it won't keep its value.

BUT....

Imprezas are desireable for their links to rallying and rawness, not for being easier to live with and being ‘comfy’. The S202 was more hardcore than the 203/204 was it not?

I think you’re showing your age Tony :D

The S cars seem to take far longer to sell than the Spec C & RA - just look how long it took to sell that S203 last time despite being only about £15k.

Yeh nearlly bought it, it looks a great car but a spec c ra come up at the same time think i made the right choice with the ra 😀