Newbie and help required
 

Hi
I am looking to buy a classic impreza, UK car, low miles, standard with service history. Looking for help to ensure the cars I look at are genuine. Is there anywhere that shows how to decode the vin plates and what options were available.
I have found what looks to be a nice car with leather seats. Were these standard?
Any help, advice or know where theres a car gratefully received.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Leather seats were not standard.
Keep in mind that classics are now 20+ years old so good ones are very rare. Look for rust, especially rear wheel arches and sills. Look for signs of mods, maybe having been removed badly. With a car of that age, get a new MOT at a place you specify. Dont trust the one that comes with the car. If the seller objects, why? If you get a good independent garage, tell them why you want the test and they will tell you about things they notice that are not part of the MOT. If they will let you check under the car while it's on their ramp, that's good too.

Thanks for the advice. Were leather seats an option?
where is the best place to look for cars for sale? I have looked at eBay, carandclassic, autotrader, pistonheads etc. I am new to the Subaru scene so trying to avoid the pitfalls.

I'm sure there were imports with leather seats :)

Leather was a £1350 option on UK cars

Yep hateful things clinging on for dear life.

I have a receipt for £2500 for full leather interior. That came with my UK car. From new

Ok The chassis number starts JF1GC8KDBXG
The applied model is GC8GK8D
Options EM
Trim Code 830
Colour Code 52D

Is this UK spec?

Import JDM spec classic cars have a very short VIN starting GC8-....

the JF1GC8.. cars are UK spec and have a much longer approx 15 digit VIN number

Is there an options list decoder anywhere?

not sure if anyone has cracked it UK wise but certainly there has been a lot of work on the JDM cars via https://www.type-ra.com/subaru-forum/

UK spec? more than likely as RHD, but could be a parallel import (RHD purchased via a European Dealer)

The "Meaning of VIN" will vary slightly for each model year depending upon what engine /transmission options are available for that particular year. It will also vary by market.

Below is the meaning of VIN for MY97 (Model Year 1997) Classic or Generation1 "Europe and General" Markets Impreza range.

https://ministrant-sponge.000webhost...%20classic.jpg

Yours is for a MY99 (tenth character an X) RHD model (so yes UK) and I think in this case the 9th character should be a "3" not a "B" but for MY99 the variations/options may have changed.

As for the Model code(for Europe and Gen Market - It to will vary from year to year and market to market, depending upon model variations available.)
The first three characters, as with the VIN show, model line, body type and engine fitted.
The fourth character shows the Revision year/model year/minor change (for Classic Impreza starts with A=1993 so G=1999)
The fifth character is Destination - L=LHD: K=RHD
The sixth character is the Grade (8= 2 Ltr engine ) (UK=Turbo 2000; Rest of Europe= GT; Australia=WRX)
The seventh character is Transmission (D= AWD 5MT single range)

Option and trim codes for the Classics were very limited for the UK as cars were "built to a budget" that IM (International Motors - Subaru UK) thought they could sell them for.
Most options for the UK were therefore done after the car arrived in the UK at customer request e.g. Leather seats/trim, Air con.

Colour code 52D - Dark Blue Mica

The VIN and model codes for later models gets increasingly variable as does the option and Trim codes.

MY00 P1

VIN : JF1GM8KDGYG****** (M being for 2 door body)
Applied model code(also called the Body model code) : GM8HKED
Trim code: 830 (Dark grey)
Main Option Code: E3

For European Market MY11 "wide bodied" WRX and WRX STI

https://ministrant-sponge.000webhost...I%20MY11_a.JPG
Applied model code
https://ministrant-sponge.000webhost...el%20code2.jpg

Thats great, thanks very much for your help.