mattdoyle

Can anyone please help, I am after a RA to use as a track car, but there are so many 'phonies' out there how do I tell if it is a real RA, is there a code I can look for on the vin plate, I thought that they all had wind up windows, is this correct?, I suppose there is one way, take it to a weighbridge and get it weighed, but that is not always easy.

any suggestions please
regards

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Are you after a wrx or an sti version?

Tony

GC8

Phonies? The RA was the cheapest car in the range. The best way is to check the Applied Model Number an WRX's ends 48D and a WRX Type-RA's ends 47D. Standard production RAs will be either red or white; red cars arent as common and were only available for for the first few years.

Early cars had a closed-deck block (although its of no real practical advantage to you); they also had lower gearing and different ratios. Beyond that the cars are mechanically identical to the more expensive WRX. Talk of 'roof vents' and DCCD is a commonly perpetuated myth. The rear brakes might be a little better though...

Simon

mattdoyle

Thanks lads after a wrx ra as they seem to be more common, but am i just better going for an sti, is the 'code' on the vin plate?

regards

GC8

Japanese cars dont have a 17 character VIN plate. They have a short chassis number on the build plate (under the bonnet on the NS inner wing), the Applied Model Number will be on there in the following format: GC8B47D (the year is defined by the bold character, B being a 1994MY car.

Simon

mattdoyle

Thanks Si
Anything else I should look out for?
cheers

GC8

Yes Mate; baseball caps.....

wrx_driver

There was an STi for sale here mate

http://www.type-ra.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=81

Dunno if he's still got it.

HTH

Tim-H

not all have wind up window`s , electric windows as well as air con was an option when it was ordered ( I have both 96 sti ra )
Have a good one
Tim

GC8

I havent seen one without air conditioning actually; its always simple aircon though, rather than full AAC.

Simon

leonpoole

Whats the difference ?

mattdoyle

Thanks lads
What am I likely to pay for a 96 example?

TopBanana

I have a mint 95 WRX RA which I will be selling soon. 30k miles - doesn't get used very often

Tim-H

GC8, I presume by simple you meen not climate control ? mine is cc, also a little tip, the A/C pump uses around 5 bhp when it is NOT switched on, around 17 bhp when it is , I remove the belt during the winter, you can feel a difference on a lightend engine like mine.

Matt, depends what you want, a very basic early ra can start @ around 3k for a dog, if you want dccd ( you do !! :-) it goes up , if it`s an STI it goes up, if you want to be silly, RCMS did have a stunningly clean 2 door 96 sti ra at around 25 k, the real cost starts when you "play" with it, mine cost around 8k 3yr`s ago, probably stands me at around 20 plus grand now, but over 400 bhp in just over a ton does bring a smile to you face ( and a shake to your hands :-) every time I get in it,
Have a good one
Tim