shea2k

I'm a -biiiiiiit- confused!

I bought my first Impreza last night, it was sold to me as a 1998 UK Spec 2.0 WRX STi yada yada....

But, either someone has done a real good job of making it look like a Jap Import, or it is in fact a Jap Import?!

I'm interested in knowing this little detail, coz if memory serves me right (and being a man, it doesn't often do that! hehe) the UK version is 260bhp while the Jap is 280bhp?

Either way...I can confirm, it is DEFINITELY a Subaru Impreza! LOL!

scoobyDAZZA

no such thing as a UK STi in the classic shape
has it got headlight squirters ?
is the inlet manifold red ?

got any pics ?

or PM me your number plate and i can check

scoobyDAZZA

BTW a 98 UK is 208 bhp

Ian Cook

does it have bolt on fog light, rear wash wipe, kph speedo or any of the things mentioned above, if it does its almost certainly an import

scoobyDAZZA

i forgot the fog light

check if it's got 1 like Ian says and also check where the switch is
some do have them wired into the reverse light with a seperate switch

[Davey]

Just look on the V5C.. if its an import it will say so..

The Terminator wrx

jap have the rev counter in the middle

Laura W

dont the japs have a rear wiper, blacked out rear windows and right hand indicators? and dont know about earlier models but leccy wing mirrors?

Fuzz

Rev counter red lines 7500 rpm on uk, 8000 on Jap
Speedo in Kph on Jap, Mph on UK
Rear wash wipe on jap, none at all on UK.
Writing on all stickers in Jap on Jap, and English on UK.


Andy

Scoobybits

uk have two vin tags as well on each side on leg tops.import n/s one only

shea2k

Wow! thanks all for the input...

It has a pink 'I' for the scooby badge at the front grill, all the writing I can see is in Japanese (but I figured possibly that anyone could have bought these bits to make it look jap?)

The top inlet manifold was red alright, but has all but flaken off now (apparently this happens commonly? my experience it means the engine was ran very hot!)

It does have a rear wiper alright, and as far as I could see so far, it doesn't have a rear fog lamp or a button for it.

The Rev's counter is in the middle of the dash rather than the speedo, and while the speedo is in MPH, it has what looks to me a white sticker that says 'mph' stuck in the top centre of it, but, it doesn't look like a factory fit, as its kinda crooked, and a little bubbled too?

If the 1998 uk spec was 208bhp, then definitely this is much more! I had a Calibra 4x4 Turbo a few years back, and they were 204bhp, this feels a LOT different!! I wouldn't expect to feel a real impact of 4bhp, but 60 or 80bhp? oh yeah!!

I'll get pics of the car today seeing as its finally the weekend, and weather over here is fantastic!

Thanks guys for all your input!

As for the V5 book, my cousin (who sold me the car) hasn't got it yet... should have that next week, and I guess we'll know then about the import stamp etc?

Very interesting all the same!

Thanks again!

Ian Cook

Its definitely an import from what you just put. If it doesnt have a fog light its possible it hasnt been through the SVA test ?

every1sgottablue1

If it doesn't have a rear fog light it will fail the SVA and UK MOT

I will guarantee you that it is a import!

Insurance will be more expensive

and it will be 280 BHP if it is standard

GREGGYG

iTrader: (2)

No such thing as a UK WRX STi 1998.

Simon 69

Look on the build plate: as well as the chassis number it will have a model code starting GC8 followed by a letter. Does it end 48D?

Simon

shea2k

Model number is GC8E4ED mate? Any good to you?

Just there now tonight, I've discovered an after-market switch which activates the fog lamps (which are built into the rear cluster), surely Subaru would have done better than that?

Fuzz

If that's all there is to the chassis no, then it's jap.

edit to add, no fogs as standard is further proof it's jap
Andy

turboDean

iTrader: (4)

As someone has already said your car is definatly a JDM import STI.

There was never UK spec Classic STI.

Major give away's are the red inlet maifold, the rev counter in the centre (uk cars are on the right), rear wiper (uk cars don't get this)

It probably also has electric folding mirrors which again UK cars don't have, rear lights will be red and white (no orange, uk cars are red and orange), the intercooler will be silver in colour if an STI (UK cars are black), will also have an IHI turbo and around 280bhp as standard.

Your car is not a UK spec car.

shea2k

Red inlet - Check!
Rev Counter in centre - Check!
Rear lights red & white - Check!
Intercooler Silver - Check!

And the electric folding mirrors - check!

Woo woo!! Congrats me huh!! A Jap Import for £4k! Nice!

Cheers very very muchly to all who contributed to this thread!!

Simon 69

GC8 means that is a two litre Impreza Saloon. E indicates that it is a 1998 MY car. 4 denotes the number of doors. The last character D indicates that the car has a manual transmission. Most importantly for you, the second to last character defines the model type: 8 refers to a WRX and E refers to a WRX STI.

Japanese cars dont have rear fog lamps on the whole.


Simon

shea2k

Thanks for the info Simon. I appreciate your time.

shea2k

I just wanted to add here, and I dont know if I've thus far just been very lucky, or if this is just a typical Subaru strength, but I've had about 6 cars so far since passing my test some 10 years ago, and everyone of them was sold 'as seen' (as was the Subaru), and of course after I got each of them home, I found the 'seen' bits...always something broken or needed replacing or something about to pop!?

The Subaru has so far been the opposite! I keep finding new, cool bits and nothing (touch wood) so far has cropped up to the contrary!

It only makes me wish I had bought one YEARS ago!!!

Simon 69

Seeing that you think that Im quite knowledgable, allow me to give you a piece of very very good advice. Do not cane the car and never use 95RON fuel. Even Shell V-Power or Tesco 99RON arent quite good enough and if I was you Id consider replacing the ECU with an A'PEXi PowerFC (quick, before they discontinue this model too).

Simon

shea2k

In that case, I'm a bit stuck, coz the only fuel available to me is Shell V-Power. Everything else within a 20 mile radius is plain old 'unleaded'.

When I bought the car on Thursday night, I did indeed give her a full tank of the stuff. As a rule, I've never really used regular unleaded anyway, no matter the car. But now its a proper rule!

As for the 'A'PEXi PowerFC'...erm...erm....maybe laters.... For now, I've to gather up a few pound again for the bank.

a_fisher

V-Power is as good as you'll get over here. What Simon was trying to point out is that the cars are run on 100 RON fuel in Japan. V-power is 99 in the UK (according to this: V-Power)

Simon 69

A'PEXi PowerFC: £750

Engine rebuild £2,750.....

snowy78

Another give away - Does your car in the passanger foot well on the left hand side just under the glove box have a red cylindrical flare or the holder where this should be ?

scoobyDAZZA

V-power and a drop of octane booster will be fine

swifty74

iTrader: (1)

it is a import like mine !!! ;-)

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to a fellow sti owner. From what you have said, it definately sounds like a MY98 STI 4. You really did buy, probably the best impreza ever made. (According to Mr Subaru )
Just do three things and you'll be fine.
1) Give a fresh oil and filter change with something like Mobil 1 15w50 and a genuine filter. (Prev owner may have done it, but you need to make sure!)

2) Use only V-power or Tesco 99. 100ron fuel wasn't available in japan in 1998, it's a myth. Octane booster can help though, as the original mapping is not perfect!

3) Give atleast 5 miles to warm up before using a lot of boost and allow it to cool for a minute before switching off the engine, if you have having fun!