Home / Model guides / Impreza GC8

Model guide · Updated monthly from the auction floor

Subaru Impreza GC8
Import Guide

The chassis that won three straight WRC titles — and the analog rally hero you can still import for real money. WRX, STI, the two-door Type R, and the 22B: prices, pitfalls, and how to buy one that hasn't lived a hard life.

1992–2000
The GC8 era — 6 versions
All years
US-legal — every GC8 is 25+
400
22B-STIs ever built
~70
Photos before you bid

What they really cost

GC8 auction price ranges

Hammer prices at Japan's major auctions move every week. These are the working ranges we're seeing for clean, honest cars — before auction fees, our service fee, and shipping.

VariantTypical auction rangeWorth knowing
WRX (sedan & wagon)¥0.7M – ¥1.8Mapprox. US$5–12kThe honest entry ticket. Wagons are the family-friendly sleeper.
WRX Type RA¥1.5M – ¥3Mapprox. US$10–20kLightweight, closer ratios, roof vent — the motorsport base car.
STI Version I–VI (sedan)¥2M – ¥4.5Mapprox. US$14–31kThe proper STI. Later Versions (V–VI) carry the strongest money.
STI Type R (2-door)¥3.5M – ¥7Mapprox. US$24–48kThe WRC homologation coupe — DCCD, rarity, and the shape everyone wants.
Type RA / RA Limited¥2.5M – ¥5Mapprox. US$17–34kStripped-out specials for the enthusiast who knows. Documentation matters.
22B-STI¥25M+collector territory400 built, widebody legend. Beware replicas — talk to us first.

Ranges reviewed monthly against live auction results · Last review: July 2026

Can you import one?

Eligibility by country

US

United States

Fully eligible

Every GC8 is past the 25-year mark — the whole range, STI and Type R included, is federally legal. California adds its own emissions hurdles.

AU

Australia

Eligible

Well past the 25-year threshold. We ship to our compliance partners in AU for registration — door-to-door is our home game.

UK

United Kingdom

Eligible

No age restriction — NOVA, IVA and registration are routine, and the UK's rally-mad market knows exactly what a Type R is.

EU

EU (IT / DE / others)

Case by case

Individual approval per country — early GC8s already qualify for Germany's H-plate historic registration (30+ years). We prepare the documents.

Not sure about your country? Ask us — import law guidance is part of the service.

Before you bid

What we check on every GC8

Rally breeding cuts both ways: plenty of GC8s were driven the way Subaru intended. The gap between a cherished STI and a thrashed one is invisible in listing photos — so we put hands on the car before you commit a yen.

  • Rust — rear arches, sills, strut tops, battery tray; the GC8's known weak points, checked panel by panel
  • EJ20 health — cold start, rod-bearing rattle, smoke, boost — on video for you
  • Gearbox & diffs — synchros, center diff / DCCD function; the GC8's most abused components
  • Authenticity — version, chassis and applied-model codes verified ON the car; Type R and 22B replicas exist
  • ~70 photos + timed walkaround videos, live from the auction hall
Actual inspection gallery delivered for a Subaru Impreza — timed videos, strut towers, engine bay

Not a mockup — the actual gallery delivered for a recent Impreza inspection. Timed videos, strut tops, EJ20 bay. Straight to your WhatsApp.

No hidden fees
Auction invoice · Service fee · Shipping. That's all.

Proof, not promises

Imprezas we've handled

All cars
Sold
Subaru Impreza WRX STI GC8 — delivered to Livorno, Italy
Not for sale
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type RA — Jack's car. Not for sale — he loves it too much.
Your car next
Tell us your Impreza spec — we'll find it

Good to know

GC8 questions we hear every week

Is the GC8 legal in the US?
Yes — all of them. The last GC8 rolled out in 2000, so the entire range including the STI and Type R is now federally legal under the 25-year rule. California has extra emissions requirements worth checking before you buy.
Type R or STI Version sedan — which should I import?
The two-door Type R is the collector's pick: WRC homologation shape, DCCD, and real rarity — it will always be the harder car to find and the stronger car to hold. The four-door STI Versions deliver 95% of the drive for roughly half the money. Tell us your budget and we'll show you live candidates of both.
What's the biggest risk buying a GC8?
Hard use and dishonest presentation. These were driven properly — tired EJ20 bearings, abused gearboxes, crash repairs under fresh WR Blue paint, and standard cars dressed as STIs or Type Rs. Our in-person inspection verifies the version codes and the mechanical health, with photos and video, before you bid.
How much on top of the hammer price?
Auction fees, our service fee (¥150,000, +2–5% above ¥2M — negotiable), and shipping. We break down the full landed cost before you bid — no surprises at the port.

The hunt starts here

Your Impreza is at auction somewhere in Japan

Tell us the version, the color, the budget. We'll send you live candidates with our honest read on each one.