Subaru Impreza GC8 STi with RA V6 Limited DCCD, built 2.1

I am the fourth UK owner having covered 7, 500 miles of dry weekend road use, which comprises the vast majority of the car’s UK road miles. The odometer shows 147, 320 kms, although it’s not the car’s original odometer, which will be explained shortly.

The car was imported in 2016 by a professional JDM car importer, who used it exclusively in the MLR sprinting series. It was first registered for UK roads in March 2020 by the second UK owner.

The car started life in Japan as a 1997 STi V3 in 47A Black Mica. At some point in Japan the engine and DCCD gearbox from a V6 RA Limited was fitted, along with the V6 dashboard retaining the DCCD control and dials, and the Limited console plaque from the donor car. The original V3 seats in excellent condition and door cards are retained.

After the STi engine dropped a valve during a sprint, it was rebuilt by Engine Tuner as a 2. 1 with VF48 turbo and Alcatek ECU. My understanding is that the car received little use after the rebuild.

During my ownership I have fitted Brembo front brakes, Revolution Millennium 17 inch wheels and Goodyear Asymmetric 6 tyres, and sourced the correct OEM boot carpets and undertrays as the originals were missing. I also replaced the Whiteline ARBs which were on the car with OEM 19” front and 20” rear items, for better road compliance.

The undercarriage of the car is in fabulous condition with no surface rust whatsoever, reflecting only very limited UK road use, and is thoroughly protected with Bilt-Hamber Dynax UC clear wax. The bodywork is far from concours – there are no dents however there are numerous paint chips and defects and some exposed primer where sprinting stickers were removed. For me this has meant I could fully enjoy the car without worrying about the paintwork.

As such this is not a collectors’ item, but a car to be driven. It offers the full GC8 STi RA DCCD experience plus sympathetic OEM+ modifications to further enhance its appeal. It wants for nothing mechanically and IMO is pretty close to an ‘ideal’ GC8 spec.

Specs:

• Engine Tuner built 2. 1 with forged pistons and rods, nitrided crankshaft, ACL race bearings, RCM baffle kit, RCM head stud kit, RCM head gaskets, RCM water pump, 11mm oil pump, power-steering cooler, custom catch can (built June 2018)
• VF48 turbo with Lateral Performance front-mounted intercooler with integrated fan and Ramair induction (AC deleted as no room for AC condenser)
• V6 RA five-speed transmission including DCCD and front helical LSD
• Competition Clutch 4 paddle clutch
• Lightened flywheel
• Custom decat 3” exhaust, registers 98db static at 3/ 4 revs
• Alcatek ECU mapped by Martyn Jeffery with switchable high/ low boost modes, launch control, anti-lag
• Bilstein PSS9 coilover suspension with Whiteline Max-C adjustable top mounts fitted by Chevron Motorsport (April 2019) and protected with coilover covers
• Whiteline camber kit, anti-lift kit, rear subframe lock bolt
• Revolution Millennium 17x7. 5J ET48 wheels shod with Goodyear Asymmetric 6 tyres DOT coded 3723, 1, 450 miles old
• STi carbon front strut brace, Cusco lower front brace, Cusco rear tower brace
• STI Brembo front calipers with FHI two-pot rears and braided lines
• Carbotech XP10 front pads and DS2500 rear pads
• OMP two-spoke rally-style steering wheel in suede leather
• Defi gauges and controller (oil temp, water temp, oil pressure)
• WRC style teardrop door mirrors
• Outdoor car cover included
• MoT until April 2025 (renewable from 26 March - I’ll put a fresh MoT on if the car is still here then)