Prodrive originally brought some wrx's in first before the UK turbo, possibly wagons too.

 

Depends what year. Early ones (92-96) most definitely didn't.

 

The way i see it is.... If it has a VIN number its a UK car and if it just has a chassis number its a Jap car?

 

In September 1996, the WRX was updated with new styling. The WRX now has a power rating of 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) and now weighed 1,250 kg (2,756 lb). Although it actually developed about 300 PS, the output was under-reported at the then-established gentlemen's agreement power limit of 280 PS.

I read this article. Do you think there is any truth in the under reported power?

 

I had a 1996 WRX and it was more than 240bhp, it was registered as GL, i contacted vosa and told them it was a WRX, and they corrected the log book.

It was insanse fast, alot faster than my UK 220bhp model had to be at least 280bhp

 

Not quite right, and doesn't apply to TD04 equipped UK cars.

The gentlemans agreement in Japan was that all cars of this ilk would be capped at 280bhp. Okey doke, MK IV Supra 3.0L straight six, twin turbo only makes 280bhp. Good friend of mine bought a totally standard fresh import one. Stuck it on the dyno and it made a kick in the **** off 380bhp.

 

Cheers

When I originally leased it (completely new to Subaru) I just assumed that it was a car built in Japan and er.... imported, so this thing about 208bhp etc. wouldn't matter anyway because we never had any bhp limits.
Although I'd never had a car with that much, it was defo more than 'just' 208.
I naively thought that perhaps it kept Ins premiums lower .

 

My MY94 WRX is listed as being 240ps as standard, about 236BHP. Obviously it was faster than the Cav GSI I had with 150BHP ATW. To me, it didn't feel 80 BHP faster in the grand scheme of things, as I'd driven the Supra mentioned above and some other relatively quick cars.

First Impreza I ever went in was a totally standard MY98 or 99 UK Turbo, back in 2000. At the time, that was the fastest thing I'd ever been in. I made a conscious decision that I had to have one at some point in my life.

 

I know exactly what you mean.
I was surprised how better the 95 WRX was than the Cat.

Cat used to go mental once 2K rpm was reached.
As Clarkson said when previewing the 'new Subaru' (Bug) 'In the old Impreza the needle hits 2000 revs and all hell breaks loose'.

Back on topic though, why the difference in power between JDMs and UK ?

 

Just to throw something in the mix when I bought my UK Turbo 2000 AWD ( to give it its full name ) in 1999 I dyno'd it after about 2000miles of its life.... the dyno said 241bhp, but to be honest dynos can pretty much say anything. It was a quickish car that one though as my wife had a MY2000 UK Turbo and that was noticeably slower in the mid-range.

 

I don't know why Japan gets the faster versions, but they normally have bigger turbo turbo for one thing. Plus there a lot more hard core. Remember watching review of civic type r mugan. Can only be bought in Japan as they don't think we British would like it as too hard-core

Which is true, very hard ride.