GazTheHat

OK, i don't know enough about these cars and i quite fancy one. Have my eye on one at the minute.

It's at the upper end of my budget, but has a few good mods which might justify it, but a few negative points which have put doubts in my mind.

It's got no history and has just had a forged engine build (with receipts) apparently. Has receipts for mods. It's a 96 model.

How strong are the boxes on them? Good for what torque?
How much do these go for?
Has different STi interior and no RA sticker, but has a roof vent.

KAS35RSTI

iTrader: (73)

The gearbox is reliable upto 340lbs or maybe even more. The RA is suppose to be lighweight with no elec windows or stereo. They look fairly basic. I would say a standard one would be worth about 4-4.5k with decent mileage & some paperwork.

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

I don't own an STi RA but I have driven one, and thats all I can say is that the acceleration is mental, the handling brilliant and it is just the best value for money Impreza that you can probably buy.

I think they are about 280ish bhp but they weigh about the same as a shoebox, the one I drove had been lightened even further.

They are a bit basic inside but when it will put such a huge grin on your face then who cares?

bunsofsteeeel

iTrader: (1)

stick a v-limited gearbox in the you will have the same low ratio's as an ra but 5th gear will be better for motorway as its much longer, and its a way tougher box. thats what i run.

GazTheHat

Yeah, i can live with basic. The car is for me, sod practical. Just want something special.

Is the 5th gear really a nightmare?

If i got this, i'd have no money spare to spend on it.

bunsofsteeeel

iTrader: (1)

well it will top out at 125mph and drink fuel on the motorway at 70 mph revving over 4k mate.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Its a 96 model (275ps) which means it will have the older (not as strong) gearbox, still they are close ratio'd which gives them pretty good accelleration, the early ones were up to 130mph, later ones were up to 155mph, think there may have been an inbetween, John Felstead is a good person to ask about these cars tbh

Tony

bunsofsteeeel

iTrader: (1)

here's mine forsale on pistonheads

bunsofsteeeel

iTrader: (1)

Subaru : 1996 Subaru Impreza STI RA

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Don't know enough you've almost 7000 posts man

TX.

GazTheHat

I've been a newage man since i joined. I'd got a few ideas about them, but wanted to see if there was anything i overlooked. And there's so many bloody myths/options etc with this kind. It's a minefield.

DCCD, Aerial in A Pillar, No rear wipe etc.


I'll basically be spending all my budget and travelling on PT for a 600 mile round trip. I'd like to know everything i can before i leave.

GC8

Good advice: check the applied model number.

Many cars are misrepresented for one reason or another, but the AMN wont ever lie to you. The exact model is described by the last two characters.

48D = WRX
47D = WRX Type-RA
4ED = WRX STI
4DD = WRX STI Type-RA

You can rely on these far more than on anecdotal evidence like roof vents etc.


Simon

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

I've got a Jap STi box in my bugeye with a shorter 6th gear................I'm constantly trying to change it into 7th on the motorway

The Ra's 5th gear is even shorter.................. LOL

Shaun

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

Ive owned a V2 WRX RA and a V3 STi RA...Sold the WRX RA to a friend who had it running 360ish on an 18G with standard internals and standard box. MY STI RA was running 350ish on a VF34, again standard internals and standard box and both cars done more track days than you can shake a stick at where we drove them like we stole them.!

Here's a little Vid of the WRX RA in action on a trackday...

YouTube - Help for the heroes bovington trackday 07 06 2009

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

nice video jayallen... couldnt show it before the watershed tho

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Was the scoob you overtook on first straight in reverse

TX.

dougwrx

An Ra would be a good car but would be a great car if you put a uk spec gearbox in it as I did with my wrx, it tranformed the car. I hated changing gear all the time and reving the nuts off it on the motorway at 70mph.

My wrx box did 90 in 3rd and 100 in 4th which seemed pointless imo doing 2 gear changes for 10 mph.


Ps... RA is defo better than a wagon

Cheers Dougie

53

iTrader: (41)

^ Depends on the wagon

Any V2 STi is a winner in my book RA is great no question, but any early stripped and tuned STi with it's close box and TD05 is a winner

Nemesis_911

I have a V-Limited. Interior looks about the same as another STi of that version. As it's a V-limited it's got power windows, A/C and stereo from factory. These add ons make the world of difference comfort wise as this is my daily driver... There's no sound deadening and you can feel the difference if you open the door of an RA vs a regular STi of same version or even riding in or driving both you can hear and sometimes feel the difference.

The gearing is ridiculously short, no doubt about that... Even if you're cruising on some small back roads you'll find yourself looking for 5th gear if you have enough space, you'll definitely be going to 4th a lot even when going even as slow as you can. However you DO feel the noticeable difference in this 5th gear as the accel slows down considerably and the gear gets longer so I guess it

BUT it's a real pleasure to drive. Feels great blasting through the gears under some good RPM. DCCD also makes the world of difference to the way the car handles and reacts when giving it some beans or just cruising around, definitely an advantage to have this!

Great car to own, doubt you'll regret it. I've read a few places that the STi director said that the Version 3 Type RA is the most driver focused Impreza ever built up until the V8 and that it had the most aggressive cams of the GC8's I guess for this it would be the V3 EJ20K and not really the V3 RA cams as all the V3 STi's probably carry the same motor. Having ridden in a V3 RA I can say that it is a pretty impressive machine and the VF-23 that comes standard on that is good for about 20psi I think while the VF-24 which is on mine is only good for about 18psi.

I don't think you'd regret getting the RA at all.