Models · Subaru
Subaru Impreza Turbo GC (WRX / STI) buying guide
The first-generation Impreza, sold in the UK from 1994 as the Turbo 2000 AWD with a 2.0 turbo flat four and four-wheel drive, alongside a long run of Prodrive special editions and Japanese WRX and STi imports.
The versions
- UK Turbo 2000 AWD: 2.0 turbo flat four, 208bhp from 1994, 218bhp after the 1998 facelift; saloon and Sport Wagon estate
- Japanese WRX imports, 240bhp at launch, and factory WRX STi cars from 256 to 296bhp with different gear ratios
- UK special editions including Series McRae, Catalunya, Terzo, RB5 and the two-door P1, plus the 2.2 22B STi
- Five-speed manual, with a stronger larger-cased gearbox from 1999
What to check on a GC Impreza Turbo
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Rust at the rear strut turrets
What to look for: Open the boot and look at the tops of the rear suspension struts where they meet the inner wheel arches, and look up into the rear arches from outside. Also check the rear of the sills, the wheel arches and, on early cars, around the rear screen. Be wary of fresh filler or paint here.
Why it matters: Seam sealant around the rear turrets fails and lets water in, and this is the most serious rust problem on these cars. A simple patch rarely lasts, and a proper repair means replacing the turret on a jig. Solid, original turrets are a strong point in a car's favour.
Engine knocks and rattles
What to look for: Ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive and listen as it starts and warms up for a knock or rattle from low down in the engine. Ask about any remap and whether a compression test can be done.
Why it matters: Neglected or hard-driven early engines can suffer bottom-end failure, and later ones tend to develop piston slap, which needs new pistons to cure properly. A remap that adds boost without matching fuelling can damage a piston, and a compression test shows cracked rings. Some engines are rattly by 50,000 miles while others reach 140,000, so the service history matters most.
Jumping out of fifth gear
What to look for: On the drive, change up into fifth and then lift off and back on the throttle. Watch whether the lever jumps out of gear. Note a very notchy shift.
Why it matters: The nut at the back of the gearbox can come loose, letting it jump out of fifth; it can be fixed without removing the gearbox. A notchy shift is common on hard-driven cars. The gearbox and clutch are otherwise generally long-lived, and big-power modified cars can strip second and third.
Also in the full guide
- Cam cover oil leaks and a burning smell
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the GC Impreza Turbo
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
Subaru Impreza WRX / STI GD · Subaru Impreza WRX / STI GR/GV · Subaru WRX STI VA
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Subaru.