Are 90s Subarus now too valuable to modify?
With the oldest Subaru WRXs nearing 30 years old many people consider cars of Japan’s epic 1990 performance era collectable classics. like Skyline GT-Rs, Mazda FD RX-7s, JZA80 Supras, Honda NSXs and DC2 Integra Type Rs, whose values have all shot up in recent times.
So this raises the question of whether these cars, which we have all loved modifying through the years to suit our personal taste or to make them better to drive, should be preserved in factory-fresh condition as classic cars... or are we free to keep personalising them?
One car which has always had strong monetary value in Australia is the limited-edition STi coupe. Aussies got their first official taste of STi Impreza goodness when Subaru Australia brought 400 Version 5 2-door STi coupes in and sold them all in about 35-seconds. (Well it was actually 399 that made it due to rumours one fell off the boat!)
These were the hot sauce 206kW jobbies, up from the already-rapid 160kW WRX, although they were plauged early on with engine failures as somebody forgot to inform Subaru Japan we don't have 100RON fuel Down Under (thanks, Kevin!).
These were followed by 400 4dr Version 6 sedans in 2000, before the STi Impreza joined the WRX as a regular model in 2001 with the launch of the GD as a 2002 model Down Under. Today, mint condition, dead-stock examples of the Ver.5 and Ver.6 Aussie-delivered STis command a premium as so many were modified back in the day.
We've already seen prices for the Australia-only Liberty RS Turbo bottom-out a few years ago and values for mint surviving examples of this rare early 90s beastie are climbing every year. And, given its rarity and position in Aussie performance car history it is easy to understand why.
But, as with many "classic cars" (especially stuff from the 1960s) they're not great to drive in stock trim today. The brakes are weak, handling soggy, nobody has cassettes to play in the crappy stereo, and 147kW doesn't feel rocketship fast like it did in 1993. Some will argue this is all part of the charm of classics, but what if you could keep the 90s look but update how the car feels to drive?
Will we see people modifying their 90s Japanese heroes in ways that can be reversed, similar to how some muscle car owners now strive to keep the original bones of the car so as not to hurt the value? Or should we just enjoy our cars however we damn well want?
Personally, I see nothing wrong with taking what Subaru gave us and making it bullet-proof. Let's face it, the beauty of Subarus is you can literally bolt a better drivetrain and handling package in, which is completely reversable!
If you're reading this chances are you're a fan of modifying cars, so you won't hold it against us if we turn the wick up on this 2 door STI and make it even more epic than when it left the factory! If you haven't seen the new episode, check it out here!
Zuzax
If you’ve got the ability to buy an unsullied one, then you can also probably spring for one with a checkered past to live out your restomod dreams. Yes, it’s about the PuRiTy, but it can only ever be pure once, and there’s so few examples left.
Pim
I think these GC8’s, stock with WRX/STI trim, is a whole lot of awesome. However some of the technique could be better such as brakes, clutch, etc. I would definitely agree with tasteful upgrades, like you did with the 240z. Kind of keep it era correct, but make it better.
Having a 160KW GC8 4-door myself (funny enough mailed you guys about it a few weeks ago, so this reveal was a fun suprise), of course I’m going to have some stupid opinions about what you should or shouldn’t do to it.
First of all, get rid of that stupid alarm which doesn’t allow you to drive it and see where you can upgrade it as you go!
I think there’s a lot of things you could do with/to it that would make it an awesome and fun car to drive using tasteful mods. I think the most important thing is to make sure the cars runs and drives well (wheels scraping is bad) and is safe.
I absolutely love my car as “stock”, however compared to stock, better brakes (recently upgraded) and a stiffer suspension would be very nice. I replaced some interior bits and pieces and I noticed some parts are getting more and more difficult to get.
Even though cars are only a material thing, I genuinely love my car (yes, even though it’s not an STI). And since it’s starting to get difficult to get a car as this in a good condition for good value, and it’s getting more difficult to get original parts for it, of course I would like to see an upgrade/restomod series like the 240z series.
Opinion time!
Personally I wouldn’t like to see the car getting modified to the extends of 2WSTD, but it’s your car and you can (and should) do with it however you like and have good fun with your mates doint so.
There is a thing that would ‘make me cry’ though and that is see it ending up as a battle in which it will get destroyed, I you ever decide you want to get rid of it, put it up for an auction or surprise a fan with it.
note:
Apparently there is a thing between Mitsubishi/Subaru owners, which I don’t get. Both cars in mind are of a similar breed and should be had fun with.
That said, I’m going to take my GC8 for a nice midnight drive. Cheers!
Ferdinando
An aspect of modifications which MCM has touched on in the past, is making period correct changes/modifications. More specifically, wheels. Throwing a set of TE37s onto a 2dr STi may look mad, although doesnt quite fit with the era the car was manufactured. However, the “period” aspect shouldn’t have to apply to anything mechanical or driveline, the 240Z is a prime example.
Gee
RestoMod for sure. The old fella deserves to be brought into the now….show the new guys a thing or two and all in style!
Alex
RestoMod !!!