For decades, nearly all Subaru cars have been equipped with standard or optional all-wheel drive. And when you combine that traction with decent horsepower, you have the makings of a competitive rally vehicle.
Indeed, Subaru won numerous championships in rallying with various generations of performance all-wheel drive cars, such as the 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi that recently sold on eBay.
Buy It Now on eBay
Throughout the 1990s, the rest of the world enjoyed high-powered rally replicas like the Impreza WRX and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. But the best that North America would see was the milquetoast Impreza 2.5RS.
The WRX STi Arrives
The impact of video games such as Gran Turismo on budding car enthusiasts cannot be overstated. And then, at last, Subaru brought the turbocharged WRX stateside in 2002. Soon the STi—from Subaru Tecnica International, the motorsports arm of Subaru—came with even more power.
This second-generation model is known as the “Blobeye” for the blob-shaped headlamps—instead of the rounded “Bugeye” lamps on earlier US models.
The ’04 WRX STi for sale on eBay was brought back to an as-new state by a dedicated restorer. The seller claims that the only deviation from showroom condition is aftermarket pistons in the rebuilt engine due to common failures with the factory pieces.
Three-hundred-plus horsepower is available to spin all four wheels. (Extra grunt is within easy reach via eBay’s aftermarket rally performance and racing parts.)
One That Got Away
The World Rally Blue paintwork, echoing the factory race livery, looks brilliant here. It’s striking when set against the factory-supplied gold BBS alloy wheels. The dark window tint certainly isn’t factory spec, but we’ll allow it. I’ve always loved how STi uses pink for its logo. And it appears here on the deck lid, the fog lamp covers, doors, floor mats, and seat backs.
This car makes me feel old. Damn, I could have purchased this car brand new from the showroom floor (if only I had a better job straight out of college). Now it shows up restored like the classic cars my father enjoyed from his youth.
Still, great overlooked cars from older generations are getting the attention they deserve—even if their raw performance numbers are eclipsed by modern vehicles.
The Impreza WRX STi recently sold on eBay could be nice enough to cross the lawn at a big-time concours event someday. Hopefully, the new owner rips plenty of rally rooster tails and donuts in the meantime.
