GC8 RA's

[Guest]

Hey guys,

Been a while since i've been on here!

I'm looking to getting a GC8 WRX RA. Now what im wondering is are there STi & non- STi versions of the RA or are they all STI?

Can't really find any definitive information and if there are two different models what are the easiest ways to tell the difference apart from the red inlet manifold?

[WRXER]

Too answer the first one, yes there are sti and non-sti RA's. Too tell the difference apart from red manifold the best way is always chassis code to be honest.

As the usual attire is all possible to be bolted-on, ie interior, badges, top mount, manifold. Usually the simplest way is too check all these aspects when looking at an STI but to definitely confirm it's one is thru use of the chassis code.

[DPI]

Don't STI-RA's have a roof scoop, and plain RA's don't?

[WRXER]

Good Question, I have been looking through trademe and so far found all the non-sti ra's dont have the roof scoop.

[nt_a_foz]

Thats true in teh v1-2 im sure they didnt start scoops still v3 sti ra...

But in saying that the wrx type r had a scoop in v3-4 iirc..

[G-unit]

ver2 sti ra has roof scoop

[Guest]

yep seen V2s with roof scoops as WRXER said chassis code is the best way to tell, ive got a V4 STi RA-VLMTD, was seeing what i could get as a trade in, and he tried telling me that he couldnt tell what it was because evryone bolts things on these days... told him to look at the chassis code and that he was an idiot has the plaque seats and all lol!! GC8E4DD get anthing with C4, D4, E4 or F4!

[off2harrys]

a little off topic but what makes the ra`s so much lighter i know they have no sound deadening,air con and some have manual windows and mirrors but is there anything else glass,panels etc?

[Guest Dazza]

 off2harrys said:

a little off topic but what makes the ra`s so much lighter i know they have no sound deadening,air con and some have manual windows and mirrors but is there anything else glass,panels etc?

To my knowledge also have thinner glass and more allow panels doors, boot, bonnet etc.. and as far as I know no boot lining either.

Also I haven't seen a Non STI-RA with a roof scoop pretty certain its only the STI-RAs that have the roof scoop :-\

[Guest]

Im yet to seen anything other than an alloy bonnet.... I have heard the alloy boot is out there, but I am still yet to find one or see one, as for alloy doors good luck.

[Guest]

im not too sure myself either, mines the v-lmtd so its got all the aircon and leccy windows back in it, other than that, alloy bonnet and quarter panels, thers a boot lining but its really just a furry peice of plastic wrapped around so you cant see the bare shell all the normal sti stuff be interestn as to what makes them soo light. Theres a wrx RA in town at the dealers with a roof scoop and my mates RA had a roof scoop, both just standard wrx RAs

[Guest Dazza]

I stand corrected my bad

Whats the weight difference between the STI Type-R and STI RA? Wouldn't be that different due to both having alloy bonnets and the Coupe is minus two doors.

Also do the Non STI RAs have the 4 pot front brakes the same as V3-6 STIs?

[Guest]

alot of what makes each car up is down to who origionally ordered it in japan . From what i understand the RAs were just a basic pacakge but you could upgrade things like stereo packages, electric windows etc if you so desired when you ordered the car. As for the roof scoop im pretty sure only Sti-Ra models and the type r coupes had them, but maybe that was an option as well. They are pretty easy to install, i just put one in my wagon. I know the Sti-Ra's had thinner rear glass too, ive got a rear screen from the V4 Sti-Ra V limited i just wrecked and its rather thin. They also have alloy bonnets and alot of people blow on about alloy front guards but i have yet to ever see any.

WRX-Ras dont have the 4pot front and 2 pot rear brakes like Sti-Ras do either.

[nt_a_foz]

V3 & 4 Sti coupes didnt have roof scoops.

V3&4 Wrx coupes had them though for some reason...

V5 Sti coupes though ahd scoops

[WRXER]

 CRRUPT said:

alot of what makes each car up is down to who origionally ordered it in japan . From what i understand the RAs were just a basic pacakge but you could upgrade things like stereo packages, electric windows etc if you so desired when you ordered the car. As for the roof scoop im pretty sure only Sti-Ra models and the type r coupes had them, but maybe that was an option as well. They are pretty easy to install, i just put one in my wagon. I know the Sti-Ra's had thinner rear glass too, ive got a rear screen from the V4 Sti-Ra V limited i just wrecked and its rather thin. They also have alloy bonnets and alot of people blow on about alloy front guards but i have yet to ever see any.

WRX-Ras dont have the 4pot front and 2 pot rear brakes like Sti-Ras do either.

U don't by chance have the rear screen up for grabs? ;D

[readosnr]

Ra models first arrived at the same time as the standard WRX (my93 onwards)- i own 2 of these.

STI RA MODELS first showed up with the V2 models (GC8 C)

Type RA FACTORY FITMENTS/ OPTIONED PARTS

(my system doesnt tell me if it is optioned or as standard)

ROOF VENT

V2- Sedan STI 555 blue

RASTI white

RA STI V LTD- option code 66- 555 blue

V3- Sedan STI 555 blue

RASTI white

V4- Sedan RASTI Blue and White

Coupe WRX RV ltd Blue only

V5- Sedan RASTI blue and white

Coupe option code 75 blue only

V6- Sedan RASTI(3 option codes)White Blue and yellow

Coupe option code 45 blue only

REAR WINDOW WIPER

no Sedan RA models has these as an optioned extra- only came on Sedan STI and WRX models

i would imagine it would be the same for the coupe- but my info doesnt specify

FRONT GUARDS

there were 4 types of guards on the gc. RA models had the same as their non turbo counterparts, while wrx and wrxsti models had their own. 22b guards and gravel express guards were also different. With the infamous "ALLOY GUARDS on the RA models", if they did exist, then they were also fitted to the base model cars too.

MANUAL WINDOWS

All GC chassis Sedan RA and STIRA models had manual windows as standard, except for

V4- Sedan STIRA option 85 and 86

V5- sedan RA option 65 and STIRA option 86

V6- sedan RA option 55 and STIRA option 73 and 83

COUPE models only ever had electric windows (i beleive)

OUTER DOOR HANDLES and WING MIRRORS

RA and STIRA models had unpainted door handles and wing mirrors (ie black) except for

V5- sedan RA option 65 and STIRA option 86

V6- sedan RA option 55 and STIRA option 73 and 83

HEADLIGHTS

from the Ver 2 onwards, the WRX RA and STI RA models had different headlamp units. this was to accomodate the brighter 12v 100/80w headlight bulbs as they had different mounting lugs

5th INJECTOR ENGINE

these were only ever fitted to RA models as an EJ20G engine. Introduced on the MY93, MY94 and ver 1 and 2 and RA STI ver 1 and Ver 2. They all had the same inlet manifold so theoretically the sti ra models with 5th inject were not painted red

and some other parts which i cant think of at the mo.

the above list had been prepared to the best of my knowledge, but may not be perfect.

if this list gives you some concerns as to what your vehicle actually is then check with your local subaru franchise with your chassis number and body model number or pm me

bough to you by Readosnr and his quiet friday arvo

[nt_a_foz]

You mind if i move that stuff into a thread and Sticky it man.

Be handy and save getting the same questions 200000000 times...

Shot for doing that man

[GC8E2DD]

Add that coupes must've had rear wipers optioned. Unless everyone has them?

[Guest]

iv got one..lol

[nt_a_foz]

iv got one

[V8eta]

The main giveaway between the sti -ra and ra would be the DCCD/R180 drivetrain.

My Ver 3 Sti RA has alloy bonnet, guards are steel, boot not sure haven't done the magnet test yet. Manual radio aerial, no rear wiper, quick steering rack, was optioned with electric windows (has stickers over the holes in the door cards where windups were).

No underseal but they do have sound deadening under the carpet.

[Guest]

 V8eta said:

The main giveaway between the sti -ra and ra would be the DCCD/R180 drivetrain.

My Ver 3 Sti RA has alloy bonnet, guards are steel, boot not sure haven't done the magnet test yet. Manual radio aerial, no rear wiper, quick steering rack, was optioned with electric windows (has stickers over the holes in the door cards where windups were).

No underseal but they do have sound deadening under the carpet.

Yea the v4 sit-ra v-limited i wrecked had sound deadening but no underseal. pretty much identical to what you descibed, quick rack, manual aerial, no wiper but the door cards didnt have a stickers over the holes it didnt have holes at all but maybe v-limiteds had electric windows as standard?