BF Auction: No Reserve 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX

Seller: Mike’s Foreign Car Service
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Mileage: 140,140 Shown
Chassis #: JF1GD296X2G510832
Title Status: Clean
Engine: 2.0-Liter Boxer-4 Turbo
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

The Subaru Impreza debuted in 1992 and has gone through several generations in the past 32 years. The example being offered here as a no-reserve Barn Finds Auction is a second-generation WRX, also known as the Bugeye Impreza. Being a WRX (aka World Rally eXperiment) means this car came with all kinds of performance upgrades from the factory. Between their snappy turbocharged boxer engine and trick all-wheel drive system, they are a blast to drive. The seller has owned it since 2012, pulled the engine to install high-compression pistons, and rebuilt cylinder heads a while ago, but life got in the way, and they’ve realized they aren’t going to get around to putting it back together. Rather than let it sit in their garage, they want to see it go to someone who can finish and enjoy it.

The WRX was the mid-tier performance version of the Impreza, with the WRX STi being the highest-performance variant. The standard WRX is a nice balance of performance and driveability, with a suspension tuned to handle well without being overly stiff. You can’t go wrong with either car, but a WRX is an excellent choice if you want a fun daily driver.

This Impreza’s interior is dusty and has some sun damage from sitting. Other than needing a good cleaning, though, there don’t appear to be any significant needs. The original MOMO steering wheel, seats, and even the original Subaru-branded floor mats are present. A set of gauge pods and an aftermarket stereo have been added.

The EJ20 engine is a solid powerplant, displacing 2.0 liters and producing 227 horsepower in turbocharged form. These engines are highly tunable, and the seller accumulated many of the parts needed to give them some serious power. The seller has provided a list of all the parts they have for it, which you can find below. The real standout included parts are the freshly machined cylinder heads, forged crank, and high-compression pistons.

Stock WRX uel headers
Grim Speed catless up-pipe
Factory TD04L turbo w/ CHRA rebuild kit
Magnaflow 3-inch catless turbo-back exhaust
Cobb cold air intake
STi intercooler
Perrin Signature series recerc valve
Mishimoto radiator
Rotiform 17×9 wheels
TWM short throw shifter
EJ208 open deck block/case halves
2007 Subaru WRX factory-forged crank
Freshly machined EJ205 non-AVCS heads w/ new valve guides & seals
Subaru factory forged rods and hypereutectic pistons out of an Australian domestic market BP5 2007 Legacy GT STi R-Spec 2.0L for an effective compression ratio of 9.5-1

The seller notes some paint failure, and the driver’s side fender has body damage. Otherwise, the body looks straight, and the underside looks good. This one is a project, but now that they are over 20 years old, they are becoming modern classics and are getting harder to find. Whether you use the included upgrade parts or go with original spec items, it will be a fun driver! So, if you’d love to have it, bid and leave any questions for the seller in the comment section below.