2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi: A Modified Marvel
Imagine this: a 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi that packs a turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four into its stunningly streamlined chassis. This isn’t just any standard model – it’s been seriously souped-up to include a VF48 turbo, a robust 255-lph fuel pump, and a slick aftermarket downpipe, all jazzed up before the seller got their hands on it in 2021. But that’s not where the story ends. It’s been further spruced up with a snazzy Turbosmart blow-off valve, an SPT air intake, and a gleaming Tomei exhaust system. With power thrillingly coursing to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transaxle, and coordinating beautifully with a driver-controlled center differential and limited-slip front and rear differentials, it almost feels like driving in an action movie.
As for its looks, well, it’s wrapped in a moody Obsidian Black Pearl that drapes over a classy black and blue interior. This Subaru doesn’t just stop at looking good. It crams in features like gold-finished 17″ BBS wheels, Brembo brake calipers that could stop a freight train, a handy rear wing, cruise control, and an Alpine head unit. With 95k miles on its clock, it’s headline news in the world of adrenaline-fueled automobiles, offered complete with the owner’s manual, service records, a stash of spare parts, and a clean title devoid of any dark history.
Paint and Polish
No ordinary car would turn heads like this one! Dressed to impress in Obsidian Black Pearl (32J), it flaunts an aluminum hood with a scoop that teases more than just a hungry raccoon. Couple that with HID headlights, gold-finished grille trim, power-adjustable mirrors ready to admire themselves, and a sharp rear wing, it’s a standalone masterpiece. The seller notes that bits from bumper covers to scoop were freshened up with new paint in May 2021. There are a few battle scars – scratches on the left doors and a crafty touch-up on the right fender, but aren’t scars the tales of great adventures?
Wheels and Brakes
Running on stylish gold-finished 17″ 10-spoke BBS alloy wheels, this Subaru struts its stuff over spacers, donned with 225/45 Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 tires tighter than a drum. It’s a beast when it comes to stopping—aided by four-wheel disc brakes featuring Brembo four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers plus slotted rotors. Latest updates? A sprightly right rear wheel bearing swinging into action in June 2023.
Interior Comfort and Features
Slide inside, and you’re greeted by front bucket seats sheathed in sleek black cloth and vibrant blue perforated Ecsaine. The color coordination stretches to the rear seats and door panels, making it as snazzy as it is speedy. Although the Alpine head unit is a nice touch, you’ll have to chant an incantation for the air conditioning and clock adjustment buttons to cooperate. Watch your step! There’s a hole lurking in the driver’s footwell carpeting, a badge of the many thrilling miles it’s seen. Exhibit A of the car’s journeyman spirit is the wear on the driver’s seat upholstery and some corrosion creeping in the spare tire well.
Driving Dynamics
Grip the leather-wrapped steering wheel and you’re literally at the helm of adventure, furnished with a cruise control stalk and sporty dashes like the 160-mph speedometer, a tachometer with a bold 7k-rpm redline, and gauges hinting at fuel level and coolant temperature. The digital odometer clocks 95k miles, with around 6k added by the current commander. There’s a cheeky discrepancy in the Carfax report showing 108k miles in May 2025, which the seller blames on a mere clerical hiccup.
On the Engine Front
Furthermore, the heart of this mechanical marvel, the turbocharged 2.5-liter EJ257 flat-four has danced with enhancements in 2018: a ported VF48 turbocharger armed with a billet compressor wheel, an aftermarket downpipe, a temperament-controlling silicone turbo inlet hose, and further tweaks like aftermarket engine mounts and a solenoid controlling electronic boosts. Fuel is fed hurriedly by a 255-lph pump. Representing petrolhead indulgence, a Turbosmart blow-off valve, SPT air intake, and Tomei cat-back exhaust add anthem-like notes to its roaring crescendo. Proactive service in June 2018 saw the oil pan, timing belt, water pump, and valve cover gaskets toasted to newness. In August 2024, the alternator and power steering pump decided they’d had enough and returned for a new fling.
“Think of this Subaru less as a car and more like a mechanical symphony, a powerhouse symphony thundering down the street!”
Every thrill the Subaru offers crosses paths with the planet via a slick six-speed manual transaxle, dancing beautifully with a driver-controlled center differential and tough-as-nails limited-slip front and rear differentials. In 2018, a Competition Stage 2 clutch kit and a resurfaced flywheel were gently nestled in. Watch out! There’s corrosion here and there on the underside—nothing a seasonal scrub can’t handle. Snapshots in the gallery show the nitty-gritty.
Whisper it if you must—this Subaru’s Carfax report reads like a squeaky-clean slate, totally free of any scandalous scrapes or bumps.