One of the most iconic Japanese sports cars of the nineties (and arguably of all time) is the first generation Subaru Impreza WRX. The “WRX” in the name stands for “World Rally eXperimental” and the first version of the car was introduced in 1992.
As the name suggests, the WRX featured rally inspired technology, including all-wheel drive, a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and stiffened suspension. Subaru gave the car a viscous coupling type centre differential, while the rear limited slip differential was a viscous type. Altogether, these changes made for one of the most exciting cars of the early nineties and the WRX quickly proved to be a hit.
A Type RA model was also available for Japanese buyers and was intended for use in motorsports. It was essentially a stripped-down version of the standard WRX, with reduced soundproofing, no air conditioning, manual windows, no anti-lock brakes, and added racing features such as shorter gearing and stronger engines.
Subaru would soon introduce an upgraded version of the WRX, known as the WRX STi (Subaru Technica International). This even more performance orientated WRX was given a blueprinted specially-tuned engine, upgraded transmission and improved suspension system. Like the standard WRX, the STi version proved to be hugely popular with both Japanese buyers and buyers around the globe.
Subaru would introduce more versions of the car throughout the nineties and make a number of changes/upgrades to the standard models. The most famous and sought after of all models was the Impreza 22B STi that was launched in 1998 to commemorate both Subaru’s 40th anniversary as well as their third consecutive manufacturer’s title in the FIA World Rally Championship.
Today, the first generation Subaru WRX has become a serious collectors item, with some of the rarer models like the 22B reaching some eye watering sums of money. However, how much did the first generation Subaru WRX cost new and what is it in today’s money? To answer the question, check out the list below of the prices for the different years and models of Japanese WRXs and what they are in today’s money.
First Gen Subaru WRX Original Price in Japan
1992 Subaru WRX Price (from November 1992)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 123.44 (taken from November 1992).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2020 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 237 hp (177 kW) | 5MT | 2,108,000 | 17,077 | 32,832 |
| WRX | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 237 hp (177 kW) | 5MT | 2,298,000 | 18,616 | 33,431 |
1993 Subaru WRX Price (from October 1993)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 105.00 (taken from October 1993).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 217 hp (162 kW) | 5MT | 2,598,000 | 24,743 | 46,362 |
1994 Subaru WRX Price (from January 1994)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 112.50 (taken from January 1994).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX STi | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 247 hp (184 kW) | 5MT | 2,778,000 | 24,693 | 46,110 |
1994 Subaru WRX Price (from October 1994)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 99.40 (taken from October 1994).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 256 hp (191 kW) | 5MT | 2,198,000 | 22,113 | 40,380 |
| WRX | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 256 hp (191 kW) | 5MT | 2,498,000 | 25,131 | 45,892 |
1994 Subaru WRX Price (from November 1994)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 96.70 (taken from November 1994).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA STi | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 271 hp (202 kW) | 5MT | 2,728,000 | 28,211 | 51,447 |
1995 Subaru WRX Price (from August 1995)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 88.12 (taken from August 1995).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION II | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 271 hp (202 kW) | 5MT | 2,728,000 | 30,958 | 55,275 |
| WRX STi VERSION II | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 271 hp (202 kW) | 5MT | 2,748,000 | 31,185 | 55,680 |
| WRX STi VERSION II 555 | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 271 hp (202 kW) | 5MT | 2,878,000 | 32,660 | 58,314 |
1996 Subaru WRX Price (from January 1996)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 105.70 (taken from January 1996).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX V-LIMITED | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 256 hp (191 kW) | 5MT | 2,555,000 | 24,172 | 42,740 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION II V LIMITE | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 271 hp (202 kW) | 5MT | 2,823,000 | 26,708 | 47,223 |
1996 Subaru WRX Price (from September 1996)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 109.05 (taken from September 1996).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,255,000 | 20,679 | 35,775 |
| WRX | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,555,000 | 23,430 | 40,535 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION III | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,785,000 | 25,539 | 44,183 |
| WRX STi VERSION III | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,885,000 | 26,456 | 45,770 |
1997 Subaru WRX Price (from January 1997)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 116.14 (taken from January 1997).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX STi VERSION III V LIMITED | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,935,000 | 25,271 | 43,363 |
| WRX TYPE R STi | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,985,000 | 25,702 | 44,102 |
1997 Subaru WRX Price (from September 1997)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 120.54 (taken from September 1997).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,269,000 | 18,824 | 31,879 |
| WRX | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,569,000 | 21,312 | 36,094 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION IV | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,799,000 | 23,221 | 39,325 |
| WRX STi VERSION IV | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,899,000 | 24,050 | 40,730 |
| WRX TYPE R STi VERSION IV | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,999,000 | 24,880 | 42,135 |
1998 Subaru WRX Price (from January 1998)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 130.07 (taken from January 1998).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE R V LIMITED | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,499,000 | 19,213 | 32,458 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION IV V LIMITED | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,950,000 | 22,680 | 38,410 |
| WRX TYPE STi VERSION IV | E-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,999,000 | 23,057 | 39,048 |
1998 Subaru 22B STi Price (from March 1998)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 126.78 (taken from March 1998).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| 22B STI | GC8 | EJ22 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 5,000,000 | 39,438 | 66,380 |
1998 Subaru WRX Price (from September 1998)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 141.70 (taken from September 1998).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,279,000 | 16,083 | 26,839 |
| WRX | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,579,000 | 18,200 | 30,371 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION V | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,859,000 | 20,176 | 33,669 |
| WRX STi VERSION V | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,919,000 | 20,600 | 34,375 |
| WRX TYPE R STi VERSION V | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 3,009,000 | 21,235 | 35,435 |
1998 Subaru WRX Price (from November 1998)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 115.64 (taken from November 1998).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2021 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA LIMITED | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,499,000 | 21,610 | 35,973 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION V LIMITED | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,999,000 | 25,934 | 43,171 |
| WRX TYPE R STi VERSION V LIMITED | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 3,009,000 | 26,020 | 43,315 |
1999 Subaru WRX Price (from September 1999)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 110.76 (taken from September 1999).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2020 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,279,000 | 20,576 | 33,456 |
| WRX | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,579,000 | 23,285 | 37,860 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION VI | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,859,000 | 25,813 | 41,971 |
| WRX STi VERSION V | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,919,000 | 26,354 | 42,852 |
| WRX TYPE R STi VERSION V | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 3,009,000 | 27,167 | 44,173 |
1999 Subaru WRX Price (from November 1999)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 104.96 (taken from November 1999).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2020 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA LIMITED | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,429,000 | 23,142 | 37,539 |
| WRX TYPE RA STi VERSION VI LIMITED | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 2,999,000 | 28,573 | 46,459 |
| WRX TYPE R STi VERSION VI LIMITED | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 276 hp (206 kW) | 5MT | 3,039,000 | 28,954 | 47,079 |
2000 Subaru S201 STi Price (from April 2000)
Exchange rate of 1 United States dollar to Japanese yen is 105.26 (taken from November 1999).
| Model | Chassis | Engine | Trans | Price in Yen (¥) | Price in USD ($) | 2020 Price ($) |
| WRX TYPE RA LIMITED | GF-GC8 | EJ20 – 296 hp (221 kW) | 5MT | 3,900,000 | 37,051 | 59,049 |
How Much Does a First Gen Subaru WRX Cost Today?
Sale prices of the first generation Subaru WRX vary wildly depending on what model is being sold, where it is being sold and what sort of condition it is in. In the United States, most first generation WRXs fall in the $10,000 – $40,000 range with some outliers being above and a few really bad examples falling below. Just like when it launched, the 22B STi still commands the greatest price. For example, this 40k kilometre 22B fetched over $300,000 earlier this year, not bad investment considering the original sale price.
Hello,
Very thorough and thought out article.
My question to you, did the wagon (GF8) or the coupe (GM8) have a different sticker price.?
Thanks,
Josh
Hi Josh,
I’m actually not sure to be honest – and an initial Google search doesn’t yield much in the way of helpful information (unless I’ve looked in the wrong place). I’d err on the side of guessing that the wagon may have been more expensive, if only by a small amount. Let us know if you find a definitive answer.