The US market finally got its first taste of the STI in 2004, shortly after Subaru’s World Rally Team drove modified STIs to World Rally Championships in 2001 and 2003. To complement the oversized rear wing, the roadgoing STI’s received BBS alloy wheels, modeled after the set used on the championship-winning cars, which added an extra dose of celebrity DNA that made the car an instant classic in the US market.

In 2004, the flat-four that would power the STI had swelled to 2.5 liters and produced 300 horsepower, thanks to a massive turbocharger and top-mounted intercooler fed by a functional hood scoop. Power was sent to all 4 wheels with front and rear full locking differentials and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Stopping the car are 4 large Brembo brakes finished in the iconic golden hue, with  18” BBS wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenzas that provide great stopping and handling. Moving to the inside of the car you are greeted with a wonderful blue interior and the famous torque split controls mounted in the center console of the vehicle, allowing the driver to adjust the power delivery between the front and rear axles, with up to 35% in the front and up to 65% in the rear split. This level of technology in 2004 was reserved exclusively for true rally cars. Since the STI launched during the peak of the import tuning movement in the US, finding an unmodified example has proven to be quite the challenge. You are far more likely to find a slammed, tuned, and abused 04’ STI than you are a well-documented, bone-stock example. 

This completely stock 2004 WRX STI, chassis #JF1GD70684L524667, is a fantastic example. Showing just over 5,000 miles from new and finished in Platinum Silver Metallic with silver wheels, this is one of only 1,759 STIs produced in this spec. It has spent the last 16 years with its 2nd owner in New Jersey living a pampered life and hardly accumulating miles. 

Upon our purchase of the vehicle, due to its age, and lack of miles we treated the car to a thorough servicing to get it up to speed. We started with a baseline service replacing all fluids and hoses, along with a turbocharger-specific service, new water pump, and engine timing belt. From there we moved to suspension components including replacement of the wheel bearings and knuckles,  front end sway bar end links, and finishing with a brand new set of Bridgestone Potenza RE 71Rs, similar to what it would have come equipped with when new, so the car would be complete and fully ready to be enjoyed. 

As we mentioned earlier, finding a heavily modified STI is an easy task, but those cars entirely miss the mark. Modified cars can’t provide the true, unadulterated spirit of the STI as Subaru wanted drivers to experience it. This STI is a true purists car and offers one of the last opportunities to jump in the driver seat and feel exactly what the team at Subaru had put some much effort into creating all those years ago. 

Included in the sale are purchase documents from new including the bill of sale and original window sticker, service receipts, manuals, original advertising literature, and clean Carfax.