We all love them. Some are 100% true, some turn out to be just rumors and hearsay, but most all involve classic and muscle cars from back in the 50s and 60s worth a fortune today. However, times are changing. Many of the early Japanese super cars that were sold in the US during the 90's, the Supra Turbos, RX-7s, NSXs, even the Integra Type Rs have all seen their values climb over the years and stock variants of these cars are even harder to come by. So, little by little when word surfaces of a "mint"(fill in your favorite car here), people will investigate because those who may have been too young to afford one of these cars back then may be in a position to grab one now.
Enter the 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX. The first WRX to be sold in the US to a new generation of car guys that spent the 90's playing Gran Turismo and reading about the turbocharged and intercooled AWD rallying variant of the docile Impreza that was holding it's own on tracks against cars costing three times as much. To make things even more interesting, the 2002 Impreza WRX was the first of the new generation Impreza and it's appearance, with it's big "bugeye" headlights, was met with more than a few raised eyebrows. But like most things that are first taken as "odd" usually develop a cult-like following and the 2002-2003 WRX "Bugeye" is no exception. There are countless social media pages and groups devoted to the Bugeye, as it has truly become sought after.
The problem though, as it seems, is that for the last 5 years or so, the early WRXs have come down in value enough for the next generation of car enthusiasts (i.e. late teens, early 20s) to pick one up and have their way with it. For as many Bugeyes that have been brought to greatness over the years by their owners, there are easily that many running the streets held together with zip ties, loaded with ebay parts, rolling on stock wheels with their flat black paint flaking off with enough dents around the car to make a golf ball jealous. I was in the market for a Bugeye this summer for my son and I have witnessed some of the latter cars. It got to the point where I was unsure if there were any good examples of Bugeyes left, at least in or around Pennsylvania.
To back up just a little, I worked for our local Subaru dealer back in the 90's and early 2000's, and then stayed on after switching careers working with their customers' performance needs part time after the WRX was released, as there was no one at the dealership that bothered much with that stuff. We had a customer by the name of Jake that wanted all of the goodies at the time, so he said what he wanted and we got the parts in and installed them for him, the same way most of our customer cars worked. Being the huge rally fan that I am and have been for decades, I've always had a soft spot for Jake's car.
It was a 2002 WR Blue 5spd WRX sedan. We then installed a brand new set of 18" gold Prodrive P1 wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber. We also installed 2004 STi side skirts along with the OEM front and rear lips as well. JDM projector headlights finished the front end and we put a WRC replica roof scoop up top and a WRC-type rear spoiler out back. The icing on the cake, however, was a genuine STi WRC decal kit. That's right, not made in some guy's basement, the decals were the real deal. Not such a big deal today, but back then it was pretty special. The guys at RalliSpec got them in from Japan for us at near $1000! Crazy? Maybe, but they did look and fit perfectly on his car.
The inside remained fairly stock save for a few guages. Most everything else was factory perfect.
Under the hood was just your basic bolt-ons. Catless up-pipe, BPM turbo-back exhaust(there's a name you haven't heard in a while!), an intake and turbo-inlet, an HKS BOV, and a TurboXS Uni-Chip to tie everything in together. Keep in mind, this was early 2000's! As "archaic as they may sound now, it was quite a hot set-up back then and Jake's car in particular ran very strong. It got attention everywhere it went and became quite well known in the Sunbury area of PA.
But, like many young enthusiasts, life has a tendency to get in the way and Jake's career at his family's construction business and the need for more practical vehicles became evident. The area saw less and less of the blue and gold Subaru and it eventually became a "remember that blue WRX" conversion among area car enthusiasts.
Fast forward 12 years or so later and my son and I are in search of a clean, early WRX. While talking to an old friend at the local Subaru dealership, the topic of Jake's old WRX popped up:
"Ya know, Jake still has his WRX."
"You're kidding!? What kind of shape is it in?"
"Exactly the same...it still has the stickers on it! And it has some absurd amount of low miles. He just parked it in their warehouse years ago. I think he may be willing to sell it if you want to get a hold of him"
Now, at this point I am torn. It would be an absolutely perfect car for my son with so little miles(if it did indeed have low miles), but Jake knows exactly what he has so I know it's almost definitely out of my budget. Still, it was worth a shot just to go see the car again. So I contact Jake and we decide to meet at his warehouse where the WRX has been for years.
I pull in to the warehouse parking lot one afternoon and I almost have knots in my stomach. This may possibly be the lowest mileage 2002 WRX in the entire country and although I all but convinced myself it was out of my price range before even knowing if he would indeed sell it, there was a sliver of hope. Prior to the visit, I checked with my credit union and with the miles it was said to have, they would allow just under $10,000 for the car. So I had that number in my head. After a quick hello session with Jake, he take's me back to his WRX. I was speechless. It was exactly as I remembered it. It instantly brought back so many memories of working on it and applying the stickers and watching it run. While it was covered in dust, it was obvious the body on the car was flawless. No rust, no dents, no paint chipping away or fading like you see on virtually every original '02 WRX on the road. It was exactly as described."You mind if I sit in it?" I ask.
"Sure" Jake says.
There is nothing liking sitting in a bugeye WRX. Compared to today's performance cars, the '02 WRX was so basic and simple, yet it was all you needed. The seats hug you tightly and everything is right where it needs to be. It has such a "raw" feel to it. Then, I glance at the odometer and almost get chills:
18,110
The rumors were true. Again, I am at a loss for words. I am not claiming this to be the absolute lowest mileage 2002 Impreza WRX not only in the country, but possibly in the world, but there can't be too many with lower miles and as good of shape as the one I am sitting in at that very moment. I compose myself and continue to look around the car and talk to Jake about doing things to the car some 14 years earlier. I had no need to hear it run or drive it as much of the company's heavy equipment would've had to be moved to do so. At this point, Jake was still unsure if he wanted to sell it, as it was his first car and it is in pristine condition and at this point is not costing him a cent to hold on to it. He does ask what I would offer him if he decided to sell, I tell him, and we wrap things up for the afternoon knowing it would not be enough to get this car.A few weeks later I talk to Jake again and while still not being totally committed to selling it, he did admit that my offer would not get it done, as I expected. While I was able to offer him a bit more, just for the fact that I've always loved the car, I made a decision to look for something more typical in mileage(and price) for our project bugeye for my son. It is very easy to become impulsive around a car like this. But quite honestly, Jake's WRX was almost in too good of condtion to be someone's first car. This car belongs in a true Subaru bugeye enthusiast's garage that will see little battle on the streets and more battle at the car shows. Someone who will truly appreciate it for what it is.
That being said, one has to wonder, just how valuable is this car? Sure, you can say it's only as valuable as what someone is willing to pay for it, which is true. But, when looking at it comparatively, the early WRX STis in this country(starting in 2004), are fetching in the neighborhood of $13,000-$15,000 with well over 100k miles on them. Granted, the STi has the Brembo brakes, the STi 6 speed transmission, and the 305hp 2.5 litre engine, so naturally they are bringing in some nice money. But, you still go back to the odometer on Jake's car; 18,110. If you want a 2004 STi, you will find one. It's just that simple. But, if you want a 2002 WRX with under 20,000 miles, chances are you will not find one, and again, it is just that simple. Sure, even with that low of miles, fluids, rubber bits, seals, etc. will all likely need attention simply because of the car's age. But as I said earlier, the buyer of this car will not be in a hurry to put major miles on this car anyway so it might not be on the top of their list of things to do. I would have to assume, given the same price range, most people looking for a WRX would choose a thoroughly used STi over Jake's bugeye. But, for the hardcore bugeye enthusiast(and they are out there), you will not find another car like Jake's anytime soon, and maybe ever.
In the end, the blue and gold WRX that I helped put together when it was new, was not going to be ours. As of this writing, Jake still has his WRX, tucked away safe and sound in a corner of his warehouse where it will remain until the right buyer comes along. Until then, it will remain still, out of the elements, out of the harsh sun, out of the hands of some kid who wants to slam it to the ground and plasti-dip the wheels among other things, like so many early WRXs have succumbed to. I suspect this WRX "barn find" will continue to enjoy the good life right where it is at, or eventually, possibly, at a new home where the second owner will appreciate it just as much, if not more, than it's original owner does.
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