2005 Subaru Impreza WRX

First registered on the 1st of September 2005 to a Mr. Manners, this incredible Prodrive Performance Pack WRX Impreza Turbo is still showing well under 12,000 miles on the odometer, a scarcely believable figure but one that’s backed up by MoT and service records – and its condition.

Finished in the iconic - and unblemished - WR Blue Mica Metallic with factory standard cloth seats, this WRX looks as though it left the showroom only last month.

With just three former (presumably obsessive, given its condition) keepers, it is completely original and factory correct and comes with all the original keys, books, and manuals.

The Blue Mica Metallic coachwork looks stunning, especially with those flared wheelarches, bonnet scoop, trademark round front foglamps and that huge rear wing; few cars are as iconic as a bright blue Impreza and this one holds up its end as well as any we’ve ever seen and you can see why enthusiasts and dubbed this model ‘Darth Vader’, can’t you?

The panels are straight and undamaged, the shutlines are factory tight, and the flanks are free of ripples, dents, and dinks. The four extremities are free of car-park scuffs too, and the painted plastic bits are all still fresh and vibrant. The light lenses are all good, as are the badges and glazing; it really is a lovely example of a hitherto somewhat underappreciated car.

Gold alloys are, of course, the de facto choice but we like the more understated 17-inch examples fitted here, even if the red Subaru-branded brake calipers give a hint of flash. They, like the bodywork, are in great shape and are free of the sort of damage that betrays a careless driver.

Obviously the tyres match, in this case being a set of four Bridgestone Potenza.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Faults? Well, if you’re intending on displaying it then there is the odd (very small) stonechip to touch in and there are a couple of tiny marks on one or two of the alloy wheels but everyone else will be delighted with its condition, a condition that is as close to museum-worthy as you’re going to find these days.

What is there to say about the interior except it’s just about perfect? That means unmarked cloth seats that are as supportive and comfortable as they were when they were new.

Perfect door cards too, plus a minty fresh carpet, taut and clean headlining, and an unmolested dashboard with no of the extra gauges and switches you’re used to seeing on Impreza Turbos.

If you doubt the quality of this car then just take a look at the underside of the boot lid, which is nothing short of stunning. The door shuts are worthy of note too, as is the inside of the fuel filler cap. We’re told that everything works too, but that’s not a surprise, is it?

Alloy pedals and WRX-branded overmats complete the specification but rather than waffle on, why not brew yourself a cuppa and spend a few minutes admiring the photos for yourself? Or, better still, why not contact the vendor and go and take a socially distanced look for yourself?

The service history is recorded thus:

• 01.10.2005 and 1,111 miles – 1,000-mile service by Gatwick Group

• 12.10.2006 and 8,521 miles – 10,000-mile service by Williams Subaru

• 04.04.2018 and 10,745 miles – service by Halfords Autocentre

• 12.12.2018 and 10,936 miles – new timing belt and water pump by Colin Appleyard Subaru

As you can see, it starts immediately and settles into a typically Subaru gruff tickover. It revs beautifully when provoked, and while the engine noise might not be anything special, that coming from the Prodrive exhaust certainly is.

The engine bay is probably cleaner than any you’ve ever seen on one of these unless you’re a concours buff and it’s a credit to its previous owners that we’ve got nothing more to say of it than that.

Guess what the underside is like. Yup, you’ve got it: incredible. There might be the odd rusty fastener under there to betray its age but if you were OCD enough to replace them then we reckon no-one else is going to guess that they’re looking at a car that’s old enough to vote in Scotland.

The Subaru’s MoT certificate, which is valid until January 2022, was gained without a single advisory point, something it’s been no stranger to over the years but then that’s not a surprise is it, given the pampered life it’s led? The MoT record is also interesting in that it shows a very gradual accrual of miles – and at a rate that supports the car’s ridiculously low odometer reading.

It has a number of expired MoT certificates plus some old invoices to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet plus two sets of keys.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

This isn’t a car for everyone because if you start to drive it long and hard then you’re going to devalue it by altering the two aspects of it that are so remarkable, namely its mileage and showroom-fresh condition.

So, if you’ve ever fancied a museum-quality, investment-grade example of a so-far underrated rallying legend then this might just be the car for you. Offered in an unmodified condition and with its original factory book pack, this is as close to a new example as you’re ever likely to find.

And yet, despite everything we’ve just said, it’s not going to be that expensive, which actually opens up the market a little because if you’re only going to have to find somewhere between £14,000 and £20,000 then there’s not much to stop you buying it and then treating it as a new car by actually using it, is there?

Remember, the last of the Imprezas would have set you back well over £40,000 new and this car is very nearly as fast while being considerably nicer to drive – and all for the price of a mid-range Fiesta.

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Mobberley, Cheshire; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.