GDB · GDA
Subaru Impreza WRX STI GD import check
GDB is the factory model code for the Subaru Impreza WRX STI GD, built for the Japanese market from 2000 to 2007. Other versions carry GDA. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as GDB-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
GDB at a glance
- Model code
- GDB
- Make
- Subaru
- Model
- Impreza WRX STI (GD)
- Body
- 4-door saloon
- Built
- 2000 to 2007
- Engine
- EJ207 (1994 cc turbo petrol)
- Drivetrain
- AWD (DCCD)
- Japanese trims
- WRX STI, WRX STI Spec C, S202, S203, S204
- Chassis number format
- GDB-nnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the GDB chassis code
- GDB is the WRX STI and GDA the ordinary WRX.
- The earlier GC8 and the later GRB are separate guides.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDB | Impreza WRX STI (GD) | EJ207 | 2000–2007 |
| GDA | WRX (non-STI), EJ205 | EJ205 | 2000–2007 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine GDB?
An STI must be GDB. A car advertised as an STI on a GDA chassis is a WRX with STI parts.
If you paste the advert into the free check, we compare its wording with the chassis code. An advert that says “WRX STI” on a car whose chassis code isn’t GC8, GDB, GRB, GVB, GRF and GVF gets flagged.
Known problems to check on a GDB
- Ringland and big-end failures on tuned engines
- Rust in the rear arches and sills
- Centre differential (DCCD) and rear differential wear
- Signs of rally or track use: crash repairs and seam welding
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Most have been modified: ask for a list of changes, receipts, and whether the insurer has been told
- Ask for a compression or leak-down test on tuned engines
The GDB on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car インプレッサ (Impreza), with WRX STI and the version (Spec C, S203 and so on) in the grade line.
- An R or RA grade means repaired accident damage. Ask for photos of the repair and have the structure checked.
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the GDB family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Subaru Impreza 2.0 and 2.5 (2001 to 2007)
- 26% of 21,127 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 39% lower than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge (8.9% of tests).
- Most common failure: Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (4.0% of tests).
Every second-generation Impreza with a 2.0 or 2.5 engine, turbo or not, imported or sold new in the UK.
All Subaru Impreza 2.0 and 2.5 (2001 to 2007) MOT statisticsFrom DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
A GDB sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Subaru Impreza WRX STI GD?
GDB, with GDA for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Subaru Impreza WRX STI GD has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the GDB built?
From 2000 to 2007, with the EJ207 (1994 cc turbo petrol) engine and four-wheel drive layout.
What should I check when buying a GDB?
Ringland and big-end failures on tuned engines. Rust in the rear arches and sills. Centre differential (DCCD) and rear differential wear. Signs of rally or track use: crash repairs and seam welding. Most have been modified: ask for a list of changes, receipts, and whether the insurer has been told. Ask for a compression or leak-down test on tuned engines. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.