GDB
Subaru Impreza WRX STI, GDB
EJ207 turbo, 2.0 flat-four, all-wheel drive
The round-light, oval-light and angular-light generations all carry the GDB code, from August 2000 to 2007. The earliest Japanese cars have cleared the 25-year rule and the rest are following.
The JDM cars have a different engine specification from the American ones, which is most of the reason to import at all, and the sheet is where you confirm you are buying the Japanese car.
Which face, from the build month
Buyers care intensely about which headlight generation they are buying, and the build month on the sheet settles it.
Spec C and other lightweight grades
The sheet names the grade. Spec C cars differ in glass, gearing and cooling, and they carry a premium.
Evidence of hard use
Look for R or RA grades, roll cage and seat notes, and front-end marks. These were rally-bred and used accordingly.
Every mark named above is defined in the codes library, with what it costs to put right at US rates.
Night Line
Be told when a GDB matters
We write when the GDB clears another month of the 25-year rule, when the yen moves more than 3% your way, and once when the free Decode opens. Nothing else.