That Time I Found a Rare Bugeye

"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4) 06/10/2016 at 17:50 • Filed to: None

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One quiet Sunday afternoon, a little over a year ago, I happened to drive past a used car dealership. Now, I had driven past this dealership many times before. However, this time, something caught my eye: The elusive Blaze Yellow Bugeye. I had to investigate:

The year is 2002. After a long, eight year turbocharged drought, the WRX arrived on US shores with great fanfare. In fact, the WRX was more popular than Subaru could have imagined: over 35,000 units were sold; not exactly rare.

So, what exactly makes this particular 2002 WRX so rare? For the 2002 model year, Subaru produced a limited run of WRX sedans in Blaze Yellow (the color you see above). Known as Cashmere Yellow in Japan, this color was nothing new. In fact, it was somewhat popular on the GC/GF WRX and BD/BG Legacy.

While the 2002 WRX is quite common, the Blaze Yellow version is not. As a limited run color, Subaru produced between 400 and 500 sedans in this color. Blaze Yellow was not available on the wagon.

This example had some modifications. Fairly tasteful compared to your typical GD Impreza, but still not quite to my taste.

Blaze Yellow is one of those colors that you either love or hate. Most people fall into the second camp, but personally, I love it. Blaze Yellow (Cashmere Yellow) may just be one of my favorite colors Subaru has ever offered.

There were other things to see here, too.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 17:53

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No way. You’re from Reading area? I see interesting stuff at that dealer all the time.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 17:55

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All the cars there look pretty tastefully modded.

Boxer_4 > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 06/10/2016 at 17:58

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Allentown area, but I pass through Reading occasionally.

Boxer_4 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/10/2016 at 17:59

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I could do without the grille on the Blaze Yellow WRX, but everything else on the lot looked pretty good.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 18:00

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Cool. I actually almost bought that Caliber SRT. It was priced well, had about 50k miles. But I went to test drive it and it’s got no muffler, idles at 2000rpm and the dash is like a Christmas tree.

Boxer_4 > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 06/10/2016 at 18:03

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So, other than the muffler, just like a typical Caliber?

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 18:08

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Lol at the time I was actually in another Caliber. But a R/T CVT model. That car was dreadful, but the 300hp and nice seats seem to redeem the SRT model.

Steve in Manhattan > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 18:11

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Nice little car.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 18:12

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But the grille is easily changeable.

Boxer_4 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/10/2016 at 18:19

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Very true.

Boxer_4 > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 06/10/2016 at 18:20

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The R/T CVT still isn’t as bad as the SXT CVT. As bad as those cars are with the 2.4L the 2.0L makes things even worse.

S65 > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 18:22

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I love that color

Boxer_4 > S65 06/10/2016 at 18:23

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It's quite spectacular in person.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 18:31

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That S2K...hoo boy, need to go change my pants.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 18:37

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I couldn’t imagine it being even slower

Boxer_4 > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 06/10/2016 at 18:45

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One of the worst rentals I've ever experienced (except for a newer Versa). At least that Caliber had the upgraded interior.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/10/2016 at 18:52

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I actually went to possibly purchase that Caliber. It’s a mess. No muffler, Christmas tree dashboard...

JGrabowMSt > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 19:01

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That lot looks like something that resulted from a lack of “family planning.” If you know what I mean.

scoob > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 19:04

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That S2K... GIVE ME.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 06/10/2016 at 19:07

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Visually they are look good. That's unfortunate because I kinda like those Calibers.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/10/2016 at 19:30

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Oh, yes I agree. I like the no-wing Evos. And the splitter on the Honda looks completely functional.

Yes, it kinda was. I was hoping to have a 300hp hot hatch in my garage, but I think I might end up with a newer Abarth instead.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 06/10/2016 at 19:32

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Didn't that generation of Evo have the 4G63

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 06/10/2016 at 19:45

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I believe so. That motor lives on sorta in the Hyundai Genesis 2.0t

6Cylinder > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 19:56

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Did it have the even more rare yellow and black leather interior?

gmctavish needs more space > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 20:12

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Looks close to BMW Dakar yellow, which is the colour I would have an E36 in if they had sold more of them

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 20:54

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you can have you yellow wrx ill be flying by in the red evo laughing at your blown headgaskets ahaahahahaha. Also 4g63 engine is life

Boxer_4 > 6Cylinder 06/10/2016 at 21:15

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This one had the standard cloth interior.

Boxer_4 > gmctavish needs more space 06/10/2016 at 21:17

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I’ve always liked Dakar Yellow. I believe Blaze Yellow is a bit more pale compared to Dakar Yellow.

gmctavish needs more space > Boxer_4 06/10/2016 at 21:22

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Yeah, although when Dakar hasn't been taken care of super well it winds up a bit paler too. But if that one is in good shape, definitely paler than Dakar

Boxer_4 > gmctavish needs more space 06/10/2016 at 21:38

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This one was in pretty good shape.

6Cylinder > Boxer_4 06/11/2016 at 02:33

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Still as dope as the popes soap on a rope.

Nauraushaun > Boxer_4 06/11/2016 at 08:12

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This was a thing on the Ralliart Colt too. I think it was only available in a few colors, for some reason there was a pearl yellow in there. My friend had a red one, has a blue one, and always said he’d trade it in a second if he found a yellow one.

That place seems to specialize in questionable mods. Why is it ridiculous horns are a Subaru thing?

FlimFlamMan > Boxer_4 06/11/2016 at 21:01

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Nice find. I have a friend in Ohio that has had one since new. He’s kept the body in great shape (and OEM form). Not the powertrain so much though. It was pushing over 600 whp last I saw it. I’m not gonna lie... it scared the shit out of me... haha.

Boxer_4 > FlimFlamMan 06/12/2016 at 10:43

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That sounds like an awesome Bugeye!

Boxer_4 > Nauraushaun 06/12/2016 at 10:51

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Nissan had a similar color (though pearlescent) on the Z32, too. I believe it was called Yellow Pearl Glow (or something similar).

I don’t know why Hella horns are a Subaru thing (especially a GD/GE/GV WRX thing). They aren’t my cup of tea, but I suppose some people like the sound? At least these are yellow, and not the typical red.

Nauraushaun > Boxer_4 06/12/2016 at 18:19

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They did! I don’t know why that didn’t cross my mind, world’s biggest Z32 fan here. I’ve been on many 300ZX cruises with many people, I’ve seen both pearl whites and midnight purple, and I’ve never seen one in that color. God, that one there is so stock and cared for . I’d love to own it.

I just don’t get why they’re exclusively a Subaru thing. I sort of get the appeal, but why is it only Subaru owners? Odd.

Probably a rally thing or somsething.