Subaru Impreza Mk3 GRB/GVB bucket seat guide
GRB hatchback and GVB saloon, 2007 to 2014
The Mk3 came in two bodies on one platform: the GRB hatchback and the GVB saloon. Both ran the same WRX and STI drivetrains, and the fitting frame below is confirmed for the GRB specifically. If you have the GVB, the floor is very likely the same, but we would rather have you ask before ordering than assume it across a body style the manufacturer has not named.
The M2 GRB Direct Fit Subframe is unusual in a good way: it is listed for base mount and side mount both, which means it does not force the mounting decision the way a side-mount-only frame does. From there the seat choice is genuinely open, from a straight-on reclining seat to a full FIA shell on side mounts.
- M2 GRB Direct Fit Subframe is £166.20 and listed for both base mount and side mount
- No Planted frame is currently available for this generation. The old listing for one is unpublished
- GVB saloon owners should confirm the M2 frame with us before ordering. It is titled for the GRB specifically
- The Sparco Pro 2000 QRT Martini Racing lists both base and side mount, which is unusual for a QRT-suffixed Sparco seat. Worth confirming before ordering
- A Sparco weld-in cage is confirmed for the STI from March 2007 onwards, matching this generation
- Custom Cages list roll cages separately for the GRB hatchback and the GVB saloon
- All FIA harnesses carry a stamped expiry date that ends their competition life regardless of wear
- The standard rear seat belt mounts are not rated for harness shoulder strap loads
One frame, both mounting routes
The M2 GRB Direct Fit Subframe bolts to the factory floor mounting points and, unusually, is listed for both base mount and side mount. That means the seat you want decides the route rather than the frame forcing your hand. A reclining seat goes straight on. A fixed-back FIA shell needs a set of side mounts added on top.
There is currently no Planted Technology frame available for this generation. The listing that once covered it is unpublished in the catalogue, so we are not going to point you at a part we cannot confirm. The M2 frame is the one we can stand behind right now.
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Frame plus a base mount seat
Goes straight onto the M2 subframe with nothing added. Suits a reclining seat or the two bucket seats on this page that are also listed for base mount.
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Frame plus side mounts
The route for most of the FIA shells here. Side mounts pick up the sides of the seat and hold it where you set it with the trim out. Endurance sets start at £34.80.
The fitting kit
The M2 frame is titled for the GRB hatchback. If you have the GVB saloon, send us the registration before ordering and we will confirm the frame is right for your car rather than have you find out after the seat is bolted in.
- M2 Subaru Impreza GRB Direct Fit Subframe, £166.20, base mount or side mount
- Endurance Motorsport steel M8 side mounts, £34.80 FIA approved and road and track rated
- Endurance Motorsport multi-point M8 side mounts, £46.80 extra position adjustment
- Sparco Sliding Runner Kit, £41.94 per seat, 345mm x 271mm bolt pattern
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FIA competition bucket seats
Every seat here carries FIA 8855-1999 homologation. Two are listed for base mount as well as side mount: the Cobra Monaco Pro at £282.00 which is the cheapest FIA shell on this page, and the Sparco Pro 2000 QRT Martini Racing at £660.00.
The Martini Racing livery seat is worth a word before you order. QRT in Sparco’s own naming convention usually marks a side-mount-only seat, and a seat that also lists base mount at this level is unusual, so if you are planning to run it base mount, confirm with us first and we will check the specification currently listed against what Sparco actually supply. The plain shells in this range are worth comparing against the £320 premium the livery carries if the stripe pattern is not the deciding factor for you.
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Reclining sport seats
For a Mk3 doing road miles or trackday work without a cage, a reclining seat on the M2 frame needs no side mounts. The Cobra Misano Lux and Misano Anniversary Spec 2 are built-to-order pieces at the top of the range, £1,549.00 and £1,649.00, and worth the wait if the trim and finish matter to you. The Sparco R100 Martini Racing at £349.99 is the straightforward option, road and track rated and on the same 345mm x 271mm bolt pattern as the Sparco runner above.
Three Corbeau pairs and the Sparco R333 and R500 Fabric round out the range for a lower budget. The Corbeau pairs are all listed on 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm, which makes them the most flexible fit here, and work out around half their pair price per seat.
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Our recommendationThe frame is settled, the seat is the question
With one frame confirmed for both mounting types, the decision on a Mk3 comes down to how the car is used. Cameron works out the fit and the best combination for a given car, so tell him whether the seat needs to go straight on or whether side mounts and a cage are already part of the plan, and he will narrow the list and confirm the GRB versus GVB fit before you order.
Harnesses
There is no harness made specifically for this generation, so you are fitting a universal belt and working out the mounting yourself. The standard rear seat belt mounts are not rated for harness shoulder strap loads, so a cage, a bolt-in harness bar, or a fabricated anchor point is needed.
The Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 and the TRS Magnum 6 Point Superlite at £294.00 are both FIA 8853-2016. The TRS Magnum 4 Point at £139 is FIA 8854-1998. All three carry a stamped expiry date regardless of wear. For a road or trackday car, the Takata Drift II and III and the TRS Clubman belts are road and track rated and cost less, though none of those four are HANS compatible.
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From £324.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £120.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditAmazing valueSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £96.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditAmazing valueSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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Our recommendationConfirm the anchor before the belt
Tell us whether the car is caged, what is behind the seats now, and whether a head restraint is going in, and we will tell you what the shoulder straps can anchor to before you spend anything on the belt itself.
Roll cages
Custom Cages list roll cages separately for each body. For the GRB hatchback, the Bolt-In CDS Roll Cage at £1395 and the R4 International Multipoint T45 Roll Cage Kit at £1395 are both FIA and MSUK compliant. For the GVB saloon, three options run from the R4 T45 Roll Cage at £2,100.00 to the International Group N Multipoint T45 at £1,818.30. Check the listing matches your body style before ordering, since the two shells are not interchangeable.
Sparco also list a weld-in cage confirmed for the STI from March 2007 onwards at £1,948.66, which matches this generation across both body styles. It is a multipoint weld-in design with door bars and a mounting kit, built to surpass FIA minimums by up to 150%.
If competing, check the specification against your class regulations before ordering, and keep the sign-off paperwork with the logbook. Pad any tube within reach of a helmet and tell your insurer, because a cage is a notifiable modification.
What fits what
All seats below fit the Mk3 on the M2 GRB subframe, with side mounts added where the mounting column says side mount. GVB owners should confirm the frame with us first. Where a cell says not listed, the manufacturer has not published that figure.
| Seat | Mounting | Approval | Driver height | Waist | HANS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition bucket seats | |||||
| Cobra Monaco Pro | Base or side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Under 6ft | 32" to 36" | HANS friendly |
| Sparco Pro 2000 QRT Martini Racing | Base or side mount (confirm before ordering) | FIA 8855-1999 | Not listed | Not listed | HANS friendly |
| Sabelt GT3 | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32" to 36" | HANS friendly |
| OMP WRC-R | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Under 6ft | 32" to 36" | HANS friendly |
| Sparco Evo QRT | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Mirco RS7 Velour | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32" to 36" | Not listed |
| Reclining sport seats | |||||
| Sparco R100 Martini Racing | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32" to 36" | Not listed |
| Cobra Misano Lux | Base mount | Road and track | All heights | 32" to 38" | Not listed |
| Cobra Misano Anniversary Spec 2 | Base mount | Road and track | All heights | All sizes | Not listed |
| Sparco R333 | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | Under 6ft | 32" to 36" | Not listed |
| Sparco R500 Fabric | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32" to 38" | Not listed |
| Corbeau Sportline RRS, pair | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32" to 38" | Not listed |
| Corbeau SVR Vinyl, pair | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32" to 38" | Not listed |
Common questions
Which fitting frame does the Mk3 need?
The M2 GRB Direct Fit Subframe at £166.20, listed for both base mount and side mount. It is titled specifically for the GRB hatchback. If you have the GVB saloon, send us the registration and we will confirm the frame before you order, because the listing does not name the saloon directly.
Is there a Planted frame for this car?
Not currently. The listing that once covered this generation is unpublished in the catalogue, so we are not pointing you at a part we cannot confirm is available. The M2 frame is the one we can stand behind right now.
Does the same frame fit the hatchback and the saloon?
The M2 frame is titled for the GRB hatchback specifically. Both bodies share the same drivetrain and are very likely to share the same floor, but we have not seen it confirmed in writing for the GVB saloon, so ask us before ordering rather than assume.
What is odd about the Sparco Pro 2000 QRT Martini Racing seat?
QRT in Sparco’s naming convention usually marks a side-mount-only seat, but this listing shows both base mount and side mount, which is unusual at this level. If base mount is what you need, confirm with us first and we will check the current Sparco specification before you order.
Which cage is right for my body style?
Custom Cages list separate cages for the GRB hatchback and the GVB saloon, so check the listing matches your body before ordering, the two shells are not interchangeable. The Sparco weld-in cage at £1,948.66 is confirmed for the STI from March 2007 onwards, which covers this generation across both bodies.
Which harness should I buy?
For FIA competition, the Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 and the TRS Magnum 6 Point Superlite at £294.00 both meet 8853-2016, and the TRS Magnum 4 Point at £139 meets 8854-1998. All three carry a stamped expiry date. For road and trackday use the Takata Drift II and III and the TRS Clubman belts cost less but are not HANS compatible.
Can I use the standard rear seat belt mounts for the harness?
No. They are not rated for the loads a harness shoulder strap puts through them in an impact. A cage, a bolt-in harness bar, or a fabricated anchor point is needed instead.
Which seat goes straight onto the frame with no extra parts?
The Cobra Monaco Pro and the Sparco Pro 2000 QRT Martini Racing are both listed for base mount as well as side mount. Every reclining seat on this page is also base mount. Everything else needs side mounts added.
More help
If your car turns out to be an earlier Impreza, the GC8 and the GD8/GDB guides cover those chassis and the different frames made for them. If you want the GRB versus GVB fit confirmed against a specific seat, or a cage checked against your class regulations, the contact link is the quickest way to get it looked at.
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