Could have sworn it was my98 and earlier that weren't colour coded and my99-00 was.

99% sure when I was asking before I bought my M99, and its only the MY00 with colour coded doors

from wikipedia

GC8G (9/1999-9/2000)

The last version of the WRX is introduced on September 1999. There is no change in the mechanical specifications. Added features are newly-designed alloy wheels, color-coded mirrors and door handles, remote central locking, intermittent wipers with a timer and map lights. Red Mica had replaced Bright Red..

Well there ya go! I was wrong.

Hmmm. I wonder why my MY99 has Colour Coded Mirrors, but not Door Handles...

Mysteryyyyyy!

It's not hard to get them colour coded. I'd say a previous has had it done.
My my99 has black handles and mirrors.

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Signarape!

And the skirts below the doors, which are usually black on the MY99. It's not uncommon to get them painted.

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Classic WRX all the way ...

my MY99 has colour coded door and mirrors, but its a very late 99 model. Love the bonnet vents too btw

Don't change a thing... well apart from that front number plate mount. That car is dead sexy!

Maybe they did it to shift MY99 stock before the MY00 arrived with colour coded everything? Would make sense - at a very quick glance only the rims are different between the two models.

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Classic WRX all the way ...