Some vehicles at car shows have to tell their story in a quiet voice.
There are many reasons for this, but the biggest one is the age of the car–newer cars have shorter stories.
That’s the case with this 2004 Subaru Forester STI because it’s one of those cars that aren’t quite as spectacular in a classic sense.
Jerry Sutherland
This one gave a big clue because it’s a right-hand drive car from Japan. Mark Messenger is the proud owner/historian of this car—he explained how rare it is with a simple number. Mark said Subaru, “Only built between 500 and 1000 of these cars”, so he’s convinced he has the only right-hand drive 2004 Subaru Forester STI in Canada.
Mark’s a hardcore Japanese car guy, even though his dad is a hardcore conventional muscle car guy–but he applies the same mechanical standards as his dad.
He wanted to up the game on the factory 2.4-liter engine under the hood, but he didn’t want to sacrifice engine life for power. He said the car has upgraded coils and bigger brakes for the rigors a driver experiences on the road. Mark said he “wanted to keep it healthy and reliable” because the Subaru was destined to be his daily driver.
The car has just under 350 horsepower, so the power-to-weight ratio is solid on Mark’s Forester. He explained how the car is also a grocery-getter and kid-hauler thanks to its generous interior space.
Mark drove the Forester for a few years, but now he has a backup winter beater for the rough days. Mark said the all-wheel drive was a huge asset on slippy roads, and he proudly admitted he’s “never been stuck” in winter driving.
This Subaru is also a demo platform for a state-of-the-art sound system because Mark is in audio sales. There are hidden speakers all over the place in locations like the A-pillars because this demo car was built to showcase what Mark called a “clean sound”.
That extra equipment adds serious weight, so Mark admits his Subaru’s mileage is off factory specs. That’s not an issue because the car’s role is to be a sales pitch—not a mileage king.
Mark was surprised how easy it was for him to adapt to right-hand drive. He’s left-handed, so he thought that helped him adapt to the left-side floor shift. Mark is comfortable in traffic even when he’s by himself, but he admits large farm tractors on two-lane highways without a guy in the shotgun seat are definitely a gamble.
Mark said the biggest challenge comes when he switches back to a left-hand drive car because he finds himself “driving more in the middle of the road”. He said most customers instinctively head to the right side of the Subaru when they’re out for an audio demo, so the steering wheel location shakes them up.
He’s happy with the Subaru because it’s been bulletproof, and it does everything he asks—plus he’s learned a new driving skill.
That’s all you can ask from a right-hand car in a left-hand world.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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