Leadwing Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 34 minutes ago, cheapohubby said: Just curious; do we have any idea how many/rare 450s are that are still on the road? My 2005 Pulse is my winter-beater and at 218,xxx kms. on it, it still starts and runs quite well. The '06 Cabrio is a warm weather car so I can make full use of the convertible top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapohubby Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 I'm impressed that the "winter beater" looks so good! Have you been extra careful with maintenance (oil spray, or other preventatives)? Any major work? Before our winter beater got parked, the steering had some serious rattling. So it was waiting on me to dive in and replace the column. But the ocean air finished the job of the road salt, and now the tridion and floor is probably more rust than metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 (edited) I have two 450's........a rustyish winter beater, but has 200,000 plus kms on it now and runs great, then I also have/had a good summer 450 that i am totally restoring to make it like new, just so I have a Smart car 450 for the long run. It also had around 160,000 kms basically rust free. It now has 0 kms on it as everything wearable has been replaced, everything.!! Yep, I know, crazy....lol I also know of many 450's on the road around a 50 km range from my home. Surprisingly. IMHO, the best model, CDI that is.lol Edited April 24, 2021 by Willys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 My best guess is that here on Vancouver Island (home to fully 10% of 450 cdis) is that about half of them are either scrapped (like my first one) or off the road (like the Canada 1). If this is correct and holds country-wide, that would leave around 5000 on the road. They're well into the time when the third and fourth owners have them, buying them cheaply and they will run them into the ground, doing as little maintenance as possible. The survivors long-term will most likely be the more expensive models - loaded cabriolets will probably end up being 50% more likely to survive than stripper pures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadwing Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 6 hours ago, cheapohubby said: I'm impressed that the "winter beater" looks so good! Have you been extra careful with maintenance (oil spray, or other preventatives)? Any major work? Thanks. All maintenance has been done by "Uncle Glenn" in London. There has been no rust prevention sprays and no fuel additives, just normal diesel from whatever stations I happen to be near when fuel is needed. An alternator (my fault for letting it sitting too long), a battery and a turbo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huronlad Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 (edited) This morning just west of Seaforth. I did not pick the best time to clean the windshield. Edited May 21, 2021 by Huronlad 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild! Posted May 28, 2021 Share Posted May 28, 2021 Nice to see that the smart car is a museum worthy car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willys Posted May 28, 2021 Share Posted May 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Wild! said: Nice to see that the smart car is a museum worthy car. Hmmmm.....????? I can relate to this picture....lol. My car is close to being in this condition....lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyB Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) Definitely an eye catcher! some say leprosy others say bacteria! or Covid! Edited June 5, 2021 by BillyB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 Spotted near my eldest daughter's place in Nanaimo. BC Parks plate on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 Its VIN is WME454322B081901. Right hand drive, likely from Japan. Was at the Mercedes dealer in Nanaimo today awaiting a repair or service today when I was booking the Mercedes in for a front wheel bearing change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 Saw this one again today in Nanaimo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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