Mercedes-Benz Forum banner
1 - 12 of 12 Posts

· Registered
see signature
Joined
·
4,023 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
I have had my present smart fortwo cdi cabriolet for over five years and 90,000 miles. I LOVE the car but my university-age kids are using it all the time. Wanting to be able to drive a diesel smart myself, I thought I should get another one.

Then I heard about a couple of Canada Concept 1 BRABUS diesel cabriolets that had come off lease in Toronto late last year and slowly it dawned on me that I should consider looking into one of those, despite the fast that they're located 2700 miles east of here.

So there were two cars: a red one and a white one. Dilemma. Both had under 1000 km on the odometer! One under 850, the other under 350. I communicated with the salesman at Mercedes-Benz Midtown Toronto and it became apparent that the price, although over the odds for a "regular" 2006 smart cabrio, was reasonable considering the condition of the car, its rarity as a special model and the free two year factory warranty extension, taking it through October 2012.

The Canada 1 is modified aesthetically by BRABUS in Bottrop Germany. The entire shell is stripped and painted in either red or white. The upholstery is all leather and alcantara, on the seats, doors, dash, steering wheel, shifter, handbrake gaiter...The body has the BRABUS body kit consisting of the grille, front spoiler, side skirts and stainless steel rear valence. All outside panels are the same colour as you can see. The engine is a stock 450 diesel. I suppose I could have it remapped to give 65 HP and 100 lbs-ft but why bother? I bought it for the fuel economy!

Equipment includes paddle shifters, softouch driver-selectable automatic, tach and clock, sound upgrade with subwoofer, ipod connectivity with radio head control, heated/electric mirrors, air conditioning, heated seats, block heater and more. I will be adding OE cruise control in Vancouver. The wheels are black BRABUS Monoblock VI.

OK so I bought the white one. It will be driven back to BC in the depth of winter on the snow tires and steelies that were part of the deal. The drive home begins February 9th. I will have to put some protective coatings on some of the painted surfaces for the trip, some Stone Guard. And long, temporary front mudflaps. The black alloys are being shipped back to BC at no charge.

I like the black look on the rims and look forward to not having to worry about brake dust any more !

OK I am pretty excited, this one will be a keeper and one of my kids will probably end up owning the green cabriolet several years from now.

A friend of mine bought the red one, and it too will be in British Columbia.

There were no more than ten of these supposed to be available to Canada but we think that only 4 to 6 were made, and mine is likely the only white one.
 

Attachments

· Registered
see signature
Joined
·
4,023 Posts
Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Thanks! My wife and I fly out to get it next week....but we're going to the Québec Winter Carnival before picking the car up in Toronto on the 5th of February. We've had no winter at all here (the Olympics are going to have major snow problems) so we are looking forward to having a little dose of winter when we are back East.
 

· Registered
see signature
Joined
·
4,023 Posts
Discussion Starter · #4 ·
Got her home 10 days ago in one piece and none the worse for wear. 335 km on delivery, 5400 upon getting in the garage! It was a GREAT highway trip through the USA. 70-80 MPH all the way.
 

· Registered
2017 GLC 300 4Matic fully loaded... but for the heated steering wheel. Stupid previous owner! 😠
Joined
·
1,158 Posts
Have you and your friend ever think of swapping body panels so they have contrasting features? (white Tidion, red doors and red Tridion wih white doors)
 

· Registered
see signature
Joined
·
4,023 Posts
Discussion Starter · #8 ·
We did joke about that, or finding the other red Canada 1 car in Vancouver and getting them on either side of mine on Canada Day (July 1) and putting a big red maple leaf on my car's doors....

I have the proper wheels on the car now. Here are two photos, one obviously under artificial light!
 

Attachments

· Registered
see signature
Joined
·
4,023 Posts
Discussion Starter · #11 ·
Here is a shot of the two Canada 1 cars in Vancouver....the photo was taken in May, before I got the new plates. The other owner put spikeline wheels from a crossblade on his car.
 

Attachments

· Registered
04 G500, 01 S430, 00 E55, 90 300TE
Joined
·
1,964 Posts
wow very cool, never knew about the Canada 1, mostly because my trips to Canada are pretty infrequent but I am still extremely jealous you guys got the cdi cars...plus the B class, always wanted one...
 
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top