Modern Vespa

Hey everyone,
I may be the new owner of a 1998 Vespa ET2, if all goes well. I am posting because I have a few questions which I hope cam be answered. I found the 98 et2 on craigslist and talked to the seller, who is willing to part with it for 1500. He says the vespa was brought over from europe and that is when he aquired it. Second, he says it doesnt start right now because he hasnt drained the gas in the tank or the fuel lines, and the battery is dead. I am planning on actually seeing the vespa tomarrow, and was just wondering what you guys think of the situation in regards to the vespa not starting. I think if we can get the gas out of the lines and actually get the vespa started, it might not be such a bad deal...but I would appriciate the input of some people who know more then myself. Thanks

I'd pay a whole lot less (maybe 1/2 ) of what he's asking. (The fact that it's not running is going to put a whole lot of would-be buyers off. ) You might be better to agree to a price if you or mechanic can get it running. (Maybe he allows you to take it to mechanic for check over.)Then you don't improve his situation (and increase the price) without getting the scoot.

As far as I know they are all put together in Italy. Maybe this one is for the Italian/Euorpean market as opposed to the US market. Make sure it's got a title-if not that'll bring the price down as well. (Check to see if your local laws require titling, plating, etc a 50cc scoot.)

You can pretty routinely buy a 2002-3 ET2 on eBay for c.$2000 USD.

Good luck!

Plebarton,

Is this a silver ET2 in San Diego county, by chance?

Len

This post is in regards to that vespa. Do you know anything about it by chance?

this should be good


i would not buy it
i hate hanging out @ the DMV

They're all were....

Ha, yeah, but if it wasn't made for the U.S. market and imported by PiaggioUSA, it could be troublesome as far as getting a title or passing emissions tests.

Also, didn't some Euro models have different engines than the US models? I THINK all ET2s were 50cc 2-strokes, but I'm not sure. (Wasn't the original ET4 in Europe a 125cc 2-stroke, as opposed to a 150cc 4-stroke in the US?), so in any case, be sure it's the same engine that was sold here and be sure that it's titled and totally legal.

If it doesn't run and its street-legality is in question at all, $1500 seems a bit steep. If it's easy to get it running, he should spend a little to get it running, then he'd be able to sell it for much more, unless he's just really lazy and doesn't care about money, in which case you have to wonder if he took good care of it in the first place.

B.

Some of the European models are right hand drive, wheras, the US spec are left hand drive.

Yeah, the brake pedal and throttle are on the left, and the shifter and clutch on the right. And they have Lucas electricals, SAE hardware, and a Zener diode!