Modern Vespa

I think it is great his dealership is doing well. I see too many instances where someone is posting that a Vespa dealership is closing or has gone out of business.

I'm sorry you think my comment about the new Vespa scooter was a negative answer to your post. It was not at all meant to be.
It's just that I cant immagne a scooter costing $10,000.00. Even one made by Piaggio with the Vespa badge.

+1!

confirmed...holds two. I've ridden with a passenger, but I can't say that it is the most comfortable two-person ride.

Simply this.

You cannot expect all users on here to blindly back Piaggio's seemingly elitist and off-putting price strategy on the 946. I am VERY pleased that the design language is being carried over to the Primavera. It looks great on the smaller frame. But, a $10,000 scooter to me goes counter to where Vespa started. Much like how you cannot buy a New Volkswagen Beetle for the price of the competitor's economy cars...

But, that is my opinion as a Vespa enthusiast on his 4th Vespa. And, that does not say that Piaggio doesn't deserve the great sales numbers, or that you post was in any way a negative one. We just don't have the same positive opinion on where Piaggio decided to take the 946.

And, I think the Karma system, like all internet rankings, is a useless popularity contest. I just go on the content of the post and that works for me. I do hope conflicting opinions aren't a driving force for someone to leave the forum

I've been accused of being a rich elitist for riding an LX150.

I absolutely agree with this statement, both of them and no offense taken. A well thought out and honest response is always well received by me. I just won't give you a thumbs down for it.



SDG

I could care less if a manufacturer wants to put out a high end, high price product but I would really have to work at it. Many do it. Some succeed and some don't.

I am happy though to see business success especially in the current world of Vespa dealership woes (especially US) that are posted or we hear about all too frequently. Very good news indeed.

^^^this^^^

Well, that, and you DO live in LA.

And it really was a speculative stretch to hope to sell an overpriced, underpowered Vespa moped.

Come to think of it, what did Vespa think they were doing?

The fact that VSO had no problems moving 946s kinda proved Vespa's goal. The average MV member was not their intended audience. I'd say that it is not an overpriced, underpowered moped, but a powered two-wheeled piece of art.

I'm on my ipad ATM and can't link to it easily, but vyatka posted a picture of a quote from a book on the history of Vespa. According to that quote, Vespas were marketed to upper middle class people and were priced accordingly.

Edit: here's the post.
https://modernvespa.com/forum/post1739257#1739257

Postwar Italy didn't boast too many middle and upper middle class families.

The Vespa, was designed for the "everyman" and didnt start selling in numbers till "buy now, pay later" plans made them within the reach of those struggling Italians, a'la Henry Ford.

So while they were costly enough to make them desirable, requiring most to pay on time for, they were indeed intended for everyone and marketed in such a way to enable just about anyone to afford one. Also like Henry Ford.

From Wikipedia:
Piaggio filed a patent for the Vespa scooter design in April 1946. The application documents referred to a "model of a practical nature" for a "motorcycle with rationally placed parts and elements with a frame combining with mudguards and engine-cowling covering all working parts", of which "the whole constitutes a rational, comfortable motorcycle offering protection from mud and dust without jeopardizing requirements of appearance and elegance". The patent was approved the following December.
The first 13 examples appeared in spring 1946, and reveal their aeronautical background. In the first examples, one can recognize the typical aircraft technology. Attention to aerodynamics is evident in all the design, in particular on the tail. It was also one of the first vehicles to use monocoque construction (where the body is an integral part of the chassis).
The company was aiming to manufacture the new Vespa in large numbers, and their longstanding industrial experience led to an efficient Ford-style volume production line. The scooter was presented to the press at Rome Golf Club, where journalists were apparently mystified by the strange, pastel coloured, toy-like object on display. But the road tests were encouraging, and even with no rear suspension the machine was more manoeuvrable and comfortable to ride than a traditional motorcycle.
Following its public debut at the 1946 Milan Fair, the first fifty sold slowly-then with the introduction of payment by installments, sales took off.

Sent from my iPad

From Vespa's website...."for the mass market"....

Slide #2 in Timeline. http://www.vespa.com/en/heritage

Really? Wow, I would have never guessed from the look of it.

Still, would like to see a bigger engine and maybe a cappuccino machine built in for that price.

no such thing (thank God!),

now if you'd said average BMW driver

being in CA I bet VSO don't move as many 50cc scooter as other markets like NV Las Vegas, or other areas that helmet are not needed 50cc and below. VSO is in a very well to do part of town and 10k for most people in the area is not burden. with that said I'm sure VSO also pays more Taxs, rent , wages, insurance, Workers comp, and so on to do biz in this market. so profit margin my be lower then lets say a IA dealer that has a vespa dealer and tractor shop but again 10k is not alot for the scooter

the 946+10k = work of art I love it.

Wikipedia-
"Enrico Piaggio, the son of Piaggio's founder Rinaldo Piaggio, decided to leave the aeronautical field in order to address Italy's urgent need for a modern and affordable mode of transportation. The idea was to design an inexpensive vehicle for the masses."

8)

This post was not quite
What we were hoping to see
Try again, perhaps?

This post was not quite
What we were hoping to see
Try again, perhaps?

This post was not quite
What we were hoping to see
Try again, perhaps?

Companies always put out a money losing "show case" product that may not really meet the needs of their average buyer. Car companies are good at doing this kind of stuff. Acura NSX. Corvettes. Heck, I doubt too many Porsche owners are going to be itching to drop $1 million on the 918.

There was obvious a market for it as people are buying them. I agree, it is a rolling piece of art that generally belongs in a garage. If I saw some guy delivering pizza's on one I might have to take shovel to him.

I think it shows what Vespa may be thinking for new models as far as design is concerned.

Has Piaggio publish any sales statistics for November? How many units were sold? How many units were imported?

Only the Confessional has more secrecy.

Piaggio USA provides a range of 125/150cc scooters, Typhoon 125 at $2699, Fly 150 at $2899, S150 at $4499, LX150 at $4599 and 946 at about $10,000

Lower end plastic bodied, mid range metal bodies, and high end, high style, advanced body technology.

Seems like they are reaching out to a variety of interests and wallets at the 125/150 cc level.

What's the bitchin' about? I wish them well, and I'm not in the market for a new scooter in any fashion. Following the logic of some, I should wish them to not be able to sell anything!

Good for you and your business!

As far as I see it, you get good commission, Piaggio get a bonus in profit(?)/exposure, and the buyers get a great scooter that if ridden carefully will give them years and years of immense fun. I'm one of those who baulked at the price, but I am struggling to see who loses here.

Having said that I think the price is a bit much, I would easily pay as much for an updated MP3 with the ABS/ESR and a few design and tech updates. And the MP3 is definitely more ugly and less nimble than the 946. So who's being silly now?

David

P.S. The answer's probably me, and I still love my MP3...

I guess nobody bothered to look up Tomasso Fanfani.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommaso_Fanfani
From Wiki:
Tommaso Fanfani ( Pieve Santo Stefano , November 15 1943 - Viareggio , February 24 2011 ) was an economist and historical Italian . A scholar of economic history, was professor of economic history at ' University of Pisa , president of the Foundation Piaggio and scientific director of the business archives of Piaggio in Pontedera , Whitehead of Livorno and the Industrial Union of Pisa and director of the Museum Piaggio ).

Here's what he wrote about Vespa's target audience.

https://modernvespa.com/forum/post1739257#1739257

Can we really rely on Vespa's website for historical facts? When I used the same website to point out that they imply that Vespas were designed for urban commuting, someone wrote it off as mere marketing.

Everybody knows economists (among others including other scholars) don't flavor facts with opinion....

Believe what you wish, doesn't change the fact that war-ravaged Italy wasn't enjoying an economy rich with upper middle class citizens.

Thats a fact.

You're right about Economists and other scholars, but the man "appears" to be involved with many things piaggio. I mean can a man who was director of business archives of Piaggio at Pontedera and the Piaggio museum get any credit?

wow!! so much discussion. maybe i'm missing something. piaggio can do what ever it wants. its their money, their risk. maybe the 946 seems expensive...a lx150 seems out of sight to someone buying a $750 chinese scooter. i said before, its perceived value. why buy a 25K hasselblad, when you can buy a cannon rebel? its about having the best for those who can afford it. as far as vso selling a bunch of 946's. i wish they sold more. they are a great organization and doing everything right. they deserve it. imho, vespa has increased the awareness of their product which in the long run will increase demand for the rest of their line. and that helps all of us.

^^^^
This

I have been told before that the more profitable Vespas had about a 19% margin, I doubt the 946 is up in that range. Where dealers make the money to pay the employees and stay in business is parts and service. A 946 for some will become a garage queen just to viewed as a museum piece. Few will ride the crap out of them and put on high miles. A dealer would make more in the long run selling 3 S150's to a single 946. The revenue stream on 3 scoots that people aren't afraid to ride, scratch, etc. will be better for them. How many 30K plus mile GT60's do you think exist?

I bet they net better than 19 points on the 946. NOT being discounted like "normal " Vespas, and a goldmine in accessories....and buyers who don't niggle about the price.

If they want one, they're buying it at MSRP plus flees. A "perfect world" in sales....

They may not prove to provide a long term service/spares revenue stream, but Id be willing to bet the gravy made at time of purchase of a 946 rivals or betters the average life-stream revenue of the typical GTS even.

Im just guessing out loud. A semi/kinda educated guess.

Amazing this thread goes on.

I am looking forward to the way David has to service the 946.

My gut feeling is that it is bulletproof.

But....when a replacement part is needed.

Cat's in the cradle and a silver spoon...........

Well they certainly probably are bulletproof and parts excluding removable body parts and a few mechanical parts are same/same with some other scoots.

I bought 2, one is the earliest USA vin number and will not be prepped for riding. Trust me in a pinch for my clients I would pull a part off my new one anytime.

Best,
SDG

I wont be amazed till it grows to 4 or 5. We've certainly beat other horses longer than this before

And when the post dies someone will come back with an AED and bring it back to life

David,
Thanks for coming back into the fold. I always appreciate your perspective on the scooter biz and wish you'd consider opening a shop in Santa Cruz. Don't let a few yahoos chase you away. I negated one of the thumbs down.

Best
Miguel