Modern Vespa

Hello everyone,
new member here with a question.
I'm more of a motorcycle guy(Ducati)
but have always admired the design and ease
of operation of Vespas.
I hoping to buy my first Vespa this Spring
and am wondering what I can expect to pay
over the msrp for a leftover 2013 LX150 or the
new Primavera?
Unlike motorcycle dealerships I have dealt
with the dealers in my area aren't open to much negotiation.
I've been quoted as high as $6200 for a 2013 model!
That's $1700 in fees and taxes for a $4500 bike
and seems excessive.

Lastly, how has reliability been for all of you LX owners?
Thanks in advance!

Aloha and welcome to the forum from Hawaii. You'll like the 150's. I have 27,000 miles on my '07 LX and he's still going strong. Our dealer wasn't too flexible when i got mine but they were fairly new back then. Had mine shipped from CA and it was cheaper. A friend went to our local dealer when he bought his 300 and offered them a certain amt. If they didn't take it he would go buy a MC from across the street. They gave it to him for the price he wanted but that's the exception i think. You should be able to deal if the Primaveras are there. That said check out the dealers in some states around you. Bigger ones usually have better deals. Might even be cheaper if you do what i did. I got around all the taxes and things. Good luck and pics when you get it please.

Welcome to MV! Around here models have to be somewhat unique and sit on the floor for a while before a dealer is willing to discount substantially from MSRP. There was a time when dealers were able to sell stock from other defunct dealers, but that supply is dwindling fast and was in less prevalent in "hot" models. You can get a shiny brand new 2008 Scarabeo 500ie for $3200 for example... Bottom line dealers are running a business and Piaggio sets a certain price that the dealer pays, so there may be little wiggle room. They may be able to do something like throw in some gear, first service, etc.

So comparison shop at multiple dealerships, ask the same "what kind of deal can you give me" questions and go from there. If you are in an area with 1 dealer you're not going to have much luck, but with lots of dealers you can sometimes get something extra even if you are paying MSRP.

If you still have the Ducati, you will likely only be using the Vespa around town in which case the 150 is the way to go. The LX 150 will go 61 or 62 actual mph, and I'm guessing that the new US Primavera will go a few mph more with a slightly smoother ride at higher speeds due to the bigger wheels and slightly longer wheelbase. Around town below 40mph, their performance is probably indistinguishable. Therefore looks (or price) might end up being the deciding factor. So I would observe that Vespa beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as some people would still prefer a well-preserved ET 4 with its curvier more retro look to either of the newer 150 models. I haven't put a lot of mileage on my '11 LX 150 ie, but it might be argued that scooters really age in years more than miles, and mine has now run flawlessly for three full years, with only an oil change. I'm confident either 150 will haul more groceries and beer than your Ducati!

Fees sound high. Way high. But not knowing where besides USA you are from maybe these fees are normal. Go to a higher volume dealer. Maybe a better bet to get a lower price but it is just my thoughts. I know I went to the biggest dealer near me after going to the smaller one closer and got a better deal. Fifty miles equaled several hundred dollars, plus I got a longer ride home:)

It would be helpful if you completed your profile short of "USA" as there are different market trends in different regions. Glad you have the Vespa bug for sure!

Best,
SDG

My LX150ie has been a model of reliability. I find it to be an excellent around town scooter. With the new Primavera out, left over LX150ie are certainly being discounted substantially. You should not expect that shipping and setup charges will go away - those are real after all. From what I have seen, you should expect something in the range of $500-$1,000 off the OTD price of new old stock LX150ie. And if you can't find discounts of that magnitude (or better), for gosh sake buy a new Primavera.

I'm 60 miles north of you....how about you buy my 2012 Lx150 with 100 miles on it and I'll buy a 946

I'm interested, send me a pm!