Modern Vespa

any offer reviews on this year and model. Looking at one with 10k miles on it. looks in pretty good shape.
What is the major difference between this model and say the newer gt200.
I can pick one of these up for almost the same price with no miles
newbie to the scooter world so any feedback would be appreciated

do you want to change gears using a clutch and twist grip gear change (P200) or just twist the throttle and go (GT200)?

Welcome!

'79 is a fine year for the P200e because it likely comes without some of the restrictions they put on the bike to improve emissions (but that reduce performance).

10,000 miles is fine. However, if it hasn't been serviced you *may* need a new shifting cross. Seals, and rings *may* not be far off either. These are all *maybes*, though - won't know without inspecting it (e.g. seeing how it shifts and testing compression). Could be fine for a while.

The differences between this and a GT200 are huge.

For starters...
the P200e is a manual transmission bike. The GT200 shifts itself (we call them "twist-n-go").
the P200e is ~60-65mph bike. The GT200 is much more powerful and will take you over 70.
the P200e has smaller wheels and is much lighter. This makes it more nimble. The GT200 will be more stable at highway speeds, but is less nimble around town.
the P200e has a 2-stroke engine that burns oil. The GT200 has a 4-stroke engine that does not.
the P200e comes with a spare tire, tube tires, and tire changes are "easy" (ish). The GT200 does not have a spare tire, the tires are tubeless, and tire changes are difficult without the right tools.
And the list goes on. I really recommend reading a lot more about the models and seeing them in person before deciding. To be blunt, the GT200 is a more "sophisticated" ride in almost every way, but those of us here... we like it simple. We ENJOY shifting. We ENJOY maintaining our bikes. And the older vespas are very easy and cheap to work on. They are also easy to kit and tune if that's your thing.

If you know cars, I think it's a bit like choosing between an old Jeep and a Subaru Forester. They kind of do the same things as far as moving you from point A to B, but they differ dramatically in simplicity, character, and overall experience. You need to pick what appeals to you

I guess it all depends on what you're really looking for. Take the displacement out of the question for right now.... and look at this:

1) Do you want to shift, or twist and go?

2) Are you comfortable troubleshooting some mechanical issues?

3) Do you want to commit to tinkering?

4) How do you feel about the relative differences between emissions on a two stroke vs a modern 4 stroke?

You're basically trying to compare apples and oranges here. Sure, they're both fruit (scooters) and both good for you (fun to ride), but the similarities end there. A vintage scooter usually comes with issues related to age, and a P200 is a 35+ year old machine. Sure, they can be relatively reliable, but any machine that has seen some serious downtime (and any period of neglect) probably needs a bit of maintenance on things which may be complicated and/or expensive.

What kind of riding do you plan on doing? The GT200 is probably freeway capable, while the P200 really isn't.

I'm not trying to persuade you in one direction or another... I ride a P200 and it's one of the best Vintage scooters out there in terms of power AND reliability. I only ride for fun, and only when the weather is mostly nice... so I don't depend on it for more than smiles and miles.

Fill us in more, and we can help point you in a direction.

two guides for you to read

Things to Consider before Buying a Vintage Vespa

http://scooterlounge.com/vespa/buyers-guide/vespa-p.shtml

What kind of money are you talking about? I would have thought the zero mile GT200 would be a lot more money than a '79 P200 w/ 10k. Bargain GT200 or an expensive P200 in top condition?

Also fixing things & even regular service on the GT200 can be more expensive(is any warranty included?) & more challenging to try doing yourself if that becomes an issue.

Disclaimer: Never had a GT200, so going on what I've read here & my own P200 experience which has been very good. And some brave ppl do ride p200s on freeways & live to tell about it

The two options are hardly comparable, like others have said here.
I happen to have a 1979 P200E and only have positive things to say about it. As limited as it is compared to more modern vehicles, it still has what I value the most in any driving experience: a manual transmission. I would only make an exception to that for electric vehicles.

It would be like comparing a 1973 VW Beetle with a 2010 VW Beetle with Automatic transmission