Modern Vespa

I've always had a thing for the classic (retro) look of the GTV's double seats - but I must admit your custom GT200 seat looks very, very cool...not to mention the two-tone color scheme! If you don't mind my curiosity - who made it for you or where did you get it?

Thanks! I shaved the foam with a harbor freight 60 grit sanding disc on an angle grinder. Then I took it to a local upholstery shop and picked out some remnants of what they had left in stock. The outside is saddle vinyl, the inside was maroon. The stitching is silver and the grab strap and the welting was a stainless steel colored vinyl matched the trim on the scooter. Cost me $200.

So, all other things being equal, there are definite advantages to having a GTL instead of a GT...correct? As it turns out, the one I am interested in and seriously considering has the rectangular horn and starter buttons - so I guess that means it is a GTL. Which is a good thing...right?

It's riding season, everybody got their tax money back and it's still for sale. It's probably the color. That's a very polarizing color, and most people are on the end of the spectrum that doesn't include people who like that color.

Actually, the "daring plum" GTL200 I'm looking at is not - and has never - been officially 'listed' for sale, anywhere. It belongs to a local friend and Vespa aficionado who is considering thinning his herd - but hasn't yet decided whether or not he wants to sell his Granturismo.

Also, I live in a relatively small Oregon city, almost a town, really. I'm about halfway between Portland (to the north) and San Francisco/Berkeley/the Bay Area (to the south) --- both of which are sizable and civilized metropolii with an overabundance of scooteristas. I suspect that if he (my friend) were to list his Granturismo down there, it would sell quite rapidly. And, yeah, I get that it's an unusual (possibly polarizing, to some) color - but it's a beautiful (looking) machine.

To further complicate my scooter-buying dilemna, one more relatively local Vespa just made its appearance on what physicists called the event horizon, and I'm wondering if anyone can give me some additional pricing advice and insight as to this one -

It's a 2015 GTS Super with astoundingly low mileage - barely over 700.

The owner (he's the 2nd owner) bought it on a lark and really likes it but when push comes to shove, is a much more serious motorcyclist than scooterist and has finally come to his senses and decided he doesn't really need a Vespa which he never rides taking up garage space.

The obvious pluses from a technological perspective include the complex newer suspension (which I know has its fans and detractors), and more importantly, the ABS (which is not necessary but up here in the Pacific Northwest with the endless rainy season and inclment weather, sounds like a boon).

The asking price is a little under $5K which would stretch my present budget perilously thin (though I do live in the United Snakes, home to an endless barrage of financing deals)

I suspect that if the seller lived in a larger more scooter-friendly city, he would have a lot more interest in it. But since he lives in a rural small town as well, I think he is willing to consider lower offers.

What would the collective MV braintrust recommend? What do you think are the lower edges of the price envelope for this Vespa?

What can I say? Its a great scooter! I have one like it in my garage. I don't think you could do too much better. Looks like Kelley Bluebook high retail is $4,885 so you could haggle a little on price. However, the bike sounds practically brand new (I'm assuming no road rash or other damage).

First, again - my thanks to everyone who weighed in here and offered opinions, thoughts and suggestions. Each and every one was helpful in different ways. And we're all different and have different ideas about things, so it's rather refreshing to get exposed to such a diversity of views. MV strikes again!

The good news: at long last I've found the Vespa which I'm pretty convinced is and will be the right one for me. Interestingly enough, it ain't either of the ones I started this thread to ask advice about - the pristine 2007 GT200L - and an equally pristine 2015 GTS Super. Both of which are truly fine scooters. My friend and neighbor who owns the Granturismo finally came to his senses and realizes he likes it too much to let it go. If you saw the scooter, you would agree with him. The other, newer GTS was appealing for a lot of different reasons - but, as so often happens in life, the unexpected happens -

In this case, the unexpected is that a fellow MV member (USNFlyboy74) who lives relatively close to me (I'm in southern Oregon, he's in northern Calif, we're virtually neighbors) is moving cross country and needed to thin his herd for the move - and the Vespa part of his herd is an older GTV which, when push comes to shove, is exactly what I wanted to begin with.

I'll also be in good company: if I'm not mistaken, the last time USNFlyboy74 put a Vespa up for sale was years ago when his former GTS 250ie was acquired by Lostboater who, if I've got this right, renamed it Big Red and proceeded to ride it cross-country several times and at least in one Cannonball! Obviously buying my (first ever Vespa but not first ever scooter, not by a long shot) GTV from a fellow MVer is a plus whose value cannot be measured in mere words.

My multilingual mother used to tell us a French proverb which stuck somewhere in my brain years ago - tout vient à qui sait attendre - which translates more or less as: if you're patient, it will come to you.

And it is. I'm looking forwards to hanging with USNFlyboy74 when I go to pick it up and, yes, I know, if there's no pictures, it didn't happen. Muchas gracías again, a todos ustedes.

Can't go wrong with a GTV...

Guitarfxr, what color is your scooter, daring plum? Gorgeous.

Thank you!

My GT200 was Daring Plum, I really liked it and received many compliments on it.

My current GTV is Expresso.

Picked up my new (to me) 2007 GTV from fellow MV'er and all-around cool human being USNFlyboy74 in Redding a few days ago and rode back to Oregon, a 150 mile trip give or take, to its new home in southern Oregon. More details - and photos - to follow in a separate post, but I will say, for the record, that my new scooter - Pazzo for short, and full name Pazzo di Manicomio - is the smoothest and nicest 2-wheel vehicle (mostly scooters) I've ridden in the last few decades.

And for those wondering, the saddle - a Vespa gel model with which USNFlyboy74 replaced the original brown 2-piece leather seat - probably ranks as the most comfortable (for long-distance rides) scooter saddle I've ever sat upon (and ridden on)

Beautiful scoot and it has absolutely found a good new home! Enjoy

With the exception of my GTS250 that I let Madison Sully keep for me when I am not using it.

Thanks, Harbinger! Pazzo has indeed found a good new home. And I must return the compliment -- have looked at one or two photos of your (Portofino Green) GTV - and it is, simply, gorgeous.