Modern Vespa

I am looking for a shifty to have some fun with and learn about and saw this.
https://vermont.craigslist.org/mcy/d/waitsfield-2005-genuine-stella/7219416139.html

Not a Vespa but curious what the collective thinks about it?

Thank you in advance.

That's a good price. Lots of fun upgrade possibilities to the engine.

I've done 30,000 miles on mine and had a lot of fun along the way.

I wouldn't hesitate.

Jump all over that if it's still available. They're mechanically relatively modern (for a 2t scooter) with the disc brake and non-dive-y front fork and tough as nails.

Figure that if the jacket and helmet fit (and you need them) that's $200-$300 of effective discount right there.

And if you ultimately decide to go that route, you can hotrod the hell out fhat reed valve motor

Orange was always my favorite color on the Stellas, too.

Thanks all. I did send an email yesterday but haven't heard back from the seller. If it is still available I may be able to take a look at it over the weekend.
Is there anything specific I should be looking for/paying attention to?

I just sold an '03 with a Road2 pipe which was pretty fast. Didn't feel like a 150 at all. For all intents and purposes, it is an Indian Vespa at a good price.

I bought a 2005 this spring. It had half as many miles and I only paid $1,000, but it had been sitting for 10 years, so I was taking more of a gamble than you would be with this one.

The only thing that stands out to me is the mat on the floorboards. That is not stock and I would want to know what is under it.

It is common for the electric start to be nonfunctional because of a defective clutch switch; a manageable DIY repair.

It is also common for the master cylinder seal to leak. Best to replace it with an o.e. one from Piaggio.

The big end bearings and crank seals on these have bad reputations, but a scooter that still runs well after 5,800 miles probably is past the point where you have to worry about some catastrophic failure.

Nothing to worry about there. That issue was specific to a small production batch of 2003's, like 0.8% of them, and and this point, I don't think that any of them are still out there waiting to explode.

dude, if that's tagged up and has a title i'd be on that like a bird on a june bug.

show with 1K cash and a truck to haul it home in.

figure you're gonna spend another 1K on it: tires, tubes, brakes, battery and then add in likely maintenance: brake fluid flush and bleed, trans oil change, maybe you gotta do a tap and fuel lines, clean the carb, cables and what not.

lots of positive there at that price point

fingers crossed for ya!

-g

Liking all the comments so far, finally heard back from the seller and he sent these pics.

I would too!

...bird on a junebug, that'd be me.

Trust us...buy it!

Thanks, I am working on negotiations with my CFO (wife) on purchasing this. I think it is well worth it

I've got one. I love it.

Nice one. Great price. Looks like they upgraded the front shock. Check under the floor mats and discard those when you get it home.

I'm pretty sure that was the stock front shock on the early Stella's, at least all of them I ever saw, including my own . Tthey were all over Chicago in the mid-2000's for obvious reasons. They didn't go to the external reservoir until like 2007 or 2008.

Totally agree on the floor mats. They're one of those "well intended, but have the opposite effect" deals. Supposed to keep the floorboards clean, but mostly trap moisture and cause rust instead.

It is.

My 2007 spun a bearing and took out a case half around that mileage. Wouldn't stop me a good excuse to put in a 60mm crankshaft.

Here is a pic of my 2003 Stella with the stock shock.

Maybe they sold Stella scooters with one shock until that part ran out and then changed......I don't know. But that's the only one I've seen here in Oregon on the early Stella's.

I have a 2007 with the same shock as the 2005.

Cool. I think you have the better shock.

Mine is a June 2005 build and it has the external reservoir shocks with the red springs both front and rear.