Modern Vespa

I have been tasked with selling a GTV 250ie for a friend who can no longer ride. What I am trying to decide is whether or not to make repairs to it before selling or hope that Vespa owners love to work on their own rides and just sell it the way it is. He's not looking for top dollar as he knows the condition and has no funds to invest in repairs. I've attempted to work on a couple of things but I'm a computer guy, not a mechanic, and am getting extremely frustrated by my inability to sort it out.

It's a 2007 with only 12k miles and starts right up so, fortunately, that's not an issue. Here's what I've seen that needs to be addressed:

* Glovebox cover cannot be opened and judging by the mouse nest under the left knee cover it, too, may have a nest inside. (It leaves a lovely aroma in my garage overnight.)

* It has the standard exhaust least but cannot remove the muffler as the correct sized star bit won't properly fit in the screws.

* Front brake is totally worthless

* Headlight is out which I'm guessing may be caused by a couple of small wires inside the left knee pad that appear to have been chewed by the previous residents.

My idea is to just sell it as it sits and take what we can get for it. However, my lovely bride is insistent that we personally take on the repair expenses in order to make the most out of the sale.

What are your thoughts on how to proceed?

You will never get your money back if you pay someone else to do the repairs. Not even a quarter of it.

That is probably worth $200 as it stands. *If* you do all the work yourself, get it running, fully serviced with receipts and looking pretty you might get $1500 - $2000. *If* you're lucky...

I'm for 'as-is', especially if this type of work isn't your thing. It will probably be more effort than you expect and you might uncover new issues as you open things up.

If you have a shop nearby it might be worth getting a quote to repair. You can tell buyer's what it would cost to get professionally repaired.

I agree 100%. Id sell it as is. No way would I pay a shop to make the repairs. They’ll charge you more than the bike is worth.

Thanks for the feedback! I wasn't really keen on my continuing to try to fix it or even send it out for repair anyway. Now I know exactly how to proceed. It's a shame though to think that this was such a nice bike only a few years ago and neglect has brought it to this point where it's worth so little.

True.

Me, I'd do it up myself, maybe keep it, or pass it on to someone deserving for not much profit. But that's because I'd just love the challenge of getting it fettled properly.

If you aren't into fixing it yourself, sell it as is and give another person who cannot afford to buy a great scooter at market rates to buy a 'fixer-upper' and to invest their time and sweat equity.

As is, absolutely.

Nah. Unless you have the skill and time? Pass.

Throw it up on CL at 1500 and take anything close to 1k and call it done.

My thoughts on this.

This bike is not too far away from me, what sort of price are you looking for.

Mostly curious now.

Interested as well, but shipping would probably kill the deal, but let us know. At the right price, I would jump on it - nice winter project.

No lies. This is a great project for somebody that’s got the skills, know how and patience. At the right price, snapping this up would be a no brainer.

If this was within a days drive of me it’d already be in the back of my truck and headed back to base.

I’d bleed the front brake to get it rideable(assuming that’s all it needs).

I'd clean it up, remove stickers and do whatever mx is cheap/free AND you feel competent enough to do. Bleeding brakes is pretty easy. Maybe you have a buddy that can help with the exhaust bolt and headlight wiring? But I wouldn't launch the parts cannon at it to try to fix everything. Just having a nice looking and running scoot should sell pretty quickly even though it probably needs a full service (fluids, belt, tires, valves, etc.).

It is worth more than $200 in parts alone.

A running 12,000 mile engine is worth at least $500

The wheels, seats, rack, exhaust, etc. have real value too.

Of course, someone would have to take it apart to make it work for parts.

I prefer to keep them intact.

Hopefully someone out there will see the potential in taking it as is.

Bill

The fact that it runs is a big plus.

What are the paint and body like? Any scratches or dents?

I could probably fix it up but most people couldn't.

Since you don't really have the skil or inclination to repair it I suggest asking $600 and take $400.

At anything sub 500 please contact me. I’ll buy it and have it shipped out here.

No questions, no repairs, no nothing. Sign the papers and drop them into the glovebox.

-g

Selling it the way it sits is the best option for me since the last thing I want to do is make it worse while trying to fix it myself. Lack of time brought me to this conclusion also. The Vespa is currently sitting in the back corner of the garage right now as I'm in the process of trying to sell my Road King and also attempting to resurrect my '70 Triumph. Why everything always seems to happen at once, I'll never figure out!

Have a couple of people nearby that might be interested in the project. If neither wants it them I'll post it on this site... after letting all of you know first.

that bike is worth 700-1200 in tampa market. quick sale - would take months

a bike needing work eliminates most potential scooter buyers. and there arent a lot of buyers to begin with.

I am looking for a bike exactly like this for my bv350 engine swap. I have had three 250 pass through me in the last two years. I send them down the road after fixing them. my 300 just smokes the 250s so it makes no sense to keep a 250 in my fleet. they just dont get ridden.


the 250s all took 6-10 months to sell.
orange paid 650. sold 1350
silver paid 1000 sold 1650
red paid 500 sold 1450

Some of ya'll are vicious negotiators. Dang. I'd buy $500 scooters like this all day long until I ran out of $500 bills.

If I wasn’t afraid of mice and lived closer, I’d be all over that for $500….lol.

Count me as another one interested at $500. This is a day's drive each way for me, but I could pick it up in my van and bring it home.

Thanks, all, for you contributions and suggestions. As Detective Harry Callahan once said: "A man's gotta know his limitations." and I certainly knew mine and put it up for sale.

I advertised on Facebook Marketplace and had about 20 responses in 48 hours. The offers mostly ranged from $500 to $1000 and I finally sold it to someone for $1,150. My friend will be very happy!

Thanks again for your expert guidance. Ciao!