Modern Vespa

Hey guys,
Im new to the idea of buying a Vespa, i really want it for the fuel economy.
What i would like to know is for the 2004-2008 years
what is the best model (or models)for mpg, and what is the life span as far as mileage for a vespa?

I really appreciate the help

And I did see a scooter on the road that had two wheels in the front, is that a vespa? If not what was it? it seemed pretty new

Thanks again!

The 3-wheeled vehicle you saw was called an MP3, and it's made by Piaggio - Vespa's parent company.

I'll let others go to work on the fuel economy issue.

Do yourself a favor. Read this:

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic29475

then this:

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic19090

then spend a lot of time on MV...you'll get 99% of the info you need...good luck.

Before you sink a bunch of money into a Vespa for fuel economy, look at the economics of it.

1) Purchase price

2) Insurance

3) Riding gear

4) Inevitable accessories

5) MSF course (highly recommended should be in the #1 spot. If you are a seasoned rider, then a brush up or advanced riding course).

6) Maintenance

Now take all that money and divide it into fuel to figure out how many gallons you could be buying with that money.

It's surprising that for the total investment a lot of people could run their car for 2, 3 or more years.

After you've done all the figuring and math go out a buy the Vespa and have fun on it. Don't even think about 70 mpg you'll be getting. Just get it and have a blast.

Seriously, a Vespa can be an expensive purchase if you are starting at ground zero, but a lot more fun than most of have a right to!

Dave

Just an exception or two to what Dave said above, none of which can be disputed, BUT

The business about the amount of gas you can buy with the money you would spend on all of the necessaries for a scooter really depend on whether the scooter would actually REPLACE your 4-wheeler completely or not. If not, then you have to figure that the $5K to $10K you would spend will be ADDED to your present transportation costs. EVERYTHING will go up in costs except for the gasoline you save by using the scooter to commute to work, run errands and so on. Naturally, if you have a family, then you'll need to keep the car for family things. In other words, the savings come ONLY if the scooter purchase is compared to a car purchase. If you don't live in a place where you could drive the scooter year-round, then you may find that it might take as much as ten years or more for your scooter to have paid for itself; a car would still be a necessity.

If, OTOH, you would plan to sell the car, then you will see a reduction not only in the money you spend on gas but on insurance as well. The cost of the proper apparel is not cheap, so be sure to budget for this.

I have been wanting a vespa for a while and in the beginning I figured that if you ride a massive gas guzzler like I do (12-15 mpg), then it's worth it, IMO. Better for environment + better for the wallet + fun = Vespanomics. I did the math and if I bought a 150cc used or new for around $3500 (which was my original plan, i.e. used ET4 or LX150 or new Buddy), the cost of the insurance and monthly payment from financing (yeah I would pay cash for a used but since financing would cost more in the long run I calculated that way) would be the same as the amount I would save from not driving my car. In my calculations it would "pay for itself" in about 2 years, all expenses included.

However, the more I researched and dreamed, the more I realized I would want a 250cc scooter. I also realized I would want a Vespa above all others, and that I would be settling if I bought anything other than my "dream scooter". The lifestyle and fun became more important to me than the economy. If I buy a new GTS, it will take me longer than 2 years to recoup, closer to 5-7 actually, but I will have a hell of a time in the process. 8)

+1 well said!

The debate can go on for a while. I'll add a couple other things.

1) Parking is a decided advantage for the scooter. It's hard to put a price on. I would have a Vespa if I lived in Paris. Also, garage space is basically free.

2) City maneuverability and visibility are also value added qualities.

3) Still expensive, but a used scooter can save you a bundle.

4) You don't get the economic advantage unless you ride it.

5) You can't/shouldn't ride the scooter if you're sick, crazy, very tired, carrying a big load, or super stressed. Also hard to put a price on.

6) I save about 7,000+ miles / year of wear and tear on my auto, though I still have to pay registration and insurance.