Modern Vespa

Has anyone been able to find information on the 2009 MP3s yet. I've looked around the net and have not been successful. I.m seriously considering a 500 cc and I'm tryng to decide if I should wait til spring in case there is something really worth waiting for coming down the pipe.

I think you have been successful, there isn't any current MP3 news other than possible MP3 800 getting to North America by 2010.
Remember to use Fuoco 500 in your search engine as well, it is the Euro-twin and was released before our MP3 (rebadged Fuoco) a year earlier.

Ciao 8)

Thanks John. Given that there doesn't appear to be anything earth shattering coming along anytime soon I think i'll be talking to my dealr sooner rather than later - maybe get some riding time in later this summer on an MP3. Regarding the Fuoco are there performance differences (significant) between the twin and the single?

Probably lost in translation; there isn't a twin (cylinder etc).
Both the Fuoco 500 & MP3 500 are touted as being "Twins" identical except fpr brand badges.

(can you still smoke medical marijuana in Canada? )

Alright...now I'm less confused. No "twins"! Anything else I should be looking into?

You are exactly where all of us were at one time,
Just keep doing exactly what brought you here. Everything you need to know is on the internet.
Surf, Search, and find where you can touch, ride and buy whichever one suits your budget and lifestyle.
There are many Canadians here, weak borders and all,; by Monday you will have met plenty.
Keep Posting!

Ciao 8)

I just picked up a black '09 on Saturday. It's awesome and the same as previous models--maybe a kink or two worked out, but I don't know of any specifically addressed.

Really? a 500 '09? Impossibile!

The VIN plate should specify the year of Manufacture.

she's real fine my 4/09!
She's real fine my 409!
my 409!

Great song from a great group!

Oh you mean a Piaggio mp3 09?

No way Jose!

And it's all true!

C'mon Doc, the net is a lot better than bad. I might of called it "Opinion-net" instead.
If you read on the net something, or get an email about something, just do a search engine on it,
compare all your responses and form your own opinion.
Not much different than, media, reviews, gossip, or the person on the barstool next to you.
I guess web & net makes sense, we're caught in it

Hey, are you feeling better, getting your 3 wheeler fixed or what?

GET WELL DOC!

Thanks for the info guys - I'll have to talk to my dealer re; the '09s and when they are likely to be available up here. I know he has a red '08. If there are no significant changes from '08 to '09 I might as well take a good look at it - could save mself some $$$

No, it's true; everything about it is 2009 (VIN, receipts and registration).

Thanks for the good wishes, John.

The 3-wheeler is beyond fixing. Fortunately I'm not. My shattered heel bone has regained its proper shape, I will probably graduate from the wound care center this week (after 16 weeks), and am slowly getting my walking back up to speed. I'm looking to replace my lost MP3 250 with a new MP3 400 in a few months.

P.S. I know that everything on the internet is true because any day now I will be getting a big check from Nigeria for helping a prince regain his inheritance. This has to be the best $5,000.00 I've ever invested.

you wont regret the 400, I traded the 250 earlier this year and despite the extra weight the added 12 hp really gives some pulling power

Hi Greg,
I don't want to irritate you, with the new firearms permits in DC and all,
but please settle my query (not gay).
You are in the possession of a Black 2009 MP3 500?
Please provide proof of life:

Obviously, the manufactured date does not say 2009--it still is 2008, so that'd be a neat trick. However, the model year is 2009, and it will be registered as such. I'll provide proof once I receive the title and registration. My manufactured date is 05/08, and my VIN is for a 2009 model. Either way, no difference in the MP3 that I can see.

IIRC the 1984 corvettes arrived in the spring of 1983.

There's no concept of a 'model year' here, there may be different models (2006/2008, 2008/2009 etc) but any mention of year numbers is merely to differentiate between models. There isn't necessarily a change every year. When your new model is eventually superseded it may well be known as the '2008/2011' model for all we know. No way to distinguish one from the other within that range. Even date of first registration doesn't necessarily help. In the hypothetical example above there wouldn't be a '2010' model, it would just be one from that range even if the date of manufacture was known as 2010.

Over here there is though. All vehicles are designated specifically by model year.

Hi Greg,
I understand model years can be mfg'd a year prior, that's how we are driving '09 cars this year.
My point, is that I strongly doubt with Piaggio production history, that you have been able to receive a 2009 this soon.
I am more likely to believe you are repeating what you were told by a dealer in Washington D.C., where we know... is the land of truth and honesty

Maybe, but it's on my receipt, title and registration, and my insurance company (Geico) said, "2009 Piaggio MP3 500" when I gave it the VIN number. So, Piaggio definitely is bringing 2009 500s in this early.

OK Greg,
I forgot the Piaggio Rule, anything is possible
2008 MP3 500's did not arrive until March/April 2008, my 2008 got to California in June.
Maybe, their production for 2009 began this year and delivery has begun, why not?
Thanks for being such a good sport

The only thing that makes a scooter an 08/09 whatever is not what the paperwork says, or the manufacturer's date, or what the insurance company said, or even what the dealer said although most dealers get this.

It is the 10th digit of the vin reading from left to right.

If it is an 8, it is an 08.

If it is a 9, it is an 09.

Best,
SDG

Thanks SDG, I knew if I kept padding this post with dribble, the scholars would come out

Greg-
Jeez-Louise! If you have '09, I missed the opportunity to ask you tons of exciting questions!!! Piaggio listens and learns, so let's find out what they may have changed or added. Have you met any 500 owners near you? When can you take some pics and attach to post? If you have nothing else to do with your life, C'est Moi! You will see all these little nuances many 2008 500 owners found. Just start reading everything. Like the radiator house rubbing against cooling fan motor etc.
Of course, we'd like to see the obvious, wind screen, cup-holder, foot-heater, you know. Where did you buy it? How much? (it's OK, we want to see 08/09 diff) So, waddayasay?

Characters 8 to 13 on my VIN are all zeroes... So the make-up of a VIN for the US market is obviously different.

It absolutely is Jim. USA has a 17 digit vin and they all mean something !

Best,
SDG

It absolutely is Jim. USA has a 17 digit vin and they all mean something !

Best,
SDG

One other 500 owner that occassionally parks at my office. I think he's detailed here from the Coast Guard, but I'm not sure what office.

I'll take some pics and post them in a few days. Looks the same as all Demon Black 500s, though; no windscreen, cupholder or heated anything. Haven't checked on the radiator hose, yet. But, I plan to over the weekend.

I purchased it from Vespa of Arlington, Virginia. Let me know if I should check any additional features/specs.

Greg

Greg-I'm not saying be pessimistic, just eyes wide open. I haven't had any of the problems some 500 owners reported,
except for possible hose wear that was easily fix by pulling radiator hose back a little with large black zip-tie
(see post: Check your 500 for this issue-easy fix https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic28943)
All that Jazz about cup-holder was a pun
What I'm curious about, is if they flagged the hose problem, and if yours is clear of fan motor.
(Are you CG or Gov? Just in case we need a voice )

We love pics!!!

Greg, I had to chime in on this subject. I also bought my MP3 500 form Arlington Vespa. I spoke to Jamie at length about what he ordered from Piaggio. He told me he ordered two black 500's and wished he had ordered more. I bought mine on July 10th and he had one more, but both were 2008's. All my paperwork states 2008. I don't think you got a 2009 (but I could be wrong, maybe I have a 2009 as well).

I am in the insurance business and I would not rely on what GEICO says about the build year. They (along with many other companies) make numerous mistakes regarding both model years and VIN's. In the end it really doesn't matter. Just ride the heck out of the thing and enjoy. BTW I thought Jamie at Vespa Arlington was great to deal with. Although they did stiff me on the one year finance offer. Explain to me how Piaggio can have a one year financing offer and not have every dealer set up with the finance company?

the dealer had to qualify for the program by the previous years units bought by the dealer not necessarily sold. I don't remember what that number was but I asked that when I bought my MP3's.

Don't get me started! (again )
[ It's an '08 It's an '08 It's an '08 It's an '08 It's an '08 It's an '08 ]

Insureit1, if you're talking about the 0-0-0 Vespa/Piaggio offer, I think you're lucky you didn't get it.
They state it's 0 interest, then it's deferred and the rates are criminal. A shylock could do you better.
Listen up Piaggio, MItsubishi became a giant when they did a real 0-0-0 in the 90's.
The fine print will floor you: http://www.piaggiousa.com/company/news.cfm?NID=212
I'm not an accountant, maybe I'm wrong... I'll wait for feedback

Amen!
I'm not an accountant either but I can smell a dead rat in a woodpile. My local credit union gave me 5.40% straight up which I'll take any frakkin' day over a *sparkly letters* Promotional Offer (which = teh gimmick rigged by folx whose job it is to crunch numbers in their favour).
And why do they need a Promotional Offer! when they can't keep their dealers stocked...?

If Piaggio wants to give me free money for a year I lumped on it. Will pay it off in 11 months.


Wayne B

I wanted the 0-0-0 offer so I could let my cash sit in the bank, but my dealer did not qualify so I ended up just paying him cash OTD, got a break$500 and a free piaggio cover, top box price reduction and installed free,

Wayne & Dirt, I'm not a Hater, just saying it's not as 0 as a 0.

I just ended up paying cash as well. But as Wayne said, if it was free money for a year I would take it. I have had aBest Buy card for 7 years and never paid a cent in interest. But the dealer told me they could do the 0/0/0 and when I got there they said they couldn't do it. I just like all the info up front and felt a bit deceived. In the end I am glad it is paid for.

The bank is hoping no one pays off the loan and they can charge the huge interest rates they charge. I heard on the news a few days ago that boats and motorcycles are the most repoed items over the last six months.

If you got $ to spare, spend now save later.
You could end up unable to pay off and end up in default, like a lot of us are now.
And you know money, not love... makes the wheels go round.
When driving or signing, eyes wide open
Still, isn't it nice we even have this? go back 1 or 2 years and read all the posts