Modern Vespa

Let me qualify this post by stating that I dig the scoot, but don't have a die-hard passion for it. When I purchased the scoot in 2007 it was for commuting to work and back. Toreador Pants was a beating, but I didn't mind it too much for trips to work. Now I have a one-year-old son and I work from home and watch the boy. Most of the commuting I do now is many miles on major highways and I wouldn't dare take the LX150 on those trips. I also feel like riding the scoot up to the store or just around town would be great if I didn't wear Toreador Pants, but I don't want to take the chance. It's just sitting there in the garage with the battery trickle on it and it gets looked over ridden about once a month.

I'm leaning towards selling it because it's in great condition and would serve someone's passions well. I just don't know if the value of the modern Vespa would qualify them as "investment pieces" down the road.

-P

If you don't need the money for something else, and still ride it, even occasionally, why not leave it there? Your son might want it some day...and by then it'll be 'vintage'

There is no easy answer to your question. Scooters are possessions that find a spot in our lives just like anything else. As your life style, or circumstances, change, so may your possessions. There is nothing wrong with getting rid of the scooter now, and buying a new one (or something completely different), as your job and parenting responsibilities change over time.

It does sound like you doubt whether the LX150 would fit your commute, so perhaps you are wondering about a different ride at some point? I feel the same way because of my kids.

My advice to you is to wait longer before deciding to get rid of it. Prices are really "in the crapper" right now so you're going to take a big $$$$ hit if you sell it. I would wait a while and see if the thrill of riding it returns. You probably won't be any worse off, dollar wise, by waiting until next spring.
Conversely, if you absolutely, positively know that you're not going to ride it again.................put it up for sale but be prepared for the beating you're going to take on the price.
Just some honest information for you to chew on. Good luck with whatever you decide.
BTW: My wife and I don't always do the AGATT thing...............especially when it's hot and humid................but our kids are all grown up and long gone from the home so we just do what pleases us without having to worry about the responsibility of children.

Go with what your gut is telling you. These things have been manufactured by the million(s) since 1946. If you decide down the road that you want another one, you won't have to look very far or for very long. An LX will never be an investment piece, at least, not in the traditional sense. Sentimental value will always be there, but you admitted you don't have a die-hard passion for it.

I would sell it if I were you

Just get it over with and move on

Like Masala said, you can always get another in the future if you want

Gas is going up and sales are booming here... so you might not take a beating on the price.

Look at sites that sell used scooters to get an idea of the worth and sell a hundred or two below the going price.

I think at this point you are looking to unload it. Better sell now than go into the fall and winter with no buyers looking for a used scooter.

Lifer: Scooter sales may be good in Germany but in the U.S. the prices are really low right now. I bought a GTV at a very low price a couple of months ago and others have reported buying low mileage, one and two year old GTS models for $3800-$3900. It is NOT a good time to be a seller in the U.S.

I'd be really sad if I didn't see at least something in my garage with two wheels and a motor. That being said, I am thrilled that someone else was able to part with their barely-ridden ET so that I could enjoy it.

I understand how you feel. We have way too many cars. Two of which my 3 yr old doesn't ride in, because his car seat doesn't fit. Then I just got my scoot in April. I got it, because my commute went down from 20 miles on the highway to 3.

As for pricing, I would definitely look to see what things are going for in Ft. Worth. I really wanted to buy a used GTS250, but I hadn't seen any for sale in like 1.5 years in Texas, much less Austin. If Ft. Worth is like Austin, then there are not a lot of newer model, used scooters for sale. However, there are probably not a lot of people wanting to buy them either. You might have better luck posting it on a website that college students might read. I think there's TCU, UT Dallas, and SMU all in DFW. You might also get someone who's going to UNT up in Denton. You could also post it for a price that you want. If you don't get it in a reasonable time, then just take it off the market and wait.

Good luck

I only recommended he keep it because I'd be sick if I didn't have some sort of vehicle

Certainly no real dilemma there. It's not a collector's item, not a family heirloom, and not going to save your family, the world, or lower the price of cupcake. =)

It's an easy fix too....just let the market decide for you. Put it up on Craigslist for a price you think is fair, and if someone bites, they bite, and if they don't, they don't. If you sell it, you can always get another, and if you don't it's certainly not going "bad" sitting cleanly in your garage, and taking a little spin once a month.

I'm in a bit of the same boat in that I have a little Yamaha Zuma 125 with a few hundred miles on it, that I'm trying to sell. I just don't use it now that I have the Vespa. But the market is so bad right now, even listing it hundreds under blue book, no one bites. Yet...it'll be as good a scooter tomorrow as it is today, so ya just hang onto it, until you just give it away to a friend, or make a flower pot out of it.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Why not wait a bit since like everyone has pointed out prices are low for selling. That's if can afford to. Who knows if you'll change your mind. Mine sit because i'm gone a lot and have more than one but i get great pleasure knowing they are there and i can ride them when i get home or have a choice on which one i'll ride that day In the end you are the only one that knows what you have to do but we'll still love ya if you sell it. Good luck

With a young son, are you still interested in riding much?
Are you maybe thinking of trading up to something bigger for better highway travel?

My wife's scoot is getting very few miles these days. We've contemplated selling, but it's not enough of a financial burden to keep it at this point for us to sell. When we do, I'd like to trade it in for something else (oh, say, a 4T Stella, the forthcoming Genuine 270cc scoot, a Symba...). Some prices are in the crapper, but low mileage ETs are apparently worth $3500 now in SoCal. Mind boggling!

Used LX prices are tougher, especially with Vespa's current $500 off promotion and the 2009 tax deduction for new scooters.

Yeah, I don't think I would mind getting a little less than market value at this point as it's been paid for with the gas money I saved about 2x over. I'm also jonesing to explore giving endurance road biking a serious go and the sale would more than cover those expenses. I just don't want to do anything on a whim that I may regret.

In my experience, new parents tend to focus completely on the child, all good, but don't forget your own desires. Don't forget to give yourself freedom to have fun & get away now and then. I have a 14 yr old & can see it from the other side. Coming out of this led me to get 2 bikes this year!
Keep it for a while, take care of yourself & don't forget to think of yourself... parenting can be a thankless task, and if you focus completely on it, there will be nothing left of you.

Cheers,
-P-

Don't think you could trade it for a BMW F 800GS.

Unless you're talking about bicycling...