Modern Vespa

Just curious. I called a local dealer today to get guidance on maintenance intervals and service pricing. Excluding tires, brakes, and fuel, and only including the content of the schedule maintenance we came up with roughly $640 total for 12k miles of use. After tires and brakes are added, the cost again jumps.

Ignoring tires and brakes on both, I'm astounded that my Vespa has higher maintenance costs than my Porsche Boxster. Total maintenance after 12k on that car was $430. I didn't buy this for the economics, I will pay to maintain it, and I don't really care, however I'm kind of questioning the whole "Vespanomics" message, at least with regard to maintenance. I know fuel consumption is a different story.

I was also instructed by the dealer that services are one at 625, and then 3k intervals afterward. Does that sound right?

I've found the following service schedule to be helpful-
https://modernvespa.com/forum/wiki-service-intervals

I think you are right. The cost of ownership is high compared to my motorcycles. I change the oil and filter at 3,000 miles, so that's the same. I get 8-12k miles on my motorcycle tires and I believe the Vespa will be half of that.

Here's my scooter expenses since Jan 1, 2010.


Metadata
Android Version aCar Version aCar Build Date aCar Database Version Export Date/Time Export Version
1.6 2.0.4 06/07/10 4 06/17/10 06:42 PM 2


Vehicles
Name Make Model Year
BV250 Piaggio BV250 2007
Burgman 400 Suzuki Burgman 400 2007
Granturismo Vespa GT 200L 2005


Fill-Up Records
Vehicle Date/Time Odometer Reading Distance Unit Volume Volume Unit Price per Unit Total Cost Fuel Efficiency Fuel Efficiency Unit Fuel Brand Fuel Octane Location Tags
Burgman 400 03/26/10 02:33 PM 20486 mi 1.81 gal $2.76 $4.99 51.48 MPG 87
Burgman 400 04/02/10 02:02 PM 20561 mi 1.46 gal $2.76 $4.02 52.17 MPG Union 76 87 Beaverton gas
Burgman 400 04/09/10 02:11 PM 20639 mi 1.5 gal $2.87 $4.29 54.68 MPG Union 76 87 Beaverton gasoline
Burgman 400 04/16/10 03:20 PM 20726 mi 1.59 gal $2.90 $4.61 54.08 MPG Union 76 87 Beaverton gas
Burgman 400 04/30/10 03:36 PM 20844 mi 2.18 gal $2.76 $6.02 63.52 MPG Circle K 87 Abq gas
Burgman 400 05/07/10 05:42 PM 20953 mi 1.72 gal $2.77 $4.75 70.29 MPG Phillips 66 87 Albuquerque gas
Burgman 400 05/09/10 03:31 PM 21112 mi 2.26 gal $2.79 $6.31 61.32 MPG Giant 87 Albuquerque gasoline
Burgman 400 05/14/10 07:46 AM 21264 mi 2.48 gal $2.78 $6.89 62.42 MPG Giant 87 Giant gasoline
Burgman 400 05/21/10 06:22 PM 21365 mi 1.62 gal $2.73 $4.42 58.03 MPG Giant 87 Giant gasoline
Burgman 400 05/28/10 08:51 AM 21473 mi 1.86 gal $2.73 $5.08 64.62 MPG Phillips 66 87 Circle K gasoline
Burgman 400 06/04/10 10:43 AM 21620 mi 2.28 gal $2.73 $6.21 58.25 MPG Phillips 66 87 Circle K gasoline
Burgman 400 06/11/10 06:41 PM 21716 mi 1.65 gal $2.63 $4.33 0 MPG Phillips 66 87 Circle K gasoline
BV250 05/02/10 01:49 PM 479.2 mi 1.4 gal $3.07 $4.29 70.24 MPG Phillips 66 90 Abq gas
BV250 05/08/10 10:55 AM 592.7 mi 1.62 gal $3.07 $4.96 0 MPG Phillips 66 90 Circle K gasoline
BV250 05/09/10 08:54 PM 632 mi 0.52 gal $3.07 $1.61 73.17 MPG Phillips 66 90 Circle K gasoline
BV250 05/14/10 05:50 PM 689 mi 0.78 gal $3.07 $2.39 77.11 MPG Phillips 66 90 Circle K gasoline
BV250 05/15/10 02:08 PM 786 mi 1.26 gal $2.88 $3.62 65.22 MPG Shell 89 Santa Fe gasoline
BV250 05/16/10 02:14 PM 867 mi 1.24 gal $2.94 $3.65 69.87 MPG Chevron 89 Redi Mart gasoline
BV250 05/22/10 09:22 AM 915 mi 0.69 gal $2.89 $1.98 73.53 MPG Smiths 89 smiths gasoline
BV250 05/23/10 03:47 PM 1010 mi 1.29 gal $2.98 $3.85 74.39 MPG Giant 90 Giant gasoline
BV250 05/29/10 02:50 PM 1168 mi 2.12 gal $2.84 $6.03 71.5 MPG Shell 90 Brewer gasoline
BV250 05/30/10 02:44 PM 1305 mi 1.92 gal $2.70 $5.17 70.52 MPG Fina 90 Fina gasoline
BV250 06/06/10 08:12 AM 1421 mi 1.65 gal $3.03 $4.98 66.09 MPG Phillips 66 90 Circle K gasoline
BV250 06/13/10 09:19 AM 1536 mi 1.74 gal $2.86 $4.97 0 MPG Union 76 90 Circle K gasoline
Granturismo 03/28/10 07:03 PM 10171 mi 1.2 gal $2.95 $3.53 61.97 MPG Union 76 90 Beaverton gas
Granturismo 04/04/10 06:58 PM 10252 mi 1.31 gal $2.95 $3.85 62.42 MPG Union 76 90 Beaverton
Granturismo 04/11/10 01:02 PM 10345 mi 1.49 gal $3.06 $4.56 74.06 MPG Union 76 90 Beaverton gas
Granturismo 04/11/10 06:35 PM 10496 mi 2.04 gal $3.06 $6.24 65.35 MPG Union 76 90 Beaverton gas
Granturismo 04/18/10 01:18 PM 10592 mi 1.47 gal $3.12 $4.58 76.09 MPG Union 76 90 Tigard gas
Granturismo 04/18/10 08:07 PM 10655 mi 0.83 gal $3.09 $2.56 0 MPG Union 76 90 Beaverton gas


Service Records
Vehicle Date/Time Odometer Reading Distance Unit Services Total Cost Location Tags Notes
Burgman 400 04/27/10 12:00 PM 20800 mi Insurance $306.00 Foremost Ins. insurance
Burgman 400 05/13/10 11:43 AM 21249 mi Hub Oil Level , Engine Oil, Spark Plug, Tire Pressure, Oil Filter, Idle $285.32 R&S 21500
BV250 05/05/10 12:05 PM 545 mi Engine Oil, Hub Oil Level $77.44 Scoot Abq 600 mile service
BV250 05/06/10 08:05 PM 546 mi Accessories $38.14 Scoot Abq key Replacement key
BV250 05/06/10 08:14 PM 547 mi Insurance $243.00 Foremost Ins. insurance
BV250 05/18/10 11:05 AM 876 mi Warranty $0.00 Scoot Abq fuel sending unit Bad fuel sending unit. Parts on orders.
Granturismo 12/22/09 11:00 AM 8200 mi Air Filter, Drive Belt, Engine Oil, Hub Oil Level , Oil Filter, Tire Pressure $250.00 Vespa Portland
Granturismo 01/20/10 02:10 PM 9000 mi Accessories $200.00 Vespa Hillsboro new rim New front rim
Granturismo 03/27/10 05:09 PM 10193 mi Accessories $110.00 Vespa Portland new rim New rim
Burgman 400 09/19/09 11:00 AM 18000 mi Air Filter, Brakes Rear, Engine Oil, Hub Oil Level , Oil Filter, Tire Pressure $138.19 South Texas Suzuki

you can maintain a vespa cheaply, I wouldn't be able to ride one for work otherwise. A lot of the scheduled maintenance can be skipped.

Much of the maintenance the dealers call for is bulldookie, 3000 miles my ass.

I'm 58 and do most myself. I have no garage and mostly common hand tools.

Schedule: 600 miles--oil, oil filter and rear hub change--$40 parts, 1 hour.

6,000 miles--oil, oil filter, clean air filter--$40 parts, 45 minutes. I needed a rear tire as well--I change my own but this is something you may want a shop to do, it is hard. Call it $100.

7,500 miles (conservative but I hate the thought of a belt breaking)--Belt and rollers--$200 parts, 1-1/2 hour.

12,000 miles--oil, oil filter, hub oil change, clean air filter, spark plug--$45 parts, 1 hour.

6k, 7.5k, 12k repeat ad infinitum.

Additionally replace antifreeze and brake fluid flush every 2 years.

Cost to run to 12,000 miles (if you maintain yourself, not counting vehicle cost or depreciation) -- about $500 + fuel (200gal@60mpg) $625 = $1125. This is about half what it costs to run a car. Add in cheaper insurance, fun factor and it's a no-brainer.

If you have a shop do everything, you're now about the same as a compact car.

Welcome to the real world, lunch isn't free, they make it up on the beer.

P.

PaulG: You and I are of like minds. The "every 3k" service is primarily to bring you and your wallet back to the dealers shop. I also do all of my own maintenance and tire changes on a GTS, a GTV and a 1981 BMW motorcycle. It's not rocket science (or I couldn't do it).
My owners manuals for the GTS and GTV say to change the oil every 6k miles so why people have posted in many threads that they change it more often than that is a mystery to me. I guess that Jiffy Lube (and others) have pushed their propaganda for so long that people believe it.

81 BMW!!

I had an 81 R100CS, what a beautiful bike, but with 2.91 rear end, high compression, valves as big as saucers, it wasn't the best bike for a NYC boy. You'd be going 90, and it felt like 30.

I then got an 84 R80ST. The perfect motorcycle. Light, narrow, quick (enough), smooth, quiet and reliable. Kept that bike through 2008. My wife still has hers.

P.

The old school had us changing car oil every 3k. I still do in my truck. Vespas use synthetic oil which can have a much longer service interval for reasons I am sure someone here can explain.

You don't check/adjust the engines valves?

Oh yeah, I forgot. 2 hours, no parts every 12,000 miles.

P.

It always amazes me what you can learn when you read the owner's manual. Everything I read online said the 250 needed service every 3k miles. I assumed (I know) that this meant an oil and filter change. The manual says check the oil level/top up if needed at the 3k and change at the 6k.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.