6 thoughts on “Commuting with Italian Flare”

  1. “Vespas vary in motor size from the 50cc, the smallest that does not require a motorcycle license to 250cc.” That’s a strangely worded sentence!

    “Marie wears a helmet, although at this point it’s a bicycle helmet.” It might be mean to say, but she would be safer if she bought a cheaper scoot, like a Kymco and spent some money on decent gear. A bicycle helmet isn’t going to cut it above 20 mph or so.

  2. Wow, she’s saving a whole $12 in gas a week. At that rate she’ll pay for the vehicle with the money she saved on gas in 8 years if she rides year round. 14 years if she doesn’t ride during the winter months. Not including maintanence costs or wear and tear items that need to be replaced. Sounds like a sound investment.

  3. Scrambler17 — that is precisely why this will be a passing fad for the masses. I don’t think that strict commuting-only riders are really in it for the long haul.

    Assuming that gas prices will remain at $4+ in the future, commuting-only riders will jump ship to pint-sized cars like the Smart fourtwo or other vehicles that have yet to be released (or even existing subcompacts like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit). The trade offs in terms of creature-comforts (a/c, cargo capacity, radio, all-weather capability, and lets face it, safety) are too great to keep someone around who bought a scooter for the sole purpose of saving gas.

    My friends think I want to get a scooter to save on gas, but once you count in the scooter’s cost, the insurance, the upkeep, the gear, etc., the *ONLY* reason to buy a scooter is because deep down you *WANT* one.

    Any money you save on gas by riding your scooter is just an added bonus.

    Of course, if I am correct, in about a year’s time there will be a glut of used scooters for new riders to buy at a discout. :)

  4. After a month of riding she’s saved enough gas money to get herself a real helmet. Shame on the dealership for not putting the effort in to make that helmet sale!! Lazy salespeople! Plus Vespa had a promotion were you could get a free expensive Vespa helmet with the purchase of a new scooter…. double lazy points for the dealer! I always work hard to sell tons of apparel and other goodies – that’s where the money is and it leaves my customers safer and happier. I’m making a comic book – “what every scooterist should know” kind of like those handouts that you got in middle school for sex-ed. I’m gonna give copies out for free at the shop.

    But as far as the article goes, along with many others like it – they’re relatively accurate, give nice anecdotal accounts and provide potential buyers with a lot of fodder for convincing friends, coworkers and significant others that it’s a good idea for them to get that scooter that they’ve always wanted. (That’s what most of my customers say – “I’ve always wanted one but now I have a good excuse to buy one”)

    Alexis – Scoot Around Town/Vespa Ann Arbor

  5. Marcster, I disagree with the passing fad concept. Look at the ‘scooternomics’ of a cheaper Chinese scooter. Buy it for $1,500 (not $5,0000 like a Vespa) and suddenly the $12 saved per week pays off a loan for the purchase in three years. After that it’s $52 a month in the bank. And this totally ignores the fun factor, lower tolls, easier parking etc.

  6. These kinds of articles are everywhere these days.

    While I am a newbie to the scootering life, I am not here to save gas or to cruise with Italian flare. I am here because I’ve wanted a scooter forever, and I am totally in love with riding it.

    And the heat rash, sunburn, near misses with idiots in cars, those are all just bonuses. :D

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