Post by waterboysh on Apr 21, 2013 17:45:45 GMT -5
I made a thread over on the Modern Vespa forum about buying the BV 350 without test driving it first because if I got it from my local dealer, I would not be able to. I started calling around to other Vespa dealers within an hour or two drive from here to see if any of them would let me test drive a 350. I talked with the guy at Vespa Orlando for a little bit and he said that they sell out of the BV 350s really quick and that it's proving to be a really good scooter with lots of demand. He literally just sold the last one 15 minutes before I called and said it will be 1 - 2 weeks before another shipment (I think he said of 3) would be coming in. He said it would be totally fine for me to take one out for a test drive. He got my name and number and everything and will call me when they come in.
Then he threw a wrench at me. The guy that just bought the last BV 350 had traded in his BV 250. The Vespa dealer said that this guy is a regular customer who trades his scooter in about every 3 years, takes real good care of it (waxes it every month and everything) and is only at 3,800 miles. They're closed tomorrow, and he said he'd hold off listing it for sale until mid-day Tuesday when they reopen, but he expects it to sell really fast. He quoted me $3800 out the door. Also, strangely enough, going from my Chinese 150cc to the Piaggio 250cc will decrease my yearly insurance premium by $16. I had expected it to go up. I did a quote for the 350 while I was at it, and it increase by $48 (so a $64 difference between the two, not a big deal imo).
Here are a few pictures the dealer e-mailed me.
I'm a little torn. Honestly, I think the 250 would be perfect for me if I were the only one riding it. However, it would be nice to have a little more power and comfort for slightly longer drive with 2 people. I'd really like to be able to, for example, hop on the scooter with my wife and drive the 1.5 hours it takes to get to the beach or just be able to take a weekend, go drive out to the middle of nowhere and go camping and come back the next day or whatever. The 350 would definitely open more doors for that sort of thing. I also really like the 350s extended maintenance intervals. Really, the only reason I'd consider this 250 over the 350 is cost.
Then he threw a wrench at me. The guy that just bought the last BV 350 had traded in his BV 250. The Vespa dealer said that this guy is a regular customer who trades his scooter in about every 3 years, takes real good care of it (waxes it every month and everything) and is only at 3,800 miles. They're closed tomorrow, and he said he'd hold off listing it for sale until mid-day Tuesday when they reopen, but he expects it to sell really fast. He quoted me $3800 out the door. Also, strangely enough, going from my Chinese 150cc to the Piaggio 250cc will decrease my yearly insurance premium by $16. I had expected it to go up. I did a quote for the 350 while I was at it, and it increase by $48 (so a $64 difference between the two, not a big deal imo).
Here are a few pictures the dealer e-mailed me.
I'm a little torn. Honestly, I think the 250 would be perfect for me if I were the only one riding it. However, it would be nice to have a little more power and comfort for slightly longer drive with 2 people. I'd really like to be able to, for example, hop on the scooter with my wife and drive the 1.5 hours it takes to get to the beach or just be able to take a weekend, go drive out to the middle of nowhere and go camping and come back the next day or whatever. The 350 would definitely open more doors for that sort of thing. I also really like the 350s extended maintenance intervals. Really, the only reason I'd consider this 250 over the 350 is cost.
indicated. what sold me on it was the long service intervals which will mostly give you a full season of riding. i have 1400 miles on it and am planning some long trips this summer. if planning to keep a scoot a long time and had the money, i'd definitely go with the 350. i don't have a tach but it seems to spin pretty fast so might have gearing up possibilities.