Our Blue Vespa!
Written: Oct 05 '04 (Updated Oct 08 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Reliability: |
 |
|
| Comfort: |
 |
|
| Handling And Control: |
|
|
| Quality and Craftsmanship: |
|
|
|
Pros: It's every bit as good as everyone says. Buy a couple of them.
Cons: Take it easy at high speed in the wind. Don't trust the optional side stand.
The Bottom Line: Very pleased we bought it, it is as good as the others say.
Manufacturers of other consumer products could learn a lot from a Vespa 150.
|
|
|
| b747's Full Review: 2000 Vespa ET4 150 |
My wife changed jobs to one much nearer home and surprised me by saying she should use a scooter for commuting, and leave the car at home. After a few weeks of this I realised she was serious...but we knew nothing about scooters. After a few trips to lots of dealers with different brands it was plain the Vespa really stood out, the others looked pretty disposable in comparison. Yes, the Vespa was a lot more expensive but as we intended keeping it a long time we decided the extra price was not important.
We choose a cobalt blue one, and it has been great, we've had it 9 months and done about 3,200kms on it. NO problems, it still starts and runs like new, has good brakes and handles well. It is perfect round the suburbs or city. Not bad on out of town roads too, but gets blown around a bit if the wind is gusty and it's being ridden fast.
It's performance is zippy with only one on board and flat roads, and on hills it is also good and lively. And away from the traffic lights it's a zoomer. It can reach about 100km/hr before it runs out of breath. It has enough power to carry 2 adults round town ok.
Carrying capacity is not bad, but we bought a matching carrybox for the rear, so it's handy for going to the supermarket, however it's no station wagon.
There is a hook for carrying supermarket bags which pulls out from the front of the seat. It looks a little scary but I tried it once, it works well.
The seat seemed a little higher than other scooters (31" off the stand) but my wife is only 5'4" and she finds it ok.
We temporarily fitted an optional sidestand. A disaster, it nearly fell a couple of times. Had it removed, we now use only the main stand.
I like the way the lights are always on, and the indicator lights are very bright and are obvious even in bright sunshine.
The instruments are good for the job, ---there is a fuel gauge AND a low fuel warning light. Not Bad.
We get about 65mpg but this varies, it does best on long rides at constant speed. It is smooth and comfortable to ride and fairly quiet. It uses no oil between oil changes. It's parked on new, white concrete and it never has leaked one drip.
This is generally a very well thought out and engineered scooter, designed by people who know what they are doing, probably by scooter enthusiasts as much as businessmen.
I once saw a lady pat it, maybe she thought it was a puppy.
It has to be one of the best products of any kind we have bought, I think it will be around for us for a long time.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 4000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
b747
|
|
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.