How much is too much?

[Spence]

There's a letter in February's Scootering about born-agains paying through the nose for scooters and parts, which is pushing the prices up for everyone.

So how much money is too much to pay? As I write this, on the Ebay link on our homepage, there's a MkII GS which stands at a whopping £5,732 (reserve NOT YET MET). Now I know for many people this is the ultimate scooter, but is it time we took a step back and had a sensible look at how much things are really worth?

I welcome your comments.

[thetop]

Spence,

I guess i fall into that catagory. I have recently come into the scene and after starting with a PX 125 (£1100) i moved up to a PX 200 (£1800), and then onto a GTS 250 (£3250). I got back what i paid for the first part X and only lost £100 on the second one. I now have what is an expensive model and some nice new original Vespa chrome to go with it, i could have got this chrome i guess from a non Vespa source for quite a bit cheaper.

I take the writers point (i read it myself) but why should i not have a GTS instead riding around on an old PX 125, especially when you consider that i can't take on much more than changing a spark plug.

I guess "many" people like me use my Vespa more for fun than as everyday transport, outside of London anyway?

the top

[tr8theshape]

As with everything, it's only worth what someone will pay for it.

I am told that some people will stick things on ebay with a crazy high reserve price so they know the value of the item. Maybe that's what's happing there

[Spence]

top I don't think you fall into that category mate. I started on a PX125, then upgraded to a PX200, now I have the Sprint too. I don't think I fall into the category either, I only paid £1500 for the Sprint which was a bargain.

The "villains" of this piece, certainly as far as the person that wrote that letter in Scootering's concerned, are the people that had scooters twenty years ago, left the scene for whatever reason, and have come back with disposable income able to afford £4,500 for a standard Lambretta (or it seems £6k for a GS). I certainly couldn't.

What Dave says there is very interesting though. I wouldn't have thought of it like that, I suppose Ebay has a lot to answer for, but I think it's a crap place to sell a scooter. The deals are still going on privately for the silly money.

I have to admit I do get bored of hearing about the golden age when you could buy a GP or a similar model Vespa for a few quid off an old boy who had one in his barn.

[Smallframe]

I agree with all points, but i do appreciate that text book resto's using all NOS parts can run into thousands. If you spent £3k restoring a TV or SX on parts and paint alone then why shouldn't you expect a return uin the regiobn of 4.5-5K.

Ebay does see some phenom prices, but i think its supply,demand, lazy shopping and affluence.

Right I'm gonna climb back in me box now !

[llew]

spence said:

there's a MkII GS which stands at a whopping £5,732 (reserve NOT YET MET).

That scoot, as you probably know, didnt meet the reserve at £8K!!! I think thats probably too much...Would you ride it. A lot of persistant bidders though.

I'm a "born again" and understand peoples concerns, but surely its good for the scene?? Anyway its a free country and these things have a way of balancing out.

[Spence]

Hi Llew, you haven't been around for a while. I'll post your pics on the Readers Scooters page soon as.

I don't know what I am. I was into scooters and was a Mod in my yoof in the mid 80s, but wasn't old enough to get fully involved. My first set of wheels was a Mini Cooper, so I went into cars and it wasn't until I turned 30 a few years ago that I had the means and enough desire to finally get a scooter. So I'm not really a born again am I? Born late more like. Also, I'm a Mod but I don't agree with the fancy dress brigade who think being a Mod means belonging to a re-enactment society. I'm just a crazy, confoosed, mixed-up kid. But if there's one thing that really p*shes me off about the scene is intolerance of others with different tastes.

What I say is, like what you want to like, ride whatever scooter floats your boat, but when it comes to asking £8k for a GS, take a step back and have a reality check. The rest of my mantra's in my signature.

[llew]

spence said:

Hi Llew, you haven't been around for a while. I'll post your pics on the Readers Scooters page soon as.

I don't know what I am. I was into scooters and was a Mod in my yoof in the mid 80s, but wasn't old enough to get fully involved. My first set of wheels was a Mini Cooper, so I went into cars and it wasn't until I turned 30 a few years ago that I had the means and enough desire to finally get a scooter. So I'm not really a born again am I? Born late more like. Also, I'm a Mod but I don't agree with the fancy dress brigade who think being a Mod means belonging to a re-enactment society. I'm just a crazy, confoosed, mixed-up kid. But if there's one thing that really p*shes me off about the scene is intolerance of others with different tastes.

What I say is, like what you want to like, ride whatever scooter floats your boat, but when it comes to asking £8k for a GS, take a step back and have a reality check. The rest of my mantra's in my signature.

Im like you mate...a born late But it dont matter...it's always been there...managed to get my missus into it tho who was never born and didnt know what a scoot was!! When i came home one day and said i was getting a lammy her reaction was " what the feck do you want one of those for " Cant keep her off the T5 now though. Some guys have all the luck

[Spence]

Hmm, sounds vaguely familiar.

[llew]

The 8K gs has been relisted...I note that the bidding has been nowhere near as frantic as last time!! If he's gonna sell it and it dosent make 8k again..i'm sure he will be gutted.

Clever marketing or dodgy gamble?

[tooty]

mate forked out bout 5k for an SX200 last year and the guy he beat to the punch has offered him 7k, In his shoes I am not sure what my response would be on one hand it just perpetuates the problem on the other If the bloke is daft enough to spend that much would I take it and buy a less expensive scoot and use the remainder to bring it up to a higher standard?