Idaho Notices Scooter as Gas Prices Rise

From this Idaho Falls article:

If you still feel the need to get around without having to pedal your way around, you can hop on a scooter. These things don't go too fast, but they get great gas mileage.

"They get 80 miles to the gallon, almost religiously," says Rob Turnblom, salesman at Bott Yamaha.

Turnblom rides his own scooter and he says getting around on it is very easy.

"They're fun, easy, and ride very well around a city setting," he says.

When it comes to the high gas prices, this is really the way to go.

"The guys at the gas station don't like it because you only use a buck," Turnblom says.

Comments

[Den Kerlee]

Reading Vespaway and blogs has been fun so far, but I'm here in Washington still awaiting the arrival of a blue LX150 scooter; I've got earnest money down but apparently the blue ones are in short supply, and I'm on a waiting list!
I have the motorcycle safety course and a parking spot at work all arranged.
Any news from your vantage where are the blue scooters?
Another colour won't do, as blue will match the PX150 I owned after returning from being a medic in Vietnam 1969.
Den in Seattle.

[Jay]

I hope u didnt fool yourself into thinking that you are going to "save money" by owning a scooter. When you finally add up what you are going pay for the scoot and all associated continuing costs, you could put $3.00 a gallon gas into a gas guzzler for the next 5-7 years. Bottom line is that scoots are just plain fun and have a degree of practicality. Enjoy your new blue scoot as it is, that is reward enough.

[Neil Barton]

Jay said "I hope u didnt fool yourself into thinking that you are going to "save money"

Fool myself? Jay I have hard fact on my side, so no need to fool myself. Here are the numbers (you tell me if you can refute them).

I used to own an SUV. If I wanted to drive to work it would cost me (round trip to go 10 miles to work and 10 back): $7 in tolls plus an additional $11+tax in parking and $4 of gas (1.5 gallons). That is a total of $22 a day!!

Fine you say? take the trains instead because that will be cheaper? Lets add that up, shall we? Depite my closeness to NYC I would need to take 3 forms of transportation to get to the door of my job, or I could do 2 forms and walk 3/4 of a mile: I take a Light Rail from Bayonne to Jersey City for $3 round trip, the PATH train to NYC for $3 round trip and if I don't want to walk 3/4 of a mile then I take the subway for $4 round trip for a total of $10 a day!!

Now, we come to my scooter, a Vespa ET4 150ccs. I sold my 1989 Jeep grand wagoneer for $4000 and bought my Vespa with that money. People said I was crazy. Observe: It costs me $4 in tolls and $0.50 in gas and I park for free only 2 blocks from the building where I work. Total cost $4.50.

You tell me which you would pick:
$22 a day in an SUV
$10 a day on 3 trains
$6 a day on 2 trains an a good mile or more of walking
$4.50 a day and a fun ride on a scooter

[Nicholas Stewart]

i would normally agree neil.. but lately im flumoxed at the cost of servicing on top of my saving. 1st service cost roughly 150.00 and that was just to maintain warranty. This was one month after my purchase... and now going into my third month and another sevicing is due within 400 miles....not pleased at this.