Sales of Scooters Rise With Gas Prices: Would You Ever Trade in Your Car for a Motor Scooter?
SodaHead News
2011/10/23 18:33:51
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With high gas prices and a sluggish economy, it’s no surprise that Americans are frequently looking for places to save some money. Consequently, more and more individuals, like Tom Hanks’ Larry Crowne, are choosing to trade in their cars for motor scooters.
“People in America are starting to see scooters as a way to save money and get places faster,” said Melissa R. MacCaull, vice president of Piaggio Group Americas, which owns Vespa and Piaggio.
“People in America are starting to see scooters as a way to save money and get places faster,” said Melissa R. MacCaull, vice president of Piaggio Group Americas, which owns Vespa and Piaggio.
In the first half of this year, U.S. scooter sales were up 28.9% from the same period last year. Major brands, such as Vespa, Piaggio, Honda, and Yamaha, sold 18,198 scooters. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, scooter sales increased more than those for any other category of motorcycle.
Vespa has seen increased sales for its larger-displacement scooters. These models offer 150 cc to 300 cc engines, which allow the bikes to travel at freeway speeds. According to MacCaull, this means that more people are beginning to use motor scooters for their daily commute. Piaggio’s bestseller, the Italian-built Vespa LX 150, retails for about $4,600 to $5,000 and gets 75 miles per gallon.
Though scooters have traditionally made up only a tiny percentage of vehicle sales in the U.S., America seems to be following in the footsteps of Europe, where expensive gas and traffic-dense cities have made motor scooters much more popular.
What about you? Would you ever trade in your car for a motor scooter?
Read More: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/v...
Top Opinion
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Hula girl - Friends not Fol... 2011/10/24 02:05:49No
+4But we are looking at scooters to be able to get out of town if there were ever a crisis and the roads are blocked.
If you like giving away your income to foreign oil companies just so you can drive with AC, no argument will make sense to you.
Anyone else notice most who are opposed have a hard time spelling?
Unfortunately, in my area at least, there is a certain... stigma attached. (They're called Likker Sickles and the drivers are all named Dewey - for DUI - since traditionally the only people driving them no longer have licenses due to certain lifestyle choices....)
I have an idea!
Why not elect Herman Cain / Newt Gingrich team and have John Bolton as a Secretary of State, Sarah Palin as a Secretary of Energy, Allen West as a Secretary of Defense and bring in Condoleeza Rice as the National Security adviser. Abolish EPA, department of education and IRS. Audit and abolish the Federal Reserve.
Then pass the law that all registered democrats buy and ride scooters while all others can have a choice between a car or an SUV.
A scooter is a lazy man's bicycle
Ride my motorcycle when practical? Absolutely!
The "problem" I have is that my car is Company Leasing, which means I pay a flat fee off of my gross wage (before taxes), and the leasing company takes care of everything, including gas. So, it's not worth it for me to change.