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New Toy
Hi,
Well, Mrs. MNBoxster and I decided that it has been too long since we had an addition to the Family. So, today I finalized the deal on a new, Italian 2-seater from a well known 60 yr. old company ;). Sleek, Jet Black w/ Tan Alcantera seats, it's fast and extremely fun to drive. I pick it up on Tues. and will post pics shortly after that. Looks like I'll be keeping the Boxster afterall. Have a Great Weekend everyone!... Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 |
Congratulations Jim! can't wait to see pictures of it.
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Jim, congratulazioni per il lieto evento! :)
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OH, and you just had to tease us and tell us now so we have to wait :D Congrats Jim, can't wait to see it!
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Those are Krugerrands well spent! ; )
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Update - Arrgh!!!
Hi,
Went to the Dealership today, Check and Ins. Card in hand. Vehicle all prepped and ready to go. But, as we were finalizing all the paperwork, I noticed that the VIN on the Title was incorrect. A quick search revealed that they had sent another Buyer out the door with the wrong Title!!! So, they contacted the other Buyer and are having the correct Titles swapped. Needless to say, I did not want to complete the deal without a proper and correct Title, so everything's delayed until tomorrow on my little Italian Black Beauty. BTW, here's a stock photo of it. It's a Vespa GT 200 Grantourismo, a truly Modern Touring Scooter w/ 21 HP, 4-Stroke, Liquid Cooled, 200cc Engine capable of 80 MPH (Vespa states 74 MPH, but every owner I've spoken to says they all get an indicated 80 MPH (90+MPH with an Exhaust and Cam)), 0-60 times of 8.9 sec. (a Scooter remember) and 72MPG. It has 12" Michelin Pilot Sports, Dual Hydraulic Disc Brakes, an Immobilizer system, Electric Start, and CVT Transmission, even a Cell Phone recharging port. Mrs. MNBoxster and I are going Helmet Shopping for her tonight. I'll post actual pics of our Scooter once I pick it up, by the weekend at the latest, though it is the same color combo as this stock photo... Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 |
Jim, you really need to de-amber that thing! ;)
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Good Point! But, for now I'll keep it Stock, and I've not heard of any available clear parts for it. It has a 1 yr. Factory Full Warranty and I'm probably going to get an additional 3-yr. Aftermarket Extended Warranty offered through the Dealership ($540). Normally, I am Extended Warranty averse, but they offer a significant twist - if, after the 4 yrs. (1 yr. OEM and 3yr. Extended) period, you haven't had a claim, 100% of the price of the Warranty is refunded to you - all $540! It's fully transferrable (except the Refund). Wish Porshe offered something like this. All you're really out is any interest you would have earned investing the $ somewhere for that period. I'm pretty excited to be back on two wheels after so long an absence in owning a cycle (25 yrs.). We bought it to tool around town, though we'll likely also do some touring as well. I've tested them and they're extremely stable, and the 12" Tires and 4-way adjustable suspension give it an excellent ride. It easily keeps up with Freeway Traffic and has enough oomph to beat most cars off the line, allowing it to get up to speed quickly in traffic unlike many of the smaller displacement scooters, some of which can take up to a full block to reach 30 MPH. We bought it to beat the never ending rise in Fuel prices for our errands and short trips which we frequently make around town. Could have gotten a Motorcycle, but these scooters are much less intimidating. They make people smile like an old Bug or original Mini does. Plus, the Cops never look twice at a Scooter. It will take up less space in my increasingly crowded garage, cost waay less to maintain (an Oil Change is 1.1 Qts., Tires are $40@) than a cycle, and I think Vespa, with it's 60 yr. success story is better built and holds it's value much better than any of the Japanese, Chinese, or Korean Scooters out there... Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 |
Too funny Jim.
I love the VESPA, always have. But you should have gotten a SPORTSTER. Black of course. Best of luck! :D |
Every time I see these I remember the packs of women in dressess and stilleto heels riding these all over Rome.... insane traffic there.
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Just reminds me of all those young ****************************s in Italy that would try to run over my friends and I... hehehe
Pretty cool Jim! What does one of those go for nowadays? If I didn't live right on a highway that merges into a tollway, then crosses a freeway... I'd consider a scooter for the work commute.... maybe... |
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Hi, I remember the Vespa from my childhood. I spent my 1st 16 yrs. living in Lausanne, Paris, and Naples and especially in the '50s, these Scooters dominated the scene. But, make no mistake, these are the real deal. They're Fast, Solid, with great Brakes and a very comfortable ride. There's a huge contingent of Vespa Owners here in the Twin Cities, and I've already been contacted by the local Touring Club. There is also a LONG list of distinguished owners of Vespas through the years to include: Steve McQueen, John Wayne, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Tiger Woods (owns 2 GT 200s which he keeps on his Yacht), Gary Cooper, Henry Fonda, James Gandolfini (who actually delayed the Final season of the Sopranos because of a crash he had on his GT 200), Dennis Hopper, Matthew Broderick and his wife, Sara Jessica Parker, Jay Leno (has 3), Matt Lauer, Bill Murray, Steven Spielburg, Anthony Quinn, Paul Newman (it travels in the Newman-Haas Support Truck between races), Owen Wilson, Jerry Seinfeld, Mickey Rourke, Jacques Nasser (former CEO of FORD Motor Co.), Tony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Brent Favre, and on and on... Like I said, a Motorcycle just doesn't fit the bill for us. Harleys are nice, but have become such a cliche' that they're not really special anymore. And, given my size, and Mrs. MNBoxster's, a Harley is really too much Bike for us. And, I got so good a deal on this one (over $1500 off MSRP), that we can actually ride it for a couple of years and still sell it for more than we paid judging on the resale value of the '04s and '05s. Popularity and Demand is on the rise, so prices are actually expected to increase for the next few years. Money Magazine wrote in an article last year:
For ********************s and giggles, I highly recommend checking them out and taking a Test Drive. I bet most of you come away very surprised. And, since the worst thing for a Car is short hops, we'll be saving the Jag and the Boxster for serious hauling and fun, and let the $4k Scooter take the beating... Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 |
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The GT 200 retails for $5299, but you can deal them under $4k right now because of all the competition out there, especially from the cheapie no-names coming out of China. But, I suspect that many of these will be culled from the herd as the major players, Honda, Yamaha, Piaggio/Vespa, Lambretta, etc. ramp-up in the next few years. The new bikes, w/ powerful 4-stroke engines, FI, Electric start, Hydraulic Disc Brakes, and such are eliminating the sometimes finnicky nature these machines were often known for. Mileages of 200k+ are not at all unheard of from these bikes. And, there's such a vast Go-Fast and Cosmetic Parts aftermarket, that you can Mod and Individually Customize your Scooter to no end - cheaply! A 220cc Conversion kit (w/ Piston, Head, ECU Flash, and all the accouterments) costs only $299, but will push the Scooter >100 MPH. And, on a Scooter, it's not so much Flying, but the sensation of Flying which is important. Freeway Driving is no problem for the 150+cc Machines (60+ MPH), though 200cc (80MPH) is the minimum I would use so you always have something in reserve. Operating and Maintenance costs are 5% those of a Boxster, Insurance cost is nothing - $87 for a year, Full Liability, Comprehensive, Uninsured Motorist, etc. You can't help but get a Thumbs-Up everytime you take it out - these Scooters make people Smile... :) Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 |
Hi Jim , Congratulations! I have some **************************** cousins in Italy that have owned many Vespa's and they are indestructible unless you use them for running over people who don't use sidewalks. :p
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A Vespa..? You kiddin' me?! Right away when you were talking about getting an Italian vehicle, I was hoping to see you on a Ducati. (but hey, at least you didn't go for a Japanese scoot ;^) In any case, congratulations.
-- peer |
It's like my brother always says. Vespas are like fat chicks, they seem cool until someone sees you ridding one. :D I preffer something a little more rugged. Like this cool Honda Ruckus. :troll:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...ckus_black.jpg |
^Ha! anything Paul Newman has/had officialy becomes cool.
I was thinking about getting a very small motorcyle or moto cross bike or vespa, etc. to drive around in my complex and to the strip mall about five blocks away. Looked it up on the DMV site here in NJ and it seemed like a hassle so I left it at that. |
Very nice Jim. Looks like it would be a blast to take down Theodore Wirth Parkway and around the lakes on a sunny early summer day.
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Hi,
I agree that a Vespa may not be Macho enough for some guys, but they really don't get it. I'm not that insecure that I care what others may think and believe me, one ride on one of Vespa's Quei Grandi (Big Ones), and if you're honest, it will change your mind. If you're a true Motor Enthusiast, you come to appreciate anything that meets the criteria of Performance, State-of-the-Art Engineering and Reliability. The Vespas truly make the grade in all these categories. It's Fun, Cheap, Reliable, what more could you want? I'm not proposing it instead of anything else, but in addition to... Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 |
50 Mpg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...litan_Ruby.jpg |
MNBoxster wrote:
> I agree that a Vespa may not be Macho enough for some guys, but they > really don't get it. I'm not that insecure that I care what others may think I'm sure that's what the Yugo owners say too. -- peer (just teasing) |
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not this guy, a 1987 widebody Yugo wit 2 cadillac northstar engines, all wheel drive, and corvete wheels with slicks. we saw him at the autox few weeks back, he was just a second slower than a shifter kart http://i7.tinypic.com/505hxlf.jpg |
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That's a nice looking Sportster... Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 |
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Love the vespa, good luck and be safe! |
48MPG! (More if I could stop giving it so much stick all the time)
http://vorlon.case.edu/~jpv/M3/SV1000.jpg |
Naples, huh? I lived there from 86 to 88. Our house was across the main street from Lago Patria. I even found it on Google Maps.
Doesn't sound like a bad price on the scooter... If I didn't have to get on a highway to get anywhere, I'd love to have one... I wonder, it does require a class M license, right? I'd have to get that... |
take it to bike night at the Ducati shop
Jim,
You will have to take the new baby out to bike night at the Duc shop in Minneapolis. That's one sleek baby. Charlie |
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Sweet bike, NICE!!!!!!!!!!!! |
I think the Vespa is very cool but I'm not sure I would get one in the Twin Cities for safety reasons. When I used to live in the 'burbs of Chicago a Vespa would have been great, lots of side roads and places to cruise etc...
In Minnesota it is hard to go anywhere without getting on a major highway. I don't think I would trust the other drivers to be on a Vespa going down 35W. I see too many people drinking coffee, talking on the cell phone, and putting on makeup while they are driving :eek: Anyhow, I think its cool and I will keep my eyes open for you. On a side note, I think you have a red 986, were you driving downtown yesterday? |
Hi,
@Doc Burton - Thanks! But you'd be surprised, if you have a Map program, such as Microsoft's Streets & Trips, you can find your way all over the TC w/o ever touching a Highway. I am in the process of getting my M Endorsement (lost it after many years) and am taking the MSF course next week. If all goes well, I'll have the endorsement by next Sunday. Until then, my Permit restricts me from going on a Freeway anyway. The Bike now has 135 mi. on it (3mi. when I picked it up), and it's all coming back to me - literally like Riding a Bike...lol ;) I plan on doing some Freeway Driving, like short scoots on I-94 to 5th Street (Dwtn. Mpls.) or 10th Street (Dwtn. St. Paul). Each of these is less than 4 mi. from my entrance Ramp - Cretin/Vandalia. I live on River Blvd. in St. Paul, and I can even follow this right into Dwtn. Mpls, or take it to Shepard Road and come out in Dwtn. St. Paul. It will out-accelerate most cars 0-60, has a Top Speed a little over 80MPH, so merging down the On-Ramps won't pose too many issues. And in MN, 2-wheeled vehicles are POV Lane qualified. I'll significantly increase my following distances, but the Scooter has plenty in Reserve to aid if the need arises. Admittedly, one has less of a Safety Margin than in a Car, but it's the same for a Motorcycle, and a Scooter is slightly more stable as it's weight is closer to the ground, and at 550 - 700 lbs. (incl. Riders), and 12" Tires, it's pretty stable. I'm adding a Headlight Modulator to increase visibility and conspicuity. But, I didn't buy it for primarily Freeway Travel, it may add to the Trip time staying off them, but with a Scooter it's at least as much about the Journey than the Destination... Happy Motoring!... Jim'99 PS Wasn't me in Dwtn. the other day. But, I know of at least one clone of my car - there is a guy in Stillwater that has a '99 identical to mine (Guards Red w/ Tan), but he has the 17" Wheels to my 18's. |
Jim,
When you said 2 seater and Italian I thought for sure you would be posting pictures of a Ferrari in the near future... Although I am not a big "scooter" fan, I gotta say that the Vespa is pretty cool ! Congrats on your purchase, be safe and enjoy... Nick |
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geez, how many of us do or used to live in MN?
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Update - Vespa GT 200
Hi,
Well , almost 2 mos. in and I gotta tell you this thing is an absolute fr*ggin' Blast to own and ride! Got my full 'M' endorsement 11 days after picking it up and 2,200 trouble-free miles later and I still can't get enough. I've filled it 11 times for a grand total of 27.5 gal. and $84.15 in Gas. It generates lots more attention, thumbs-up, questions and Smiles :) than I ever got in my Boxster. Mrs. MNBoxster and I have run it all over town. You can park anywhere and never get a ticket. While used generally about town, I have had it on the Freeway on several occaisions and topped it out at 83MPH before hitting the limiter. Very doable, but I pretty much restrict it to 55-60MPH Highways, because at 80MPH, things just happen too fast for a two-wheeler. The only required maintenance to-date has been a mandatory Oil/Filter/Tranny Fluid change at 600 mi. (Break-in Period) which I did myself for $18.23, next scheduled Service is at 4,000 mi. - probably late Fall Storage time. I have upgraded the shocks and added a Windscreen, a Topcase, an extra Front Running light (I custom painted the Horn Cover in proper Tri-colore theme) for conspicuity, along with a Euro Tailight - see below. Gotta say that for the cost of just a few of the popular Boxster upgrades (about $4,400 all in), this thing has been money and time well spent. Since acquiring it, the Boxster has been driven only twice for a total of 42 mi. I'm even considering dumping the Boxster for lack of use - had the Battery die for the 1st time ever and now have it out of the car on a Tender. If I keep the Boxster, I'm downgrading my Ins. next year to 2,500 mi., because I'll be wasting about 3,000 mi. of coverage this year. I've perused this board from time-to-time, but see that it's mainly the same stuff - lots of recurrent issues, but some new owners as well. That's good, hope everyone's doing OK... Happy Motoring!... Jim |
Looking good! A couple of my friends actually trailer their Vespas to Road American then use them to get around. RA only allows licensed vehicles (officially anyhow) past the front gate.
Another one of my friends (a 930 owner) brings a motorized skateboard in the back seats!! No one at the gate would ever suspect something like that to be in a 930. |
Hey Jim !
Good to hear from you, and nice scoot ! Hadn’t seen you post in awhile, and I was wondering how you were doing and if you kept the Box. Glad you and the Mrs. are enjoying the new toy… Nick |
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