Vespa Et-2...a great starter scooter.
Written: Nov 30 '03
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Pros: Quiet, easy to learn to ride on, a Vespa through and through. Tons of character.
Cons: Lackluster performance....easily "outgrown" by most riders.
poor re-sale, trade-in value.
The Bottom Line: Love it cause it's a Vespa, but if you're getting one to ride, try for the larger ET-4.
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| mattgordon's Full Review: 2000 Vespa ET2 50 |
I am a scooterist....2 vintage scooters, as well as 2 "new school" Vespas, an ET-4 and an ET-2. No, I'm not wealthy or eccentric, I've been messing with vintage Vespas for years, and purchased an new ET-4 in 2002 as did my wife.
I am writing this review on the ET-2, because I was fortunate enough to win a 2003 ET-2 model recently, which I decided to keep in my little "collection".
As a new, somewhat expensive scooter, (approx. 3000 bucks)the Vespa ET-2 does offer a full pressed steel frame, disc front brake, e-start, and all of the trappings of the "Vespa" mystique, a brand that's been a cultural icon since 1946. When I say expensive, in that for a 50 cc scooter, one that barely makes 40 mph, 3000 dollars is a lot of clams. You can buy similar non-Vespa scooters of the same displacement for substantially fewer Lira, or dollars!
While not to say it isn't worth it for worth's sake, I believe most folks would quickly master the easy to ride scooter, and promptly want to upgrade to a more robust, more powerful machine...likely the ET-4 Vespa (another story....love mine!) Hence the conundrum. If you're getting into scootering for the first time, I would recommend a cheaper "starter" scooter in the 50cc displacement category, (knowing the upgrade to a bigger machine is inevitable) and keep your depreciation/losses to a minimum. (many Vespa boutiques will no longer take ET-2 models back in trade on larger scooters, by the way)as the trade-in re-sale value is shameful on these.
Or, simply spend the extra 800 dollars and go straight to the ET-4, as my wife and I did, with no regrets. My wife went straight to an ET-4, and it was her FIRST motorized 2-wheel vehicle ever. She loves hers too.
In fact, the Et-2 never sold as well as Piaggio had hoped for, and these surpluses of ET-2 models helped contribute to the giveaways at Target stores nationally of over 1200 units, many of which immediately ended up on EBAY at nearly half their "real" price. They tend to not fetch too much re-sale wise.
I'm not saying it isn't worth it, I LOVE Vespas, I simply believe as a primary scooter, most folks will have a short honeymoon with the ET-2, due to it's limited speed, generally poor acceleration, and poor passenger-ability.
I firmly believe the ET-4 will provide a much more satisfactory overall experience, for a much longer time, than the entry-level ET-2.
As art, and the continuation of Vespa's cultural icon of all things "scooter", MY ET-2 will remain firmly in my collection, for that novelty ride around the block, in the 4th of July parade, or simply as a reminder of Vespa's past history as the world's biggest builder of stylish, reliable, 2 cycled scooters. But when I want to RIDE and enjoy that experience, I'll take my ET-4 and smile the whole time.
Recommended:
Yes
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
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mattgordon
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Member: Matt Gordon
Location: California
Reviews written: 85
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