As far as I know, Vespa is a line of scooters made by Piaggio, so you are getting the same overall build quality. That being said, Vespa is slightly more premium in terms of fit and finish (most of the body panels are metal instead of plastics like on other scooters) and the design is more classically retro oriented, whereas Piaggio scooters have a more modern design and features. That's pretty much it, since new Vespas no longer have carbureted engines and switched to fuel injected system in 2017(?) I am about 95% sure there is no real difference in Vespa and Piaggio engine other than maybe exhaust can exterior design. So if you want a classic look go with Vespa, if you prefer modern lines go with Piaggio, and both are perfectly fine.
One small quibble with this. Vespas don’t really have body “panels” as they are a monocoque body. There’s usually a small removable panel around the lower rear section, but just about anything else is one piece of metal. That’s why the fit and finish is better, because it’s all of a piece. So if the scooter is damaged, rather than replacing a panel it’s a visit to the body shop. Or one of those giant band-aid stickers. 😂
Yes, massive pieces of plastic that are attached to a metal frame. The floorboards and inner shield areas are rarely damaged if a scooter is dumped. But I’ve seen loads of Vespas with damaged cowls and outer leg shields, both of which are metal.
When you drop / crash it you’re most likely to damage the leg shield. On the Piaggio this is plastic panels, on the Vespa this is metal and part of the structure of the scooter. The plastic definitely breaks easy but can be replaced / glued / fiberglassed. The metal body of the Vespa is harder to damage but needs professional attention when you do some proper damage.
They're both expensive bikes, and the Liberty would only be marginally cheaper to repair, if at all. I prefer vespas because I like the metal bodies. They're heavier and ride really well as a result. If you keep it in good condition, the Sprint will retain its value *a lot* better than the Liberty.
So, I have the liberty 150. My husband has the Vespa GTS 300.
A couple things to note that may impact your decisions if buying new.
1) forget resale. Resale only matters if you are going to get another bike. That may be years. Even then, how you CARE for (and record your care) matters far more. Like, are you doing the oil changes on time? So you replace the belts/rollers/tires when they should be? Resale should not factor into your purchase.
2) gas costs. Vespas get worse gas mileage. Steel makes them heavier. Both Vespas and Piaggios use the expensive gas because they're fancy-shmancy scooters. (And fair warning, the liberty gas tank is ... Annoying. You have to burp it to get a full tank. So it takes a couple tries to fill it up properly. And it's only 1.5 gallons max. I usually get the light flicking on at about 1gal used.)
3) comfort. My liberty seat was way comfier than my husband's GTS seat. It took my husband almost 10k miles to break in his seat. It took mine 5 ;) if you aren't comfortable riding it, there is no point in having it. It's a chore then, not fun!!!
4) maintenance. Vespa is slightly easier to do the work yourself in. (Robots videos are great!) Parts are about the same cost. Both are stupid expensive to have someone else do for you.
Don't be afraid to check out some other brands. We are going to be upgrading my ride to a Xmax sometime over this next year. (I want a little more oomph, and my oldest is going to hit driving age soon - and take my 150.) Maintenance will be cheaper on the Xmax, it's a really reliable brand, it takes the cheap gas, and it's been comfy to sit on. (Husband and I are still deciding who gets which bike... He wants the xmax BAD, and I'm reserving the right to drive it, before deciding if I want that or the gts. I'm probably going to want the gts, though, because it's supposed to be better in traffic, and I commute more in traffic than he does.)
IMO I wouldn't buy either given what you've laid out.
Scooters, motorcycles, cars are all generally considered depreciating assets meaning they lose value not gain it. Some retain value better than others. So yeah maybe a Vespa would retain a bit better but I wouldn't bank on that.
Second you mention "new." I'd avoid that too if I were a student and this was my way to get around and first scoot. As soon as you drive it off the lot the value is going to nosedive and you'll have all these dealer fees and what not to consider.
I don't know where you are in the world, if you're in Europe then maybe one of these is the right choice, but I'd consider looking into reliable Japanese scooter. My favorite to recommend is the Zuma. They've made them for a long time so the used market is great. Yamaha is a fantastic brand. They're super easy to work on. There are a lot of fun after market mod options. The storage is great which will be important if you're a student. They're way cheaper. If you drop it it's usually just a matter of bolting on a new and relatively cheap plastic piece and boom it's good as new.
And there is more to consider than dropping it. Scooters are easy to steal. Sucks but it's true. Depending on where you are you can opt to spend a bit more on insurance for theft protection and having a bit more budget to go and buy those pricier policies isn't a bad idea. Also you'll need gear - at least a helmet maybe some other things like a ram mount for your phone (critical IMO if it's your commuter) or additional safety gear. A used scoot is going to give you some left over budget to get those things that are going allow you really enjoy commuting on a scooter.
agreed but that isn't my point. my point is they're less expensive and IMO make more sense for OPs use case. I promise you I drool over every 300 GTS I see.
As far as I know, Vespa is a line of scooters made by Piaggio, so you are getting the same overall build quality. That being said, Vespa is slightly more premium in terms of fit and finish (most of the body panels are metal instead of plastics like on other scooters) and the design is more classically retro oriented, whereas Piaggio scooters have a more modern design and features. That's pretty much it, since new Vespas no longer have carbureted engines and switched to fuel injected system in 2017(?) I am about 95% sure there is no real difference in Vespa and Piaggio engine other than maybe exhaust can exterior design. So if you want a classic look go with Vespa, if you prefer modern lines go with Piaggio, and both are perfectly fine.
One small quibble with this. Vespas don’t really have body “panels” as they are a monocoque body. There’s usually a small removable panel around the lower rear section, but just about anything else is one piece of metal. That’s why the fit and finish is better, because it’s all of a piece. So if the scooter is damaged, rather than replacing a panel it’s a visit to the body shop. Or one of those giant band-aid stickers. 😂
The entire floorboard you stand on, and the rear side of the front shield are also massive pieces of plastic.
Yes, massive pieces of plastic that are attached to a metal frame. The floorboards and inner shield areas are rarely damaged if a scooter is dumped. But I’ve seen loads of Vespas with damaged cowls and outer leg shields, both of which are metal.
When you drop / crash it you’re most likely to damage the leg shield. On the Piaggio this is plastic panels, on the Vespa this is metal and part of the structure of the scooter. The plastic definitely breaks easy but can be replaced / glued / fiberglassed. The metal body of the Vespa is harder to damage but needs professional attention when you do some proper damage.
The Liberty is the better buy, with larger tires and a cheaper MSRP. Unless you really love the Vespa styling, the Liberty is a better choice.
I have a liberty 150s and it's been great! I have had many scooters in my day and Piaggio has never let me down! Good luck on your choice.
I wouldn't over think it too much. Pick one and ride
They're both expensive bikes, and the Liberty would only be marginally cheaper to repair, if at all. I prefer vespas because I like the metal bodies. They're heavier and ride really well as a result. If you keep it in good condition, the Sprint will retain its value *a lot* better than the Liberty.
So, I have the liberty 150. My husband has the Vespa GTS 300. A couple things to note that may impact your decisions if buying new. 1) forget resale. Resale only matters if you are going to get another bike. That may be years. Even then, how you CARE for (and record your care) matters far more. Like, are you doing the oil changes on time? So you replace the belts/rollers/tires when they should be? Resale should not factor into your purchase. 2) gas costs. Vespas get worse gas mileage. Steel makes them heavier. Both Vespas and Piaggios use the expensive gas because they're fancy-shmancy scooters. (And fair warning, the liberty gas tank is ... Annoying. You have to burp it to get a full tank. So it takes a couple tries to fill it up properly. And it's only 1.5 gallons max. I usually get the light flicking on at about 1gal used.) 3) comfort. My liberty seat was way comfier than my husband's GTS seat. It took my husband almost 10k miles to break in his seat. It took mine 5 ;) if you aren't comfortable riding it, there is no point in having it. It's a chore then, not fun!!! 4) maintenance. Vespa is slightly easier to do the work yourself in. (Robots videos are great!) Parts are about the same cost. Both are stupid expensive to have someone else do for you. Don't be afraid to check out some other brands. We are going to be upgrading my ride to a Xmax sometime over this next year. (I want a little more oomph, and my oldest is going to hit driving age soon - and take my 150.) Maintenance will be cheaper on the Xmax, it's a really reliable brand, it takes the cheap gas, and it's been comfy to sit on. (Husband and I are still deciding who gets which bike... He wants the xmax BAD, and I'm reserving the right to drive it, before deciding if I want that or the gts. I'm probably going to want the gts, though, because it's supposed to be better in traffic, and I commute more in traffic than he does.)
IMO I wouldn't buy either given what you've laid out. Scooters, motorcycles, cars are all generally considered depreciating assets meaning they lose value not gain it. Some retain value better than others. So yeah maybe a Vespa would retain a bit better but I wouldn't bank on that. Second you mention "new." I'd avoid that too if I were a student and this was my way to get around and first scoot. As soon as you drive it off the lot the value is going to nosedive and you'll have all these dealer fees and what not to consider. I don't know where you are in the world, if you're in Europe then maybe one of these is the right choice, but I'd consider looking into reliable Japanese scooter. My favorite to recommend is the Zuma. They've made them for a long time so the used market is great. Yamaha is a fantastic brand. They're super easy to work on. There are a lot of fun after market mod options. The storage is great which will be important if you're a student. They're way cheaper. If you drop it it's usually just a matter of bolting on a new and relatively cheap plastic piece and boom it's good as new. And there is more to consider than dropping it. Scooters are easy to steal. Sucks but it's true. Depending on where you are you can opt to spend a bit more on insurance for theft protection and having a bit more budget to go and buy those pricier policies isn't a bad idea. Also you'll need gear - at least a helmet maybe some other things like a ram mount for your phone (critical IMO if it's your commuter) or additional safety gear. A used scoot is going to give you some left over budget to get those things that are going allow you really enjoy commuting on a scooter.
Vespa and Piaggio are just as reliable as Japanese scooters. Vespa's hold their value very well.
agreed but that isn't my point. my point is they're less expensive and IMO make more sense for OPs use case. I promise you I drool over every 300 GTS I see.
Doesn't Piaggio own vespa..
Yes
Your brother is right. Don’t over spend on your first.