Essential Buyer’s Guide Piaggio Scooters
Piaggio is one of the most popular brands on the market on both sides of the Atlantic. With that broad appeal, having information on how to be an informed consumer when buying a used Piaggio scooter is money in the bank for a potential buyer.
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Author Henry Willis has created a resource for those potential buyers as part of the sweeping “Essential Buyer’s Guide” series from Veloce Publishing. Willis’s Essential Buyer’s Guide Piaggio Scooters is a compact trove of information on the Piaggio scooter lineup of all modern two-stroke and four-stroke automatic transmission models from 1991 to 2016.
True to the formula of the The Essential Buyer’s Guide series, the book is 64 pages in length and pocket-sized at 5.5” x 7.75” to make it easy to take along when going out to look at a used machine. The beauty of each of the Guides in the series is that they reveal common weaknesses or problem areas certain models are known to have; Willis’s book is no exception. It is written with clarity and includes dozens of clear color images and includes key specifications on engine sizes by model and years produced (Chapter 16).
In the first three chapters, Willis discusses the pros and cons of the Piaggio scooter, alternatives, what it’s like to own and live with a Piaggio and how to choose the right model including the Maxi and Vespa range. Vespa is a Piaggio subsidiary.
Chapters four through ten cover purchase cost factors, parts costs, how to shop for the best scooter, operating costs such as insurance, road taxes, service costs, and accessories, how to evaluate the machine overall and how to perform detailed inspection and test drive before the buy. Chapter 10 is particularly useful in that it provides illustrated information on what the potential problem areas are and how to check them out.
Chapter 11 provides a detailed checklist for use in the detailed pre-purchase inspection and test ride, covering not just what to look for but how to look for it and how specific items may affect function. Chapter 12 covers the all-important documentation—service records, engine/chassis numbers, accident history and so on. Chapter 13 discusses potential costs and spare parts availability for restoration or repair of defects and helpful info on how to size up a potential DIY project and your own ability to carry it off. Chapter 14 covers factors in setting a purchase price and 15 provides a resource list—the Community— for potential buyers/owner to find support and information.
While Willis focused on the Piaggio scooter line, his advice and technical information is broad enough to benefit the potential buyer of a used scooter regardless of the brand.
Book Data
- Title: The Essential Buyer’s Guide Piaggio Scooters
- Author: Henry Willis
- Published: 2016 Paperback. 64 pages. Measures 5.5” x 7.75.”
- Publisher: Veloce Publishing, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3AR, England
- ISBN: 978-1-845849-92-4 MSRP: U.S. $25.00 U.K. £12.99 CAN $32.99
For a look at the other Veloce Essential Buyer’s Guides we’ve reviewed, see:
