I've spent many hours web shopping, phoning, visiting, emailing, & that goofy computer live-chat thing the past few weeks.
Conclusion: It does pay off to use all the above. I always enlist at least two local dealers, as well, bidding for my $. This time I used 4 local dealers. It is frustrating - but can be entertaining
My search radius was 400 miles.
I could not find a Forza ABS in my "willing to" price range - used or new.
New prices ranged from :
good, $4500 OTD , but 350 miles awayto the
very crazy - 3 miles away and just under $7,000 OTD!! A chuckle: "Tom, the Forza is a great scooter! Good choice! Did you have a color in mind?" (Ma'am - they're red.
All of them.)
Good fun - the call back from another saleslady, "Talked with the boss...Good news! We can match that price!" She probably went out back for a smoke, stopped for a wee, sent some texts, Scratched, yawned and picked up the phone. Except.....she'd matched the "S" version price, but was selling the plain Jane version - which lists for $100 less.
Better fun: Local Honda dealer who waited 2 days to get back to me, with that @$7000 OTD offer. (
not one red cent discounted off list for a 2 yr old, discontinued, Forza) I had to tell him I couldn't talk just then, because I was 30 miles away, talking with a Vespa salesman.
Spooky: "Hey Bubba!....has that thing got ABS? The red one!....No, the
RED moped!
Has it GOT ABS?"......(very long pause....) "Uh, sir, we don't know. Probably. We got it at an auction." (I then asked them to turn on the key and look for an amber ABS dash light. No light. No ABS. Saved me a 350 mile bus ride and a chat with Bubba.)
Best fun: Returning to my local Vespa dealer, as he opened the crate on a red 2018 Piaggio Liberty 150 "S".
My new red scooter. They have to prep it , and I probably won't get over to pick it up until next w/e.
That's OK, the hard part is over.
What an adventure.
Stig
