Every year, across in the United States, J.D. Power reveals the vehicles that retain the highest percentage of their original price over three years.

Every year, they also fail to notice the wheels that would inevitably come out on top if they were included in the running.

The iconic Vespa scooter looks much like it did 73 years ago, when it hit the streets for the first time in 1946.

It’s also, by far, one of the most stylish and economical ways to get from point A to point B – a style that, like the scooter itself, has stood the test of time.

It’s this timeless style, coupled with a flawless design, that has ensured the Vespa a resale value of a staggering 72%.

Here’s the New York Times with more on that, in an article from December of last year, titled “A 72-Year-Old Italian Star Barely Showing Its Age”:

With the exception of collectible vehicles, Vespa scooters hold their value better than anything else on the road, including other scooter and motorcycle brands.

Two Vespa models outpaced the rest of the line: the Sprint 150 and the GTS 300, which retain an average of 79 percent of their original value after three years. They beat the best cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, including the overall winner, the Dodge Heavy Duty Ram 3500 (75 percent); the best compact premium sporty car leaders, the Porsche Cayman and Boxster (58.9 percent); and even the celebrated 911 (58.7 percent).

They beat the large premium S.U.V. winner, the Cadillac Escalade (56 percent). They crushed the leading small car, the Ford Fiesta (43.2 percent).

Although other brands have tried to compete with Vespa, they’ve failed to capture the loyal following associated with the OG scooter.

Vespa has stuck close to the aesthetic of its original 1946 debut, adding to its mystique. It also kept metal bodywork where competitors have used plastic.

“It has the highest level of fit and finish of anything we sell,” Ms. Lahmers said. “They are beautiful. Everything about them is beautiful.”

The Vespa construction is distinct among modern scooters. It has a monocoque frame, which means the bodywork is the frame, not separate body panels attached to the frame as with other scooters. That makes it lighter and more rigid.

This means that the ride is smoother and the body more sturdy. If you happen to drop a Vespa, it’s also far less likely to be seriously damaged than its cheaper contemporaries.

The high resale value means that buying a Vespa not only saves you money on petrol and travel costs, but is also an investment. The quality of the Vespa means that even if you can’t afford to buy a new Vespa, you’re safe in the knowledge that a second-hand Vespa is still going to deliver the goods.

Keen to hop on board? Visit the Vespa website to invest in an iconic scooter. You can also ask Seth to set you up with a sweet deal by emailing editor@2oceansvibe.com – it’s what he does.

Alternately, click here to adopt a previously loved Vespa and make it your own.

[source:newyorktimes]