Practical vs Stylish

After riding one around town the last four or five months, I have definitely been converted to a "scooter girl". It's so easy to park, convenient, and with gas prices hiking further and further up on the island....it's quite economical to get me back and forth to work. We're talking....$10 a month in gas.

So this weekend I started the arduous process of finding a new one - spent a good amount of time shopping this weekend, with dreams of finding that perfect Aprilia Mojito, or a super sweet Vespa LX. You know...scoring something with some serious personality!

Unfortunately, practicality completely outweighed my ability to take home a sweet retro-looking scoots. Turns out, those ones are pretty damn expensive, and after all my newfound knowledge of what I should be doing with my money (see earlier post)....well, let's just say I placed a very modest budget on myself for the new scooter. Also...buying parts for the Vespas and Aprilias, and almost any other "cool" brand, is unbelievably expensive. And sometimes rather hard to locate on the Hawaiian islands.

I had originally thought I would find a steal of a deal buying a used scooter, but that idea was quickly shot down by every single person whose opinion I respect on the matter. Apparently these things get monkeyed with all the time, and the risk you run buying a used one is not worth the break in price.

Also, I'm really only buying the scooter as a temporary solution while I build a steady home massage business to a point where I feel comfortable buying a car. So...the car being the ultimate goal....again it doesn't make sense to invest in a super cool looking scooter whose resale value is nowhere near that of the cheaper (not-so-cool) scooters.

All that said... I have resigned myself to the purchase of a scooter with no personality.

Which is totally bumming me out, but makes the absolute most sense. I had to make a grown-up decision and practicality outweighed style.

I'm down to two possible scooters, pictured below. I figure I can do something creative to make it more fun, less like the rice rocket of mopeds, and more classy looking. If you have suggestions, lay em on me.

I'm test driving them both this week...will keep you posted!

Oh, and yes mom, Megan, and Nicole.....I'm BUYING A HELMET!!!