Is the Stella the Mini Cooper of Scooters? Buddy the Mazda3?

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:18 pm

With the recent appearance of photos of Stella's with their owner's Mini Coopers (mine included) on MB, I got to thinking about how the Stella compares, and other 2 wheel rides compare, to cars.

Stella = Mini Cooper
(vintage styling, not made by who originally made it, fun)

Buddy & other modern style scooters = Honda Fit, Mazda 3, etc
(modern styling, compact size, good MPG, fun)

Harley Davidson = muscle cars (old & new) Mustangs, GTOs, Camaros, Challengers, etc
(big, loud, faster in a straight line than in a curve, not great MPG)

Sport Bikes = Subaru BRZ, Nissan 370Z, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Porsche Cayman
(fast, modern styling, sharp handeling)

Dirt Bikes = Jeeps -Wranglers & CJs
(go anywhere off road)

Honda Goldwing = Cadillac Escalade
(should be self evident)

Any comparisons you would like to add?

Am I way off base here?

What do you think?

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:24 pm

BMW = BMW

scootnwinn · Post by **scootnwinn** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:38 pm

Harley Davidson should equal Yugo or something. The Yugo wasn't over priced enough but it was similar in quality and performance

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:06 pm

Hmm, Does that mean I'm doing it wrong with a Honda Fit and a Stella combo?

I bought the Fit because of my positive experience with Honda Scooters (Elites and now a Big Ruckus).

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:10 pm

JohnKiniston wrote:Hmm, Does that mean I'm doing it wrong with a Honda Fit and a Stella combo?

No.... I am not saying that people must buy the scooter version of their car - just that there seems to be a correlation between these.

I know a MSF instructor with a Harley & Mini Cooper (which did seem a little schizophrenic)

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:12 pm

Maybe this would work better comparing scooters to famous people...

Stella = Marilyn Monroe
(sexy, vintage, classic curves, smokes)

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:14 pm

I think I'd pair Stellas up with Vintage Volkswagon owners, I know a number of people that have both in common.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:18 pm

ScootLemont wrote:Maybe this would work better comparing scooters to famous people...

Stella = Marilyn Monroe
(sexy, vintage, classic curves, smokes)

Using that criteria:

Chinese scoots = Lindsay Lohan
(Nothing but constant problems)

Rob

Stilts · Post by **Stilts** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:20 pm

JohnKiniston wrote:I think I'd pair Stellas up with Vintage Volkswagon owners, I know a number of people that have both in common.

I'd put the 2T Stellas with the old VW folks and the 4T Stellas with the Mini Cooper people.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:33 pm

Vespa P = Volvo 240

I laughed out loud at the Buddy/Fit correlation. For once in my life I'm not an outlier

JohnKiniston · Post by **JohnKiniston** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:43 pm

siobhan wrote:Vespa P = Volvo 240

Hmm, well they do both have the 'My wiring turned green inside and crumbled apart' problem

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:05 pm

siobhan wrote:Vespa P = Volvo 240

I laughed out loud at the Buddy/Fit correlation. For once in my life I'm not an outlier

I like to think of the P and PX series as the cinquecento of scoots.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:12 pm

Wait a sec - I have a Buddy Italia, a MINI (non-supercharged) and a '73 VW Thing. I'm not sure where I fit in this model

(I TOLD my wife I wanted the Stella....)

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:25 pm

Honda CH80 Elite = Toyota Starlet

Unassuming to look at and a bit short on power, but a heck of a lot of fun when you drive like you stole it.

Yamaha Riva 180 = Lincoln Town Car

Feature laden, floats over the bumps with ease, turns like the Queen Mary.

Kymco Yager GT200i = Honda Accord

Does what it does well, with little joie de vivre. Expect no suprises.

Allstate Compact = Borgward Isabella

Huh? Few have heard of either. Small, odd and devilishly hard to get parts for.

az_slynch · Post by **az_slynch** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:31 pm

Lokky wrote:
siobhan wrote:Vespa P = Volvo 240

I laughed out loud at the Buddy/Fit correlation. For once in my life I'm not an outlier
I like to think of the P and PX series as the cinquecento of scoots.

I'd contend that the V50/90/100/125 and PK models are more in line with the 500s. ET3/PK125ETS are the Abarth analogues.

Hmm, maybe the 50/90 have more in common with the Topolino?

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:49 pm

I guess I fit no mold.....the Stella lives between a Miata and a T-Bird Super Coupe.

Rob

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:52 pm

Buddy 170i=Miata, both are sporty!
TGB Delivery 150=Ford pickem up truck, or any other good al boys rig.

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:04 pm

Robbie wrote:I guess I fit no mold.....the Stella lives between a Miata and a T-Bird Super Coupe.

Rob

I would put the Miata in the same group - it's not as retro as when it originally came out back in 1989 (?) but it still has that feel

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:12 pm

We had a 1990 Miata, best sports car we ever had. The wife traded it for
an Audi Quatro Convertable sports car. We still have it. I wont drive it!!
I call it the $1000.00 car cause every time you take it in to be serviced
it will cost you a grand when you get it back. I loved that Miata, hit 120 a time or two with it, put 186,000 miles on it with no problems, replaced the
soft top one time, it also had a hard top. It was a SPORTS CAR. I wont tell you what the Audi is.

laxer · Post by **laxer** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:24 pm

Rattler = Toyota 4Runner and 25-year-old Chevy heavy half-ton.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:39 pm

Where would I put my old HD200 or the BV350? What's fast, reliable and ugly?

jprestonian · Post by **jprestonian** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:48 pm

See, I'd call my Honda PCX the Civic of scooters. Looks fine, nothing too exciting, dependable, gets the job done. But I have no car, Civic or otherwise.
.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:55 am

Modern Vespa=Mini: Both ride the coat tails of well engineered, affordable cars but are now overpriced baubles of the upper middle class and really have no grip on the reality of the automotive market that made their nameplates so famous to begin with.

If I had to see the Buddy as a car, it would definitely be a Hyundai: Well priced, packed with features and stands out in a crowd of "vintage inspired" scooters while managing to outdo the competition for what it is.

Stella? VW (original) Beetle or a Ford Crown Victoria: Aging platform but still has the character that made it a bulletproof winner among it's fans. May not be the fastest, easiest or prettiest but there's a reason they've stuck around. They work!

Kymco: Honda. I won't bother going into models, because like Honda they stick with a formula and their selling point isn't their looks, but their engines and service reputation. You don't buy a Kymco to impress anyone. You buy a Kymco so you simply don't have to worry

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:23 am

neotrotsky wrote:Modern Vespa=Mini: Both ride the coat tails of well engineered, affordable cars but are now overpriced baubles of the upper middle class

Dude... Brand new 2013 coopers can be had for just under $20k
I don't know how you define upper middle class but $20k is a hell of a bargain for a car that offers what the mini does IMO

Average price of a new car in the US is a little over $30k

jprestonian · Post by **jprestonian** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:58 am

neotrotsky wrote:You don't buy a Kymco to impress anyone. You buy a Kymco so you simply don't have to worry

I wish that had worked out for me. ;) That's why I now HAVE a Honda!
.

jrstone · Post by **jrstone** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:59 am

I own an Aprilia Sportcity One 125 and a Mitsubishi Lancer GTS... both have an aggressive look but are actually kinda slow. And they both have CVTs!

Throwback7R · Post by **Throwback7R** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 3:09 am

I have a Hyundai Santa FE and a buddy 150 also a sport bike

They all do different things.. some better than others.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:23 am

ScootLemont wrote:
neotrotsky wrote:Modern Vespa=Mini: Both ride the coat tails of well engineered, affordable cars but are now overpriced baubles of the upper middle class
Dude... Brand new 2013 coopers can be had for just under $20k
I don't know how you define upper middle class but $20k is a hell of a bargain for a car that offers what the mini does IMO

Average price of a new car in the US is a little over $30k

And it's great to know that to you $20k is pocket change.

It's a compact car that was SUPPOSED to be an economy car. The Smart fits the role that the Mini once held and MSRP starts around $12,900. The Nissan Versa is around $11,900. These are the economy cars that the Beetle and the Mini once were. And, after "taxes and fees", expect that "Just under $20k" to shoot to 26-30k quickly. It is a BMW product after all.

And yes, 20-30k *is* a lot of money to many Americans. And, that's a lot of money to throw at a two door hatchback that built it's reputation at being cheap, fun and versatile.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:27 am

jprestonian wrote:
neotrotsky wrote:You don't buy a Kymco to impress anyone. You buy a Kymco so you simply don't have to worry
I wish that had worked out for me. That's why I now HAVE a Honda!
.

I dunno... the Agility has 12k kilometers on it right now and it's still plugging away like it was brand new. I've been dutifully impressed by it's durability, value and ease of use. Considering that Kymco is taking the same route Honda did in the 60's and 70's by pricing aggressive and offering a ton for the money, they earned that title since they learned by studying Honda. It was just a shock to me that a Honda Ruckus 50 BEFORE fees cost more than my Agility 125 did AFTER fees. Yeah, the Ruck is cool, but not at that price and that engine size

Boadie · Post by **Boadie** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:58 am

This is just my opinion, we all have different opinions as far as scooters. To me the Vespa scooters, the old ones of course have a name that's been around for years, and are heavier built with metal parts, a good reputation and are fairly high priced like a Cadillac. The older 1980s Honda Elite 150s remind me of the Pontiac Fiero, with their headlights that flip out and that 80s similar style. The Buddy from the speed, turning ability and it's light weight, remind me of a classic Corvette. All are well made scooters, in my mind, I just look at the Vespa similar to a Cadillac for scooters, and the Buddy like the Corvette. Both serve their purposes, I currently have a Buddy 170i that I love riding!

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:05 am

lol cages

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:59 am

ScootLemont wrote:
Buddy & other modern style scooters = Honda Fit, Mazda 3, etc
(modern styling, compact size, good MPG, fun)

As someone with a Buddy *and* a Mazda 3, I approve of this message...

ScootLemont · Post by **ScootLemont** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:42 pm

laxer wrote:Rattler = Toyota 4Runner

Yeah - that feels exactly right (I say as a former Rattler owner)

MrChet · Post by **MrChet** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:28 pm

Funny thread. I've owned many of the cars mentioned concurrent with Genuine scooter ownership:

Mazda 3 (Buddy 125)
NA Miata (Buddy 125)
Audi TT (Buddy 125)
Toyota Landcruiser 80-Series (Buddy 125 & Stella 2T)
Mini Cooper S (Buddy 125 & Stella 2T)

Modern Buddy

Is the Stella the Mini Cooper of Scooters? Buddy the Mazda3?

Is the Stella the Mini Cooper of Scooters? Buddy the Mazda3?

Re: Is the Stella the Mini Cooper of Scooters? Buddy the Maz