Should You Buy a Scooter?

According to Walletpop.com, sales of Vespas are up 24 percent from where they were last year. Dealerships complain that they can't keep them in stock because everybody wants to trade their gas guzzler in for this sleek form of transportation.

But are scooters really a viable mode of transportation? In Europe they certainly are and a large percentage of the population can be seen zipping around town in them. Women can often be seen with three-inch heels and the latest fashions driving their stylish mopeds. But in the U.S. are scooters realistic?

Well it depends on where you live.

How's the weather? If it gets tremendously cold for long periods of time, a scooter might just end up as one more piece of clutter in your garage. If it rains relatively often, scooters could also be a less safe and appealing option.

How long is your commute? It just depends on how far you're comfortable riding a scooter. A scooter with a big engine tends to go between 50 and 70 mph. Find out the individual laws in your state by going to the All American Scooter Web site.

How's parking? Generally, if you live in a big city, scooters are great because you can zip around the congestion and they're easy to park.

How green are they really? Scooters can often get as much as 75 to 80 mpg and they cost about $8.00 to fill up. That's quite a deal if you ask me.