I found my new "car"; perfect for Houston weather...

[p6x]

All of you are familiar with "Vespa", right?

But in the South of Italy, there was another very common mode of transportation and commercial use. The "Ape". When I was based in Sicily, those would be everywhere, including at local markets, selling local produce.

While browsing market place for Moto Guzzi, I got a hit for a very nice Ape. By the way, if you know what Vespa means in Italian, then you will easily get Ape.

This one is in Dallas. This is a winner!!!

[PJPR01]

That's a must buy!  Perfect for transporting kids to school!

[po18guy]

6 hours ago, PJPR01 said:

That's a must buy!  Perfect for transporting kids to school!

"Behave or you go in the Ape!!!"

Add doors and you almost have a Fiat 500.

[p6x]

Unfortunately, max speed is 30 mph... 35 mph with a good wind push!

 

[p6x]

2 hours ago, po18guy said:

Fiat 500.

I have looked for one for a little while now. Those that are in the USA are expensive compared to what you can find in Europe. However, because of that evergoing supply chain crisis, the Houtis, seafreight is expensive, even in groupage.

[LowRyter]

Tuk Tuk

[gstallons]

28 minutes ago, LowRyter said:

Tuk Tuk

How do you pronounce that ?

[p6x]

17 minutes ago, gstallons said:

How do you pronounce that ?

The "U" is pronounced à la Française. Not like the double OO used in the USA.

Like "tuck" or "duck"

Edited Wednesday at 11:29 PM by p6x

[PJPR01]

Tuk Tuk's are now very popular in Mexico too....of course also in India (Auto Rickshaw is what they call it...at least in Bangalore).

 

I think it would be cool to have one...far cooler than a regular golf cart to go around the neighborhood or get a coffee or to the local ice cream parlor.

 

P6X...are you going to buy the one in Dallas?

[p6x]

10 hours ago, PJPR01 said:

P6X...are you going to buy the one in Dallas?

The length is 106 inches, which would allow me to park three motorcycles in my garage, perpendicular  behind the Ape. However, 35 mph maximum speed means being virtually unable to use highways which is kind of a show stopper for me. If I was living in the rural area, it would be fine. But just here in front of my neighborhood, where speed limit is 30 mph enforced by police, people still run at 50 mph or more. I feel it would be unsafe, unfortunately.

[docc]

Living in a rural area, I find the minimum necessary speed to get the ten miles to the closest town is 62 mph/ 100 kph with 70 mph capability. I confirmed this, in no uncertain terms, riding my wife's 250cc Vespa that Piaggio claimed a top speed of 70mph. Running flat-out on the highway, traffic would stack up behind me, follow too close, and make maniacal passes. Checking the speed with my GPS, I found top speed closer to 60mph.

What Piaggio meant, of course, was that the speedometer was set to indicate 70 mph as the top speed. . . 

[PJPR01]

2 minutes ago, docc said:

Living in a rural area, I find the minimum necessary speed to get the ten miles to the closest town is 62 mph/ 100 kph with 70 mph capability. I confirmed this, in no uncertain terms, riding my wife's 250cc Vespa that Piaggio claimed a top speed of 70mph. Running flat-out on the highway, traffic would stack up behind me, follow too close, and make maniacal passes. Checking the speed with my GPS, I found top speed closer to 60mph.

What Piaggio meant, of course, was that the speedometer was set to indicate 70 mph as the top speed. . . 

Even for Italian standards, that % deviation from marked vs. actual is off by more than the standard Guzzi!

[PJPR01]

2 hours ago, p6x said:

The length is 106 inches, which would allow me to park three motorcycles in my garage, perpendicular  behind the Ape. However, 35 mph maximum speed means being virtually unable to use highways which is kind of a show stopper for me. If I was living in the rural area, it would be fine. But just here in front of my neighborhood, where speed limit is 30 mph enforced by police, people still run at 50 mph or more. I feel it would be unsafe, unfortunately.

Maybe if you drove slowly on Westview only...or down to Starbucks it would be OK.  Unfortunately any of the feeder roads would be massively unsafe for sure...but it could be fun for Cars & Coffee at Uptown Park!

[docc]

10 minutes ago, PJPR01 said:

Even for Italian standards, that % deviation from marked vs. actual is off by more than the standard Guzzi!

It's been some years (and years!), but it seems like it was off 7-8 mph at in the upper range. So much that, at my 62 (indicated) in road posted at 55mph speed limit, I was traveling more like 55. While this is the posted speed limit, drivers are absolutely intolerant of this and treat it as an affront.

Especially from some dork in the middle of the lane on a silly, minty green, scooter . . .

[motortouring]

21 hours ago, p6x said:

Unfortunately, max speed is 30 mph... 35 mph with a good wind push!

 

But there is a lot to improve that.

Valpolini is your friend.