Want to ditch that gas-guzzling SUV and pick up an economical motor scooter? You're going to return home with a scooter that will do nothing more than collect dust in your driveway unless you follow a few simple guidelines.

Power

Motor scooters might come in a wide variety of body shapes and sizes, from small-engined "knock abouts" to large motorcycle replacements. Consider your needs and where you'll be using the scooter. If it's just for corner jaunts, there are any number of small, cheap scooters that would fit the bill. Perhaps a 125 or 150 would be the largest to consider.

Fit

Many scooter shoppers choose a look, rather than purchasing a fit. This is the surest way to ensure a wasted investment. Fit becomes increasingly important as mileage increases and is one of the main determinants of safety, so don't brush it aside!

Make sure that your hands are in a good, comfortable position when riding, and that the turn signals, brakes, and clutch are comfortably withing reach. Finally, check the seat. While soft seats seem to be more comfortable at first, they generally result in soreness faster than firmer seats.

Style

Check out various models online before you head into a dealership where sales pressure can result in you walking out with something you would not have purchased without pressure. There are plenty of new, sleek models, but you'll also find a wide variety of retro models for sale.

Price

Similar to cars, motor scooters lose their value immediately upon leaving the lot. What makes this situation worse is that scooters generally don't receive the same amount of annual mileage as cars or even motorcycles, so the immediate depreciation is a harder hit. In a year, you could see a 25 percent or more decline in resale value for a scooter that has barely been used.

For this reason, be sure to look at more than just local dealerships. There are several good resellers online who will provide you with a good selection at good prices. And you can find these motors scooters without putting up with pushy salesmen!

So remember, before you got to your local dealership and pick up that flashy new model, be sure that you're clear on how you intend to use your new ride, and then consider the power, style, fit, and cost.

Jared has been a motorcyle and scooter lover ever since his first Suzuki at age 16. He blogs about offroad scooters and bike scooters at his weblog.

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