Looking to ditch that gas-guzzling SUV and find an economical scooter? You’re going to return home with a scooter that will do little more than collect dust in your garage unless you follow some quick guidelines.

Power

Motor scooters might come in a wide variety of 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 only for recreational rides, there are any number of small, cheap scooters that would serve you just fine. Perhaps a 125 or 150 would be the largest to consider.

Fit

Many purchasers choose a style, 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 primary determinants of safety, so don’t brush it aside!

Ensure that your hands are in a good, comfortable position when riding, and that the controls, brakes, and clutch are all within easy reach. And don’t forget to check the seat. While soft seats seem to be more comfortable at first, they usually result in soreness faster than firmer seats.

Style

Check out various models online before you head into a showroom where buying pressure will often result in you leaving 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 out there.

Price

Like Cars, motor scooters lose their value immediately upon leaving the lot. Exacerbating this situation is that scooters generally don’t receive the same level of yearly mileage as Cars or even motorcycles, so the immediate depreciation is a harder hit. In a year, you could see a 30 percent or more decrease in resale value for a scooter that has barely been used.

For this reason, be sure to look at more than just local dealers. 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 scooter, and then consider the power, style, fit, and price.