Scooter Vs Car On The Gold Coast, Qld

Just when you thought that you can't be bothered waiting in traffic any longer a girl on a scooter zooms by you

. Roasting in your car you start asking yourself a simple question: is it really worth getting a scooter to commute on these sunny days?

Well, one thing is for sure - Gold Coast and Brisbane is probably one of the only places in Australia where riding a scooter is very comfortable all year round.

Let's look at a few major differences between a scooter and your car. Or would you really want to have both sitting in the driveway?

I live in Surfers Paradise, a major tourist hot-spot. During summer it is packed with tourists, so the traffic jams are becoming worse every year. And even though the legality of passing between the cars is very vague, the other benefits of parking it wherever you want, paying $3 to fill the thing up from empty, or paying around $130 for the rego every 6 months, should make you think if you should be zooming around on a 50cc machine.

On the other hand, I never pay for parking. The closest shopping centre around my house is located in Broadbeach. Not only is parking impossible to find, but it is absolutely ridiculous to have to pay $2-3 for the 15 minutes of parking. (The most I've paid for parking is $17 for 45 minutes in the heart of Brisbane). Parking is still free for scooters and motorbikes.

When it comes to a cheap way to commute, a scooter is ideal. An average scooter will get about 100-120km per tank. The tank would take on average 2-3 litres of premium petrol. And even though you can use regular unleaded, the premium will give you that little bit of extra pick-up.

You will have to give up some of the luxuries that a car has though as in the air conditioning, vast space for useless junk, and maybe even a mini-shirt or two. You might get helmet hair if you are not careful, but all of these things are quite unnoticeable when you look at the pros and cons.

But don't get me wrong, a scooter is not for everyone. If your ego is something you constantly worry about, you might want to buy a v8 Holden or some other American muscle car. But if you just want to roam around, save on fuel, park just about anywhere, or just get a bit of extra sunshine on your way to the office, a scooter is a way to go.

But you never know unless you try it. Top speed on most good scooters is around 65km/hr. These bikes can go faster if you deregulate them reaching speeds of up to 75km/hr. Believe it or not, this is enough for any inner city riding. If you do want to take it on the highway you will need to get a 125cc scooter or larger. Average speed of a 125cc scooter can be between 80-100km/hr. And it won't reach that in 3.0 seconds flat, but who really cares. The storage underneath the seat is just big enough for your handbag or beach towel, and the rack on the back just big enough for a small grocery run.

So, try it and see if a scooter is for you.

by: Nick Dinic

POST COMMENT

Want A Getaway? Vegas Vacation Bundles Are Inexpensive! Get Hints On How To Nab Vacation Packages In Motorcycle delivery in safe hands Produce Low Budget Movies with Affordable Green Screen Backgrounds Tips On How To Use Cheap But Important Materials In Setting Up Garage Insulation For Hot Months Toronto Car Rental -Travel Made Easy Vacation Rentals: An Affordable, Comfortable Way To Vacation On Tampa Bay Beaches No win no fee accident claims; - Easigo Road Accident Claims offer a better solution! Ipod Car Accessories: Most Wanted Gadgets Nowadays Accident Claims- Easigo saves you time & money. We offer a better service than your insurer! Don't pay any policy excess; get free car hire, The Muscular 2010 Nissan Armada 5.6-liter V8 Engine The "Internal Audit" Versus "External Audit" In Details Looking For A Bachelor Party? Vegas Trips Are Discounted! Get Tips On How To Grab Vacation Packages HTC Wildfire on Contract: Deals at Affordable Rates