[Chickenman]

I'm waiting for the last couple of days before the end of 2003 to walk into the local dealer's showroom to buy his last remaining 400 or 650. I suspect they are the ONLY two Burgers that were brought to the islands inasmuch as the mfr's data plate shows January 2003 as the assembly date. According to a "blue book" website I recently checked, the dealer cost for a 2003 Burgman 400/650 is $4746/6524 respectively (it cost me about $18 for this info). Add an "assembly cost" of $35 and you now know where the "bottom line" is. Well, almost; there's also a 3% dealer holdback. Obviously, the dealer has to make a reasonable profit if he want to keep the shop lights on, so one must have some charity in one's heart in negotiating a deal.

What occured to me is that it would be important to know when the change of model year takes place. Auto dealers start getting nervous when their inventory starts to accumulate interest payments. But the pressure really starts to mount when the new models start arriving. When does the scooter industry have its change? When do you suppose you would have the greatest advantage in making a deal?


There doesn't seem to be much interest in the Burgman here in Hawaii. Guess it's not macho enough. I have yet to see one on the road although there are over 13,000 scooters registered here.

Wishing y'all a wonderful holiday season.

 

[roy_ryall]

The '04s are reported to be delivered in Jan. Someone reported that they are due to be shipped from Japan this month. I looked for a good deal on a '03 and found that I could get a '04 for about the same price. To date I have not heard anyone report that Suzuki is offering any special incentives to the dealers to sell '03s.

 

[DavidF]

There doesn't seem to be much interest in the Burgman here in Hawaii. Guess it's not macho enough. I have yet to see one on the road although there are over 13,000 scooters registered here.

Well it's got to be more macho then those other 13,000!

 

[Chickenman]

One of the nice things about being an old fart is not having to follow the crowd. :wink: I can sing off key, mismatch sox, and even put a windshield on my 50 cc Italian designed scooter and never feel embarassed.

I suppose lots of behaviour can be miscategorized as macho-ism. My late brother was a macho kind of guy; had to ride a big motorcycle. Wouldn't be caught dead on a scooter. I notice that instead of being accused of succumbing to delayed male menopause, my old friends bluntly say I'm short of brains for getting a Burger. My perception is that this just another way I can swim against the tide; have often done it in my lifetime, and don't have a day's regret. My wife says she worries that she is evidence of my weirdness but in today's P.C. society, I hesitate to say I picked her; she had to be complicit.


Nevertheless, I like the subtle Macho connotation of travelling on two wheels that the Burger portrays. It says, I can kick your ass, but I don't have to prove it. :lol: