They were all the rage in the 1950s when Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck rode one in 'Roman Holiday', and they're still popular.
Scooters remain the choice of the economically and environmentally conscious, even though sales have slowed down.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries motorcycle manager Ray Newland said scooter sales were down 3.4 per cent in the first quarter compared with last year's record numbers while Queensland was down 1.3 per cent.
He said the FCAI's new method of reporting sales could explain the drop and that there may have been little or no real decline.
Industry sources said sales also may have been affected by an increase in second-hand scooters on the market.
Major Brisbane scooter retailer Joe D'Ercole said scooter sales had soared for several years as petrol prices, environmental issues, traffic congestion and parking costs escalated.
They would continue to sell strongly as those conditions remained and were joined by the mortgage crisis and a general tightening of the money belt, he said.
Mr D'Ercole said his sales were up about 10 per cent over the 2007 first quarter.
“I had a guy in here recently who got rid of his second car because his parking rates in the city went from $400 to $700,” he said.
“It is now costing him $40 for parking. He said that was $600 towards his mortgage.”
Mr D'Ercole said high-rise apartments were replacing general carparks in the city.
“It's going to make it harder to get a park in the city, which will mean scooter sales will continue to increase.”
Importers remain positive with a host of new models about to hit the market. Honda has just released a 150cc SH150i with 35 litres of luggage for $200 less than their 125cc model.
Vespa has released a 1970s styled 125cc scooter with a 50cc variant to follow next month and its largest model yet with a 300cc engine.
A host of 50cc four-stroke scooters, costing as little as $1690, are also about to arrive
Piaggio has 15.1 per cent market share, Vespa 13 per cent), Yamaha 12 per cent and Honda 7.7 per cent.
Cheap tyres 
Credit crunch 
Ford Fiesta 
Hyundai ix35
