As I thought about buying a scooter, my biggest concerns were gas mileage, reliability and something that would not require a motorcycle endorsement on my driver's license. So, I started looking at a wide variety of 49cc scooters.
Initially, what attracted me to the C3 was its unique appearance and large storage compartment (it kind of resembles the old Cushman). Performance wasn't really an issue with me because I figured, hey, it's a 49cc engine; you can't expect too much. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. With its liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, four-stroke engine, the C3 will peg the 40 MPH limit on the speedometer. Also, being a four-stroke, the engine is surprisingly quiet.
Overall, the C3 is a great choice if you plan to use it in an area where the speed limit does not exceed 40 mph. I use mine for quick trips to the store, going to the gym (my gym bag fits conveniently in the storage compartment), etc. It's also fun to just get out and cruise around. If you expect more out of the C3, you should consider stepping up to a 125cc Vino or even a motorcycle.
The bottom line is I got more than I expected from the C3. I got looks, great gas mileage and a mechanically sound machine. Oh yeah, did I mention I was able to squeeze 118 miles out of one tank (1.2 gallons) of gas? Enough said.
