If you live in a dense city area, or perhaps just need a simple mode of transportation to get around the suburbs, then a scooter like the Honda Ruckus could be a great choice. Sure, an electric car like the Nissan Leaf could work as well, but a Ruckus would be a much more efficient and economic choice, despite the fact that it doesn’t have any doors. Before you navigate from this page, just hear us out. Here are five reasons that you should buy a Honda Ruckus.

It’s a Honda

For those not in the know, the Honda Ruckus is a 49cc scooter (or moped) that, in most states, does not require a special license to drive. More important than the fact that a Ruckus is a scooter is a fact that it’s a Honda. This means that they hold their value well, just like every other Honda product, and they are known for their reliability. There are Ruckus owners anywhere between 5,000 to 20,000 miles currently on their Ruckus scooters without any major mechanical issues aside routine maintenance. Which means having to change a belt, the tires, the oil, and maybe a headlight bulb every now and then. All of which doesn’t equate to nearly as much as they would in a car.

Excellent gas mileage

Speaking of comparing car costs to Ruckus costs, the gas mileage on this scooter is insane. For reference, it can only hold about 1.3 gallons of gas and it’s rated at 114 mpg, which means that you can get close to 150 miles on a tank of gas. Depending on how often you commute on a Ruckus, and how far you commute is, you might only have to fill it up every week or two. Considering the current national average for gasoline is $2.17, that means you might only spend $8 a month on gas.

Cheap to insure

And since we’re talking about cheap monthly payments, the Honda Ruckus is cheap to insure. Some states do require that you obtain insurance for a scooter, so be sure to check if you plan on buy one. However, if you do need insurance, you’ll be happy to find out that liability insurance for a Ruckus is typically around $8 a month or so. Keep in mind that the average cost of insurance for a car is around $100 to $200 a month.

They are cheap to buy

The current MSRP for a 2020 Honda Ruckus is $2,749 before the destination charge of $150. Sure, that might seem like a lot for a scooter that can only go to a top speed of around 40 mph, however, it’s a small price to pay compared to an old used car. And while you might be able to find a cheap used car for around the same price, keep in mind that you’ll likely need to do repairs to the car, which will drive up your initial cost. Also, the insurance and gas for the car will cost more as well. If the price of the Ruckus still doesn’t sit right with you, then consider buying a used for a little less.

They are fun to modify

Aside from the basic bolt-on parts like aftermarket exhausts, intakes, and seat kits, you can also swap a different engine into a Honda Ruckus, which is called the “GY6.”  For reference, the stock engine is 49cc is rated at around 5 horsepower but the GY6 engine is 149cc and puts out twice as much, effectively altering the top speed to about 55 to 60 mph. Additionally, Ruckus owners like to stretch out the frames and put on fatter rear tires for more stability and better traction.

Consider the Honda Ruckus as an efficient form of transportation

While the thought of buying a scooter like the Honda Ruckus might still seem ridiculous, just keep in mind that you could use it for light errand duty around town. Of course, if your daily commute to work necessitates freeway driving, then a car would be a better option. However, if you only need to go a short distance using mostly residential streets, then a Honda Ruckus is a much easier and cheaper form of transportation.