I am very close w/ a person who works as a scooter mechanic. Coming from someone who works on scoots all day, the advice was: NEVER buy a Chinese scooter, they are bottom of the barrel crap that tears up within 2k miles. Don't waste your money. Any savings you got up front you'll pay back out in repair and parts. If you must buy a scooter over a motorcycle, buy Honda or Yamaha. A small motorcycle (like a Honda Rebel for example) is a better investment, can be had for same money up front (used) and less polluting emissions. Also a small motorcycle can go on highway which one of the smallest scooters cannot do.

Personally I think scooters are a good idea in theory but I'd wait a few years and buy one of the most reputable brands at that time. If you need two-wheeled motorized transport NOW I'd say buy a motorcycle. Those two-stroke engines are f'in nasty. I was in the market for a scoot a couple years ago and the two-stroke appeared to be the best deal, but spewing that much filth into the air everywhere I went was out of the question. The cyclists who share the road with you will thank you for not running two-stroke! :-)