I have been onto my local Piaggio Dealer for a Manual but they are waiting for an answer from Piaggio Italy so no luck yet. Yes, very happy with it, as you say it is a premium price, but sometimes, you gets what you pays for. It goes, rides handles better than several other midsize scooters I have owned and ridden, so much so that I use it heaps more than I anticipated I would. It has no problem taking me and my wife on a 200klm ride over hills and rough roads. So much so that in the 18months I have owned it, I have done over 18,000 klms. That not bad considering I also have a X10 350 Piaggio that I have also put over 10k on in that time. It is speed limited to 110kph and that can be a pain on the expressway, but I just avoid those. Pity, because it feels like it could go quite a bit faster. I has a Sym HD200 a couple of years ago which was very similar to the Medely but no speed restriction so quite happy on the freeway. Otherwise, both scoots were quite similar, big wheels, sophisticated moter, good power and hadling ect. The Sym was a bit cheaper but also a nice scoot. I dont think I would ever part with this baby, and for me, thats saying somthing.
Cheers
Oigy