[l2ridehd]

I have had good success buying used carts. You can usually tell how well a cart has been taken care of by how well it looks. But lift the seat, look at the batteries or engine. Take it for a test drive. Feel the steering, check the sunbrella, zippers, tires, windshield. If electric, how old are the batteries? If gas, check the bottom of the engine. Any fluid leaks? Check the oil. Dirty or clean? Any strange sounds or smells. How do the brakes work? Any pull when braking? Any tire bounce when driving? Almost any repair is less then $500. There are a couple exceptions to that with the engine and drive train, but if the cart runs well, handles well, probably a low risk. If the batteries are old in an electric cart, even a complete new set is only around $650. Rust on the carriage may be a problem, but a good cleaning, pressure washing and a can of Rustolem will usually solve all but the worst cases of that. Does the cart drive at 20 mph? 14 mph means no high speed gears. Take it for a ride. Is everyone passing you? Why is the owner selling?

I think in most cases you are safe in buying a used cart from a private party and get a decent deal. Just look it over, use common sense, and if you have to spend a few bucks to bring it to your standards, so what. I have found most home owners in TV are honest and will not try to cheat you.