[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Normal

If you drove a cart from Spanish Springs to Southern Oaks or one of the newer courses near Eastport and played golf, then you might not make it home.

According to Google maps, Orange Blossom pool to the Southern Oaks course is 16.5 miles.
According to several sources on Google, a golfer would walk four miles to play 18 holes.
Putting that together makes for a 37 mile day, something a 50 mile cart could do (even on only 80% of it's range).

Yes, as the Villages gets larger it will be harder to drive from one end to the other. At the same time, someone who wants to travel that far may choose a 50 minute round trip in a car rather than a two hour trip in a golf cart.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Normal

If you drove a cart from Spanish Springs to Southern Oaks or one of the newer courses near Eastport and played golf, then you might not make it home.

Anyone dumb enough to spend over an hour driving in a golf cart to get somewhere, gets what he/she deserves.

Get in your car and drive. Splurge ... spend the $8 for a cart rental when you get there.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Anyone dumb enough to spend over an hour driving in a golf cart to get somewhere, gets what he/she deserves.

Get in your car and drive. Splurge ... spend the $8 for a cart rental when you get there.

I guess that based on your opinion I’m very dumb. Every winter I make an effort to swim in every sports pool and play every Championship golf course. Last winter I took three very long all day golf cart trips from our home near Tierra Del Sol. One day I played Grey Fox (no Championship course in Fenney), swam at Spanish Moss, and had dinner at the Fenney Grill. Another day I swam at Ezell, played Southern Oaks, then drove well out of my way to get a Polk bowl at Brownwood and watch the band Relic. Another day I played Lowlands (again, no Championship course in the area), swam at Everglades, and had a nice dinner , with live entertainment, at Edna’s. I never even considered not taking my golf cart, it’s a big part of the overall experience and I very much prefer golfing in my own cart. And as you stated, I got what I deserved, which was three great, adventurous, and memorable days that wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if I drove a car.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

I guess that based on your opinion I’m very dumb. Every winter I make an effort to swim in every sports pool and play every Championship golf course. Last winter I took three very long all day golf cart trips from our home near Tierra Del Sol. One day I played Grey Fox (no Championship course in Fenney), swam at Spanish Moss, and had dinner at the Fenney Grill. Another day I swam at Ezell, played Southern Oaks, then drove well out of my way to get a Polk bowl at Brownwood and watch the band Relic. Another day I played Lowlands (again, no Championship course in the area), swam at Everglades, and had a nice dinner , with live entertainment, at Edna’s. I never even considered not taking my golf cart, it’s a big part of the overall experience and I very much prefer golfing in my own cart. And as you stated, I got what I deserved, which was three great, adventurous, and memorable days that wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if I drove a car.

Sounds like you had some great day trips...

What the naysayers keep ignoring, is that many, if not most of those "long trips" are broken up into smaller legs, as your experience shows...

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

I guess that based on your opinion I’m very dumb. Every winter I make an effort to swim in every sports pool and play every Championship golf course. Last winter I took three very long all day golf cart trips from our home near Tierra Del Sol. One day I played Grey Fox (no Championship course in Fenney), swam at Spanish Moss, and had dinner at the Fenney Grill. Another day I swam at Ezell, played Southern Oaks, then drove well out of my way to get a Polk bowl at Brownwood and watch the band Relic. Another day I played Lowlands (again, no Championship course in the area), swam at Everglades, and had a nice dinner , with live entertainment, at Edna’s. I never even considered not taking my golf cart, it’s a big part of the overall experience and I very much prefer golfing in my own cart. And as you stated, I got what I deserved, which was three great, adventurous, and memorable days that wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if I drove a car.

I apologize. "Dumb" was very bad choice of words.

Perhaps "quirky" would have been better. I just fail to see the attraction of going anywhere more than a few minutes away, via a golf cart. I get the "I'd rather play golf with my own cart" part and I've occasionally driven 20-25 minutes to Lopez, but generally I'll get in the car and drive if I want to play there. I don't have any interest in playing Southern Oaks or the new course in the south, so that's not even a consideration.

I admit, after 4 years, I still don't understand Villagers attraction for golf cart transportation. When people visit, they love the novelty of it, but after the first 2 rides, they've normally had enough.

Maybe I'm missing something?

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I apologize. "Dumb" was very bad choice of words.

Perhaps "quirky" would have been better. I just fail to see the attraction of going anywhere more than a few minutes away, via a golf cart. I get the "I'd rather play golf with my own cart" part and I've occasionally driven 20-25 minutes to Lopez, but generally I'll get in the car and drive if I want to play there. I don't have any interest in playing Southern Oaks or the new course in the south, so that's not even a consideration.

I admit, after 4 years, I still don't understand Villagers attraction for golf cart transportation. When people visit, they love the novelty of it, but after the first 2 rides, they've normally had enough.

Maybe I'm missing something?

Different strokes for different folks. After 9 years of using our golf carts for about 99% of our Villages transportation needs, the novelty still hasn’t worn off even the slightest. In fact, it’s one of the things I miss the most about the Villages when I can’t be there. About the only time we actually do use a car is the few times per year we trailer our bikes to the newer southern areas to ride our bikes on the pathways. The only reason we do that is because it would be to difficult to transport two bikes on a golf cart. It’s not about saving $$$, it’s about the adventures and having fun.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Anyone dumb enough to spend over an hour driving in a golf cart to get somewhere, gets what he/she deserves.

Get in your car and drive. Splurge ... spend the $8 for a cart rental when you get there.

It happens rarely, but the beauty of having a gas powered Yamah Quiet tech is the freedom it gives. There are zero worries about running out of electricity, expensive batteries don’t need to be changed out and I don’t have to worry if I plugged the cart in the night before or if the cart is charged all the way up.

I realize some are on some kind of battery powered cart kick, and that’s great that they feel good about it. I just love and feel good about using my gas cart and the zero worries when I just hop in and drive it.

[sowilts]

Originally Posted by Vinscalese

Trying to decide on new cart. Really like the electric but have range anxiety! lol…. Not moved in yet so new and not sure how many miles people really go. Is 75 or so miles on the STAR enough do you think?

My EZGO Lithium has 60 range. Takes a loooong ride to reach the 60.

[RichR.]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

He (or she) is one of our well meaning forum peers that evidently has golf cart maintenance experience. He made a kind of emotional post or 2 about gas vs electric and I was poking fun at him (or her).

I was trying to be funny, I hope I didn't hurt any feelings. If I did I apologize.

BTW, not a chance I'm swearing off beer even if I have to chew the bottle open.

Well that explains why Google didn't come up with the meaning of rocksnap!
Labatt Blue for the win.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Normal

It happens rarely, but the beauty of having a gas powered Yamah Quiet tech is the freedom it gives. There are zero worries about running out of electricity, expensive batteries don’t need to be changed out and I don’t have to worry if I plugged the cart in the night before or if the cart is charged all the way up.

I realize some are on some kind of battery powered cart kick, and that’s great that they feel good about it. I just love and feel good about using my gas cart and the zero worries when I just hop in and drive it.

I have the same zero worries about my lithium cart.

I don't have to worry whether I put gas in it recently. I don't have to worry about spilling gas or cleaning it up. I don't have to worry that the gas that's been sitting in the tank or the can has gone bad. I don't have to worry that the belt will break while I'm out. I don't have to worry that the battery is on its last legs and won't start the cart when it's time to come home; in fact, I don't have to worry about replacing any batteries for at least eight more year. I just unplug the cord and go.

I understand many like their gas carts, I like my gas cart too. What I don't understand is trying so hard to convince me that my lithium cart is somehow unreliable or incapable of serving my needs when there is zero data to support that position.

EDIT: And yes, those electric owners criticizing gas owners because of different personal preferences are just as annoying and wrong

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Normal

It happens rarely, but the beauty of having a gas powered Yamah Quiet tech is the freedom it gives.

Make sure you take good care of that Yamaha, because there won't be any new ones to buy in a couple of years. TV represents over 80% of Yamaha's gas cart market and that's dwindling.

Golf Cart Market Demand, Size & Forecast to 2033

[Normal]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Make sure you take good care of that Yamaha, because there won't be any new ones to buy in a couple of years. TV represents over 80% of Yamaha's gas cart market and that's dwindling.

Golf Cart Market Demand, Size & Forecast to 2033

Runs great! So dependable! It’s a 2022 and it’s probably good till I go LOL.

[PoolBrews]

Originally Posted by huge-pigeons

The evolution cart doesn’t compare with the Yamaha quiet drive2. If you compare like carts, the lithium will cost you more. Then in 7 years or so, you will spend thousands for batteries.
Lithium does lose its strength over time. How does your iPhone work after a couple years?

These statements are incorrect and based on common misconceptions.

1) With regards to "The evolution cart doesn’t compare with the Yamaha quiet drive2"... It depends on which Evolution cart you are talking about. The older carts didn't have any more features than the Yamaha, and rode rough - but they were also about 1/3 the cost. The new D5 Ranger is a completely new design and build. I had 2 Yamaha Drive 2's for 5 years. They pale in comparison to the D5 Ranger. While the D5 has bit of a stiffer seat, it's far more comfortable on a long drive. And the D5 includes a lot of features not standard on a Yamaha - self cancelling turn signals, integrated sound bar, automotive style screen, tilt steering wheel, etc. I'll never go back to a Yamaha after driving the D5 (I have 2,200 miles on it so far with no issues). Having said that, I realize that this is a personal opinion, so to each their own.

2) D5's have an 8 year warranty on the battery with a 15 year life expectancy. I'll be getting a new cart long before I have to ever even think about buying a new battery. Even if I had to buy battery - the current price is around $2K and will drop over time. I'm certain that I will save far more than what I would have spent on gas, belts, oil changes, etc in that 15 years.

3) I'm an Electrical Engineer that worked on this technology - LifeP04 lithium loses hardly any capacity over time. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are rated for over 4,000 cycles, meaning they can be fully charged and discharged over 4,000 times before their capacity is significantly reduced. My battery is a 205ah and gets me 70+ miles per charge. That equates to 280,000 miles before I will see any significant reduction. They are nothing like the old lead acid batteries, or even the batteries in phones. Batteries in phones use a far more aggressive technology to pack capacity into a small area. You don't have to design them that way for a golf cart. The battery will most likely never see a reduction in capacity while you own the cart.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by PoolBrews

These statements are incorrect and based on common misconceptions.

1) With regards to "The evolution cart doesn’t compare with the Yamaha quiet drive2"...

2) D5's have an 8 year warranty on the battery with a 15 year life expectancy.


3) I'm an Electrical Engineer that worked on this technology -

That equates to 280,000 miles before I will see any significant reduction.

Please do not attempt to confuse TOTV Posters with facts.

This your last warning !

[Velvet]

The range you need will depend on how you live. But with TV continually expanding and just me in general, I like to have the maximum range possible. You never know when you might need it.