[Packer Fan]

Here is my take. I have a home in TV and a rental, over 10 years. Had an EZgo gas, a 2008 Yamaha Gas, a 2012 Yamaha gas, a 2018 Quietech, and an Evolution D5 I bought over a year ago from Hidden Creek. Here are my conclusions
1. There is no perfect cart, period. None of them is a Toyota from a maintenance standpoint, especially Yamaha.
2. People tend to love their Yamaha carts, but they take a lot of maintenance if you run them - yearly maintenance, then a battery or the belt goes bad about once every year or 18 months, then there are the tires, which for some reason wear unevenly on the front of Yamaha carts. I rotate them and that extends the life, but they are expensive and do wear unevenly, even if you keep them aired up. You do get great mileage.
3. Gas carts smell, no matter what you do and what you say.
4. Gas carts are noisy and bouncy, at least EZgo and Yamaha.
5. Our evolution D5 is FAR nicer, better ride, quiet, love the sound bar, 4 forward, barely longer than a 2 seat yamaha, has a trunk. It is a joy to drive, and it cost about HALF of what a 4 seat yamaha does. We had a blinker issue that was fixed with a part replacement in a day and has not happened again. Range seems about 60 miles on my 160 amp hour battery, just a guess because it has never been below about 46%. it uses almost no power playing golf. I ran up to Lopez from Hillsborough, played 18 holes and came back and it was at 46% . It does not seem to wear out tires either, but I have to own it a lot longer to know for sure. Headlights are better than on any Yamaha and they have High and low beams.
5. For some reason, Yamaha has the gas pedal location figured out so it is comforable. The G5 is a bit too close, you get used to it, but its my only gripe. If you are shorter than 5'10" it might not be an issue. Seems all electric carts have this issue.

Bottom line is, I will never buy another gas cart, period. I will also never pay the Villages golf cart stores crazy high prices. My current carts I have serviced from Ocala by Carts and clubs, they do all the work in the driveway, no loaner cart needed. I am very satisfied with my Evolution D5, we will see how it does in 4 or 5 years.
Lastly - I spent 40 years in Manufacturing, 25 of it in purchasing. Yes the Evolution is assembled in the US and most of the parts are Asian sourced. If you think EZgo and Yamaha don't have a SIGNIFICANT portion of parts sourced in Asia, you are just trying to make yourself feel good. Definitely less than the Evolution, but still significant. Yamaha needs to come up with an all new Lithium cart design, both 2 and 4 seat, and get with the program, or they will be left in the dust. Golf carts make way more sense than cars for battery power, and Lithium is the answer.

[MDBSN62]

Originally Posted by RickJ

If buying a cart outside such a Winters Rec. what are the options to get side curtains, etc?

Complete rain encloser, larger battery, extended warranty, etc. all available from Winters Rec.

[CarlR33]

I agree with Packer Fan above. Also, consider buying a used EZGO with the wet cells and convert it over to Lithium and you get the same features with a reliable cart with the technology of lithium. A lithium bundle can cost around $2-3K but if you get a used Ezgo cart at the right price you can be all in for under $10K or even $5K with the right older cart. I just did it and so far love it.

[Mleeja]

Originally Posted by Driller703

6,000 MILES A YEAR!!!!! Where do you live, Ocala?

If you use the cart a your primary transportation within The Villages, 6000 miles a year is easy. 16 miles per day…

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by Ken D.

Not true, I bought outside via Carts & Clubs, they come here routinely to service carts.

Coming here to service them is all good. It’s the lack of parts availability that scares many.

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by Driller703

6,000 MILES A YEAR!!!!! Where do you live, Ocala?

I also have 6k miles on my cart, first year miles. I live in Eastport area. Everything is north of us.
I have no problem traveling from my furthest south point, to the top of TV. Did that twice in a week just for medical appointments. I don’t know why many get all freaked out in doing so.
But I’ll also work in other things to do. Bring some clubs, go for a hike, visit an area of TV I don’t know yet.

[dewilson58]

Manufacturing facility: The company's history page notes a factory was founded in Xiamen, China

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by Packer Fan

Here is my take. I have a home in TV and a rental, over 10 years. Had an EZgo gas, a 2008 Yamaha Gas, a 2012 Yamaha gas, a 2018 Quietech, and an Evolution D5 I bought over a year ago from Hidden Creek. Here are my conclusions
1. There is no perfect cart, period. None of them is a Toyota from a maintenance standpoint, especially Yamaha.
2. People tend to love their Yamaha carts, but they take a lot of maintenance if you run them - yearly maintenance, then a battery or the belt goes bad about once every year or 18 months, then there are the tires, which for some reason wear unevenly on the front of Yamaha carts. I rotate them and that extends the life, but they are expensive and do wear unevenly, even if you keep them aired up. You do get great mileage.
3. Gas carts smell, no matter what you do and what you say.
4. Gas carts are noisy and bouncy, at least EZgo and Yamaha.
5. Our evolution D5 is FAR nicer, better ride, quiet, love the sound bar, 4 forward, barely longer than a 2 seat yamaha, has a trunk. It is a joy to drive, and it cost about HALF of what a 4 seat yamaha does. We had a blinker issue that was fixed with a part replacement in a day and has not happened again. Range seems about 60 miles on my 160 amp hour battery, just a guess because it has never been below about 46%. it uses almost no power playing golf. I ran up to Lopez from Hillsborough, played 18 holes and came back and it was at 46% . It does not seem to wear out tires either, but I have to own it a lot longer to know for sure. Headlights are better than on any Yamaha and they have High and low beams.
5. For some reason, Yamaha has the gas pedal location figured out so it is comforable. The G5 is a bit too close, you get used to it, but its my only gripe. If you are shorter than 5'10" it might not be an issue. Seems all electric carts have this issue.

Bottom line is, I will never buy another gas cart, period. I will also never pay the Villages golf cart stores crazy high prices. My current carts I have serviced from Ocala by Carts and clubs, they do all the work in the driveway, no loaner cart needed. I am very satisfied with my Evolution D5, we will see how it does in 4 or 5 years.
Lastly - I spent 40 years in Manufacturing, 25 of it in purchasing. Yes the Evolution is assembled in the US and most of the parts are Asian sourced. If you think EZgo and Yamaha don't have a SIGNIFICANT portion of parts sourced in Asia, you are just trying to make yourself feel good. Definitely less than the Evolution, but still significant. Yamaha needs to come up with an all new Lithium cart design, both 2 and 4 seat, and get with the program, or they will be left in the dust. Golf carts make way more sense than cars for battery power, and Lithium is the answer.

My 1 year old Quietteck now has 6500 miles. Simple servicing and not one issue. Never a fouled plug, never a broken belt. I don’t know how you take care of your equipment, but we follow the Yamaha service plan.
Tires only half worn, and EVEN tread wear. Never rotated the tires. I did have the alignment done when new, as it was way off.
As for parts, Yamaha has been making the same thing for years. Parts are not a problem, as it is for all these electric carts who use Chinese parts. Yes, there is a difference between Japanese parts and “Asian’ Chinese parts.
I hear to many horror stories about which ever electric cart needing/waiting for parts. And now, one of the more popular electric carts is just NOT getting parts in a timely manner.
As for noise. The only quiet gas cart is the newer Yamahas.
Most electric carts make a god awful electric whine. Who wants to listen to that all day?

[DARFAP]

Originally Posted by Dave951

Stick with Yamaha gas very dependable and parts are always available

Yes

[BostonBama]

Any recommendations on TARA? Are they just a placeholder Evolution knockoff or are
They a reala new alternative from the evolution factory and solve the parts/inventory issues?

Originally Posted by BostonBama

Been doing a lot of recent research and landed on EV but told by a couple of evolution dealers they don’t expect any new inventory and continue to have parts issues . Hidden Creek now receiving TARA models which are built by Evolution. Any recent advice on Tara or other EV models and have other folks experienced the lack of Evolution inventory? I really like the Star serious but new are $19-26k . Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[stevepeq]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I bought an electric one from TV last year and after about 6,000 miles everything works great.

One thing to think about is what you buy outside of TV you have get it serviced outside as well.

What about if you buy a used one from a Villager? Can you get it serviced in TV?

[rsmurano]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I bought an electric one from TV last year and after about 6,000 miles everything works great.

One thing to think about is what you buy outside of TV you have get it serviced outside as well.

Not true! You can go to any authorized evolutionary dealer to get service done during your warranty period: “ any authorized Evolution dealer can perform maintenance or repairs on your cart and still keep your warranty valid. ”
This goes for your car too.

After warranty, or even during your warranty period, you can hire any golf cart repair shop to work on your cart. I have somebody come by my house to do tune ups, belt change, brake adjustment every year

[rsmurano]

Originally Posted by Packer Fan

Here is my take. I have a home in TV and a rental, over 10 years. Had an EZgo gas, a 2008 Yamaha Gas, a 2012 Yamaha gas, a 2018 Quietech, and an Evolution D5 I bought over a year ago from Hidden Creek. Here are my conclusions
1. There is no perfect cart, period. None of them is a Toyota from a maintenance standpoint, especially Yamaha.
2. People tend to love their Yamaha carts, but they take a lot of maintenance if you run them - yearly maintenance, then a battery or the belt goes bad about once every year or 18 months, then there are the tires, which for some reason wear unevenly on the front of Yamaha carts. I rotate them and that extends the life, but they are expensive and do wear unevenly, even if you keep them aired up. You do get great mileage.
3. Gas carts smell, no matter what you do and what you say.
4. Gas carts are noisy and bouncy, at least EZgo and Yamaha.
5. Our evolution D5 is FAR nicer, better ride, quiet, love the sound bar, 4 forward, barely longer than a 2 seat yamaha, has a trunk. It is a joy to drive, and it cost about HALF of what a 4 seat yamaha does. We had a blinker issue that was fixed with a part replacement in a day and has not happened again. Range seems about 60 miles on my 160 amp hour battery, just a guess because it has never been below about 46%. it uses almost no power playing golf. I ran up to Lopez from Hillsborough, played 18 holes and came back and it was at 46% . It does not seem to wear out tires either, but I have to own it a lot longer to know for sure. Headlights are better than on any Yamaha and they have High and low beams.
5. For some reason, Yamaha has the gas pedal location figured out so it is comforable. The G5 is a bit too close, you get used to it, but its my only gripe. If you are shorter than 5'10" it might not be an issue. Seems all electric carts have this issue.

Bottom line is, I will never buy another gas cart, period. I will also never pay the Villages golf cart stores crazy high prices. My current carts I have serviced from Ocala by Carts and clubs, they do all the work in the driveway, no loaner cart needed. I am very satisfied with my Evolution D5, we will see how it does in 4 or 5 years.
Lastly - I spent 40 years in Manufacturing, 25 of it in purchasing. Yes the Evolution is assembled in the US and most of the parts are Asian sourced. If you think EZgo and Yamaha don't have a SIGNIFICANT portion of parts sourced in Asia, you are just trying to make yourself feel good. Definitely less than the Evolution, but still significant. Yamaha needs to come up with an all new Lithium cart design, both 2 and 4 seat, and get with the program, or they will be left in the dust. Golf carts make way more sense than cars for battery power, and Lithium is the answer.

Let’s talk reality here: Yamaha golf carts (at least the new carts) don’t smell, don’t need a battery or belt every year, don’t wear out tires.
I have over 13,000 miles on my 21 Yamaha quiet drive 2, no battery, no new tires (front tires look brand new), and no smell.
As for the Asian origin, people don’t like parts from China, where Yamaha and many cars are from Japan where people have no issues with. I would not own anything China made if I can help it, Japan made or South Korea made, no problem: parts are accessible and everybody seems to be able to work on them.

[BPRICE1234]

I barely drive my car 6k per year. I didn't know golf carts were rated in miles vs hours. Either way, enjoy your active lifestyle.

[MorTech]

I have never driven less than 6000 miles in one year. I probably have 70K miles on my Yamaha AC that I recently had to replace the front wheel bearings.

I still think the Atlas 210ah carts are the best value.