The Villages Golf Cars vs. Carts & Clubs, Inc.

[Polar Bear]

I've visited both and can get a new Yahama gas cart for roughly the same price. Both list quite a few features and seem to be good carts. Can anybody tell me any definitive reason to give one an edge over the other?

C&C claims to have several modifications that make their cart superior...certain enclosure mods, body insulation, fuse box, and other similar things.

TV typically says they have superior warranty and a few other advantages.

I'm just interested in getting a good cart for the money, that includes a certain list of "must-have" features, like gas gauge, seat belts, rear view mirrors, light package, personal keys, drink cooler. How about insulation?

Anyway, I'd appreciate input from anybody who has some related knowledge. Thanks.

[gomoho]

Carts and Clubs comes to you home to provide normal maintenance. Cart never leaves your driveway - that in itself would sell me; however, besides that I do believe the modifications they have made to the cart are superior to anything The Villages offers.

[RErmer]

Bought our Yamaha gas cart from The Villages, with no complaints or issues. Then, the warranty expired (after 2 years). We were told at the time we bought the cart we couldn't buy the extended warranty then - and now it's several hundred dollars more than it was when we bought the cart. Feels a bit like bait and switch. Also, annual service cost has increased significantly. You used to be able to take your cart to them and get a loaner. Now all maintenance is done off site requiring a $30 transportation fee. So, we're having Todd Casey do our service (great independent golf cart guy for any problems on our gas or electric carts) and probably won't buy from The Villages Carts again.

[Jim 9922]

It seems that over the years Carts and Clubs has been the leader in quality innovations that Villages Carts follow a year or two later. A much tighter better fitting front enclosure, side exhaust extension, engine box insulation, bigger zippers, etc. I personally think that the custom wiring harness is Carts & Clubs' biggest selling point. It sure beats the cut and patch job that I've seen on Villages Carts. Ask your Carts and Clubs salesperson for a tour of their "production" facility. You can see the carts torn apart and how they are custom reassembled. And, the guys working on them will take the time to explain what they are doing. Seeing the 'nuts and bolts" of their production methods and components they use convinced me.
As for warranty; see another thread for a discussion as to who really warrants the carts after "Village Ready" modifications are made. Maybe it is not the manufacturer.

[MikeV]

I looked at both and went with C&C mainly for the superior enclosure and engine box insulation. Very happy with their service (in my driveway) so far.

[JMEZARIC3]

I've visited both and can get a new Yahama gas cart for roughly the same price. Both list quite a few features and seem to be good carts. Can anybody tell me any definitive reason to give one an edge over the other?

C&C claims to have several modifications that make their cart superior...certain enclosure mods, body insulation, fuse box, and other similar things.

TV typically says they have superior warranty and a few other advantages.

I'm just interested in getting a good cart for the money, that includes a certain list of "must-have" features, like gas gauge, seat belts, rear view mirrors, light package, personal keys, drink cooler. How about insulation?

Anyway, I'd appreciate input from anybody who has some related knowledge. Thanks.
Has anyone looked at the Mid Florida in Claremont?

[Spectreron]

C & C has a Village Cart on the floor to show the differences between the two products. Problem is, Villages carts have been improved from the model C & C displays. The new Village carts are comparable to C & C's. Cart service is equal, customer service is much better from The Villages dealers, and their stores are not 20 miles away. Cost is the same at both places. Buying from your hometown dealer is a no brainer assuming the products and pricing are the same.

[dewilson58]

The cost is about the same?????

I've seem posts............claiming to have save "thousands" at C&C over TV.

Fact or Fiction??

[l2ridehd]

The cost is about the same?????

I've seem posts............claiming to have save "thousands" at C&C over TV.

Fact or Fiction??

Some of each. At one point when C&C was trying to get established in TV their carts were about $1000 less than the same cart in TV. Now that price difference is minor. The Villages has made several C&C improvements and is closer in price. I personally would still go with C&C. I have a cart from each and I like C&C service better. I don't have to pay the pick up charge and I get to verify the repair has been made because it is done in my driveway. C&C had the significantly better enclosure for a while, and now the Villages has made some of those same improvements so those are now more equal.

I still think C&C has a slightly better product and is still usually a few $$$ less. Some things are minor, I like their speedometer better, the seat holder for adding gas, and their zipper still seems better. The differences are getting fewer and fewer, but today I would go with C&C.

[dewilson58]

Some of each. At one point when C&C was trying to get established in TV their carts were about $1000 less than the same cart in TV. Now that price difference is minor. The Villages has made several C&C improvements and is closer in price. I personally would still go with C&C. I have a cart from each and I like C&C service better. I don't have to pay the pick up charge and I get to verify the repair has been made because it is done in my driveway. C&C had the significantly better enclosure for a while, and now the Villages has made some of those same improvements so those are now more equal.

I still think C&C has a slightly better product and is still usually a few $$$ less. Some things are minor, I like their speedometer better, the seat holder for adding gas, and their zipper still seems better. The differences are getting fewer and fewer, but today I would go with C&C.


THANKS!!!

I still drink cheap wine sometimes :D

[billds567]

When I put my Villages 2012 EFI next to my neighbor's C & C, the difference is remarkable. Same cart but the quality difference of most everything that C &C puts in their carts is obvious. Also, annual maint. at $130 form the Villages is absurd. They take the cart for more than a day where I see Carts and Clubs doing the work in the driveway.

[dewilson58]

When I put my Villages 2012 EFI next to my neighbor's C & C, the difference is remarkable. Same cart but the quality difference of most everything that C &C puts in their carts is obvious. Also, annual maint. at $130 form the Villages is absurd. They take the cart for more than a day where I see Carts and Clubs doing the work in the driveway.

Cool way to compare. Thanks for sharing.

[Polar Bear]

When I put my Villages 2012 EFI next to my neighbor's C & C, the difference is remarkable. Same cart but the quality difference of most everything that C &C puts in their carts is obvious. Also, annual maint. at $130 form the Villages is absurd. They take the cart for more than a day where I see Carts and Clubs doing the work in the driveway.

Might sound silly, but I want to be sure...you're saying C & C quality is superior?

[Tobys Dad]

I agree with the people naming C and C as the superior cart and service. Highly recommend them over The Villages.

[Xavier]

No doubt about it, Carts and Clubs is the way to go. 28 out of 31 neighbors on our street have bought their carts at C&C. The others are EZ GOs and a Club Car.

Xavier (An extremely happy 5 year customer)

[Mikeod]

Another happy C&C customer. I had a question about my cart and saw their service van at my neighbor's house working on his cart. I walked over and asked the tech my question. He asked me to wait a few minutes until he was done. Then he walked over to my house and made an adjustment to my cart that solved the issue I had. No charge. He could have told me to make an appt and that would have been OK, but he just fixed it right then and there.

I called the office and let them know how pleased I was with that tech. The lady told me he does that all the time. I told her he deserves a raise!

[TimeForChange]

Read my last post about Carts and Clubs and the owner. He does not stand behind their warranty. He will blow up with you on the phone using profanity if you have a problem and want it fixed. He finds excuses for everything wrong with the cart. Buyer beware!:police:

[TimeForChange]

You had better hope you do not have a major problem and have to deal with the owner. I am not the only one either.....

[mrf6969]

well all things being equal....they really are not. Logic would say why would you not buy from local dealer. I did and it is very easy to drive up to their back door and get any and all service you might need. They are in the process of building a new service center in the Sumter Landing area too. The product is a same really but what separates the local from the one up in Ocala is really good local service period.

[mrf6969]

I did the price comparison on my new Yamaha. They are about equal between TV and CC. I went with TV as they have very good service. If I need something I just drive up to the Sumter Store and it is taken care of right away. I think service is the true difference between CC and TV when it comes to buying a Yamaha golf cart. I have a lot of friends that purchased from TV and they could not be happier.

[Polar Bear]

Hmmm....sounds like both C & C and TV Golf Carts make most of their customers happy. All businesses have the occasional dissatisfied customer.

Local service does sound good...as does driveway service. Heheh. Well...might be coin toss time! LOL!!

Thanks for all your input.

[Xavier]

You had better hope you do not have a major problem and have to deal with the owner. I am not the only one either.....

I am very sorry that you've had a bad experience. I'm sure we probably have only gotten one half of the story and we'll never know for sure what actually occurred. I truly believe that it would be extremely easy to find a few thousand Carts and Clubs Customers that would have just the opposite opinion than you do. It's just like on eBay, of 5,000 customers 99.8 percent are happy. I'd do business with that eBay seller in a heartbeat, just like I'd do business with Carts and Clubs in a heartbeat. You can NEVER make everybody happy, but they sure as hell try.

Xavier

[TimeForChange]

I have purchased a cart from both Carts and Clubs and TV Carts. If you want a Yamaha I would buy from TV. TV itself owns the distributorship and I have spoken to the head of all their service several times. They plan to open drive up service very shortly according to him. He is located just off Rolling Acres. I believe that they are a more respected distributorship by Yamaha Corp. I do not believe that Carts and Clubs has a very positive relationship with Yamaha mainly because of their owner and his attitude. That is my opinion after dealing with both. Do what you want but I can tell you for certain I am not the only one who has had problems with the owner at Carts and Clubs. I have spoken with three other cart owners this week with the same issues.

[rubicon]

TimeforChange: I responded to your original post on golf cart and Things thread

I believe your story.

However, I have heard similar stories retold time and time again from every golf cart dealership in the area and i wouldn't trust any one of them

[Xavier]

I have purchased a cart from both Carts and Clubs and TV Carts. If you want a Yamaha I would buy from TV. TV itself owns the distributorship and I have spoken to the head of all their service several times. They plan to open drive up service very shortly according to him. He is located just off Rolling Acres. I believe that they are a more respected distributorship by Yamaha Corp. I do not believe that Carts and Clubs has a very positive relationship with Yamaha mainly because of their owner and his attitude. That is my opinion after dealing with both. Do what you want but I can tell you for certain I am not the only one who has had problems with the owner at Carts and Clubs. I have spoken with three other cart owners this week with the same issues.

Sounds like a personality conflict to me and it takes two to tango.

Xavier

[TimeForChange]

I really don't care who or what you trust but I had 35 years of managing a multi million dollar division of a major company. We had distributors all over North America. If Yamaha lists a distributor as a "Certified Distributor" on their website and then allows them to sell their product and modify that product and not inform the ultimate buying consumer that the modification voids their warranty then that borders on consumer fraud. We are not talking about "Jim and Bubba's" golf carts here my friend but a certified Yamaha Distributor and a major corporation. This will be my last comment but you go ahead and buy from whomever you want and believe whatever you want.

[TimeForChange]

Yes, there is a definite personality conflict between Carts and Clubs of Ocala and Yamaha. I gathered that from speaking with the Yamaha Customer Service people following two or three phone calls.

[NoMoSno]

Sounds like a personality conflict to me and it takes two to tango.

Xavier

:agree:

[Spectreron]

When I put my Villages 2012 EFI next to my neighbor's C & C, the difference is remarkable. Same cart but the quality difference of most everything that C &C puts in their carts is obvious. Also, annual maint. at $130 form the Villages is absurd. They take the cart for more than a day where I see Carts and Clubs doing the work in the driveway.

The 2012 carts may have remarkable differences. It's 2014.... Compare the carts now and you'll see the Villages carts are just as good or better. C & C brags about their enclosure, the Villages carts are now better, especially for carrying purses, etc.
C & C also talks up their fuse box. Who really needs one. If it's such a great idea why don't the numerous engineers at Yamaha see the need.
Last but not least, you will pay around $750 in taxes at either place, why not send that money to your county instead of Marion Co. ?

[Bay Kid]

TV carts cleaned my clutch, replaced the belt on my 1 year old cart. It works great now. Total cost " 0 ". Done at Sumter Landing while I had a cup of coffee by the lake. A phone call later and I went up the road. No hassle.

[Steph]

To all those who made comments in this thread - as someone moving into TV in the next 3 weeks from out of the area, these types of discussions are very helpful and informative. I particularly enjoyed this one with the back and forth comparing the 2 businesses. Thank you for the great information and for sharing your experiences.

[hewhit]

About the same price. I bought C&C. Enclosure is improved and feel its worth the drive. Service and work done at your home. I will buy again at C&C.