1.5 car garage-enough room?

[BRN_RI_FL]

Looking forward to being back in the Villages in a few weeks. We're planning on buying a golf cart at that time. For some reason I'm a lot more excited about that than my wife. I'm curious how tight the fit will be on a car (Subaru Outback) and a golf cart in the garage at our new place at Phillips Villas. As I mentioned in the title, it's a 1 1/2 car garage. This is probably something I should have asked before the purchase, not after. Thanks in advance.
Bruce

[perrjojo]

We find it perfect for us...some don't. I guess it depends on how you use your garage. Also all one and one half garages are not created equal.

[John_W]

In CYV's the 1-1/2 car garage does vary from model to model. Some have the washer/dryer in the garage in the back, like ours, or up by the garage door, or not at all. Also the A/C units are located differently. In our case, we have a Durham, 2BR 2BA with 10' Kitchen Bar and W/D in back of garage, we also have a Subaru Crosstrek. I have just enough room to park both. The golf cart is tight to the laundry tub but just enough room to use the tub if needed. I just bought the Crosstrek, which is 71" wide. I was really wanting a 2017 Camaro but they are 75" wide and it would of been too tight or the possibility of scratching the car wasn't worth it. So I went with the Subaru. Our place looks like this, which is probably similar to Phillips Villas. Although we got permission last year to be able to repaint our homes a different color, we have 20 choices. So far about 30 of the 80 villas have changed colors and I'm thinking of painting ours dark green with beige trim. The answer to your question is 'No' the garage is not big enough.

PS - You're probably thinking, that landscaping looks different. We had grass and bushes, but many of us like to add palm trees and remove the grass for one less thing to maintain. I would say maybe 25 out of 80 still have grass in front and our homes are six years old.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k241/9234gypsy/3ced_zpskbigljl4.jpg

[jimnc]

No, it's not big enough.

[redwitch]

Might be a tight squeeze, but those that have it find a way to get car, cart and at least one cabinet to fit. And, if typical, your wife will end up loving the cart more than you and you'll end up with two carts (yours, of course, will be the cart that sits outside while hers gets to stay nice and cozy in the garage).

[BRN_RI_FL]

No, it's not big enough.

Thank you! Very informative.

[BRN_RI_FL]

As long as we can get either out without moving the other, it's big enough.

[BRN_RI_FL]

In CYV's the 1-1/2 car garage does vary from model to model. Some have the washer/dryer in the garage in the back, like ours, or up by the garage door, or not at all. Also the A/C units are located differently. In our case, we have a Durham, 2BR 2BA with 10' Kitchen Bar and W/D in back of garage, we also have a Subaru Crosstrek. I have just enough room to park both. The golf cart is tight to the laundry tub but just enough room to use the tub if needed. I just bought the Crosstrek, which is 71" wide. I was really wanting a 2017 Camaro but they are 75" wide and it would of been too tight or the possibility of scratching the car wasn't worth it. So I went with the Subaru. Our place looks like this, which is probably similar to Phillips Villas. Although we got permission last year to be able to repaint our homes a different color, we have 20 choices. So far about 30 of the 80 villas have changed colors and I'm thinking of painting ours dark green with beige trim. The answer to your question is 'No' the garage is not big enough.

PS - You're probably thinking, that landscaping looks different. We had grass and bushes, but many of us like to add palm trees and remove the grass for one less thing to maintain. I would say maybe 25 out of 80 still have grass in front and our homes are six years old.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k241/9234gypsy/3ced_zpskbigljl4.jpg

Thanks for the replies.
John_W, your landscaping looks great. Who did it? That's on our list although ours won't be as elaborate. We definitely want to get rid of that pine needle mulch they use.

[Chi33]

Mine is small, with the AC, water heater water tank doesn't stick out, sorry) and Washer and Dryer on the right sticking out. You will either need a narrow car, be great/skilled at parking, have no golf cart, or do what people in my villa do and just park the car/SUV on the driveway. I have a durham also.

[kansasr]

When we first moved in, our Ford Escape and the golf cart was just too tight - too much of the Escape was left of the side of the garage. So the Mazda Miata got to share the space with the golf cart and that was find. We have replaced the Miata with a Smart Car, which works fine, but I'm not going to try putting my new Honda FIT in with the golf cart!

[kfierle]

I have a villa with a 1 1/2 garage and am able to fit my Lexus RX 350 and golf cart with no problem. My washer and dryer is located in the house, not in the garage.

[JSR22]

We rented a villa while home searching. The washer and dryere were in the garage. The golf cart fit but my BMW had to stay in the driveway. The space was too tight.

[BRN_RI_FL]

I have a villa with a 1 1/2 garage and am able to fit my Lexus RX 350 and golf cart with no problem. My washer and dryer is located in the house, not in the garage.

Good to hear. Since we have the 3 bedroom, our washer and dryer are also in the house.

[Bitsee]

When we purchased our CYV we focused more on the size of the corner lot, the 3 bedrooms, and the nice tall ceilings. We never gave our 1.5 size garage a second thought at that time...BIG mistake on our part !
We are continually trying to maneuver our vehicles around on a daily basis
when we are there, and we own the Belmore model so our laundry equipment also resides in our garage. Luckily for us, we found out that we can now add a golf cart garage onto our CYV because it sits on a nice large corner lot that will enables us to do so.

[Nucky]

Good to hear. Since we have the 3 bedroom, our washer and dryer are also in the house.

I have a feeling you will be a great addition to TV. Welcome To Your New Home. It will be better than you even imagined. I went from a 2 plus car garage to a Golf Cart Garage and it is just fine because we live here. I am determined to not let myself repeat the mistakes of the past and stay in the accumulation mode. I sold or gave away much of my tool collection. I love fixing things with a check book. Its really nice when possible. :wave:

[BRN_RI_FL]

I have a feeling you will be a great addition to TV. Welcome To Your New Home. It will be better than you even imagined. I went from a 2 plus car garage to a Golf Cart Garage and it is just fine because we live here. I am determined to not let myself repeat the mistakes of the past and stay in the accumulation mode. I sold or gave away much of my tool collection. I love fixing things with a check book. Its really nice when possible. :wave:
Thanks Nucky!
We should be driving down there 3 weeks from today from RI for an extended stay. Can't wait. Just retired for the second time last week. Grandkids will keep us coming back to RI for a while.

[thelegges]

we went from a 1.5 then a 2 and now a 2plus golf cart. our cars would not fit with the cart, in the 1.5

[Bay Kid]

I have a "stretch" garage. Not big enough!

[jsw14]

When the wife & I were looking to buy in TV, I told my wife she can pick-out the house that she wanted (within our price range), But, it HAS to have a Two car garage......I'm a Happy Camper....

[BRN_RI_FL]

When the wife & I were looking to buy in TV, I told my wife she can pick-out the house that she wanted (within our price range), But, it HAS to have a Two car garage......I'm a Happy Camper....

I will not be a happy camper if my Subaru and golf cart do not fit reasonably well in the garage. It was advertised as that and should fit! I can understand it they don't fit because the garage is loaded with other stuff.

[Wiotte]

I will not be a happy camper if my Subaru and golf cart do not fit reasonably well in the garage. It was advertised as that and should fit! I can understand it they don't fit because the garage is loaded with other stuff.



Not all two car garages are created equal. Some are 19' long and some are 21'. Depends upon the model house, stretches notwithstanding. 2' makes a HUGE difference with the workability of a garage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BRN_RI_FL]

Not all two car garages are created equal. Some are 19' long and some are 21'. Depends upon the model house, stretches notwithstanding. 2' makes a HUGE difference with the workability of a garage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks.
I'm not there to measure but the floor plan for my courtyard villa says 22' x 12'-4".

[dewilson58]

It's like asking, "How many children should I have??"

How many cars?, how many golf carts?, how many tools?, bikes?, motorcycles?, snowmobiles?, dog sleds?

Good Luck.

[Topspinmo]

Depends on how the appliances are laid out. But bottom line they are too small. At least mine has the washer, dryer, and wash tub in back. I hope you have at least midsize car or smaller. With the curves of the in majority CYVs drive way and cart squeezed in it get real tight getting either out or in garage. I don't. Like leaving car outside ever. If I had it all over to do again I'd get two car garage minimum.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Looking forward to being back in the Villages in a few weeks. We're planning on buying a golf cart at that time. For some reason I'm a lot more excited about that than my wife. I'm curious how tight the fit will be on a car (Subaru Outback) and a golf cart in the garage at our new place at Phillips Villas. As I mentioned in the title, it's a 1 1/2 car garage. This is probably something I should have asked before the purchase, not after. Thanks in advance.
Bruce

Yup the car and golf cart fit with a little room for storage

[SIRE1]

Before we bought our Designer with a 2 car garage, we rented both a Patio Villa and a Courtyard Villa. And as many of the previous posts have pointed out, the dimensions of those villas would indicate that both our golf cart and car/SUV would fit. There wasn't a problem with the Patio Villas because the driveway is straight on and although it was tight, but I could fit both in the garage. The problem, I found with the Courtyard Villas, is that because the driveway is at an angle you are swinging/turning into the garage with your car. With one of the CY rentals, I could pull into the garage with the golf cart sitting tight against the side wall, but I always had to be really careful and always tried to approach as straight in the driveway as I could. The other CY rental either was too narrow or laid out differently, but I never could pull straight into the garage without the front of the car swinging into the side of the golf cart before I could straighten the car out as I entered the garage. That provided me with a lesson that when I bought my house, to had to have a regular straight driveway with a 2 car garage.

That probably isn't the answer you want to hear since you already bought your villa. But then, look around in all the other villages and you will see Courtyard Villas all over the place. And you know they probably ALL have golf carts and you don't see many cars sitting out in their driveways, so it must be done on a regular basis. Good Luck, and Welcome to The Villages !!!!!!

[dnobles]

We have a Ford Explorer and a four seater golf cart noproblem

[Greg Nelson]

18" wide minimum,,my choice

[Nucky]

Thanks Nucky!
We should be driving down there 3 weeks from today from RI for an extended stay. Can't wait. Just retired for the second time last week. Grandkids will keep us coming back to RI for a while.

Details, details, I forgot it's a whole lot easier to slip out of town in the middle of the night and not tell the grandkids. Sorry I forgot to tell you. My sister and her family just moved to Woonsocket RI eight months ago and absolutely love it. Get this they moved because they miss the four seasons. Phooey to the snow! The grandchildren are wonderful to observe on Skype and the beautiful thing is we can talk to them while at the pool or going for a cart ride. We communicate better with them now than when we lived there and when we go back to see them it is much more meaningful. We got promoted from babysitters to Grandparents.

[Wiotte]

Thanks.

I'm not there to measure but the floor plan for my courtyard villa says 22' x 12'-4".



That description is NOT a 1 1/2 car garage. 22' x 15' would be. Every 10' of width is a full garage wide. Length varies from 18' to 23' or so. The width is not negotiable. What you're looking at is an OVERSIZED garage.
If you're a garage guy like I am, you wouldn't be happy. Sorry [emoji53]


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[ColdNoMore]

A garage can never be too big. :D

The biggest disappointment in moving to Florida 15 years ago, was finding out that most garages (even the larger ones)...often don't have drains in them. :(

Being able to wash and wax your vehicle in the winter, in a heated garage, is not only a huge perk but becomes an excellent method of ensuring that the salt & potassium chloride used in northern climates...doesn't do damage to your vehicle finish.

I guess the good news is, that those items used to keep snow/ice from collecting on roads aren't needed in Florida but...it would still be nice to be able to wash & wax you vehicle inside. :shrug:

[John_W]

Thanks for the replies.
John_W, your landscaping looks great. Who did it? That's on our list although ours won't be as elaborate. We definitely want to get rid of that pine needle mulch they use.

McGowan did our landscaping. They've been in TV for at least a dozen years, I hired them because of the work I've seen and their reputation. Our yard was done in 2013 and I tried to get them to do another job last year, actually remove the Queen Palm by the front door. I was concerned it might disturb the sidewalk, they barely answered my email, essentially they weren't interested.

I would drive around the new areas of the Village of Pine Ridge, basically go around Moyer Loop near Belle Glade CC and back into the side streets. Then back on Morse and down to the Village of Osceola Hills. You'll see many of the newer homes and the landscaping companies will put their sign in the yard after they've finished. When you've seen a few and write down their names, then come back here and search their name on TOTV.

[John_W]

That's on our list although ours won't be as elaborate. We definitely want to get rid of that pine needle mulch they use.

This may be of help, it just came to me. The landscaping you saw in my post that you complimented was not my initial landscaping job. In 2011 I had Terrascape do something similar to what you want. I had them remove the pine straw in the front and back, move the holly tree from the front to the backyard and put a small windmill palm in front in it's place, put weed block in all the beds front and back and put down 10 tons of copper rock over the front and back beds. The holly tree is now about 25' tall, whereas neighbors who left theirs in front they've only grown to maybe 12', why I don't know. For this job they wanted $2700 and I offered $2500, he said pay me when I done in cash and we have a deal, which is what we did back in 2011. Terrascape has been in TV for at least ten years, they do good work from what I see. One of my neighbors still have them come and do her grass cutting and yard work. They have a ten acre nursery on Hwy 301 a few miles south of 466 on the right side when southbound.

[Mjsmithx]

We have a courtyard villa, the Charlotte model (3 bedrooms, inside laundry). We are able to get our VW - GTI and 2 golf carts parked tandem in the garage along with some small storage closets. That said, I will not pull the car in with the second cart inside the garage (my husband is able to). It's a tight fit but it works. BTW, we bought the GTI just so we could get a car in the garage.

[Chatbrat]

Angled parking IMHO ,especially driveways near the entrances to courtyard villa communities are accidents waiting to happen--to many blind spots, especially for seniors with limited neck flexibility--your head has to be on a swivel in those neighborhoods

[Barefoot]

We sold our CYV after three years in TV. The primary reason was that Fireboy found the 1 1/2 car garage too small.
We bought in the same village, with a much larger, extended garage. But my husband is a garage guy with hobbies.

[hoopsterdad]

our patio villa garage has a santa fe, 4 seat yamaha cart, top/bottom full size snap on tool box, lawn mower, air compressor, golf clubs, various lawn tools, just on one side. the other side has anything else i need stored. would like to have a larger garage, but will not get a bigger home to get it. it works for me, just need to be creative on your stuff.

[BRN_RI_FL]

We have a courtyard villa, the Charlotte model (3 bedrooms, inside laundry). We are able to get our VW - GTI and 2 golf carts parked tandem in the garage along with some small storage closets. That said, I will not pull the car in with the second cart inside the garage (my husband is able to). It's a tight fit but it works. BTW, we bought the GTI just so we could get a car in the garage.

We also have the Charlotte model. Hopefully our Subaru Outback and a golf cart yet to be purchased will fit. I told my wife that if they don't, we may be trading in her Outback while we are there in a couple weeks for something smaller. I'm not as concerned with storage in the garage just that the two vehicles will fit.

[perrjojo]

We also have the Charlotte model. Hopefully our Subaru Outback and a golf cart yet to be purchased will fit. I told my wife that if they don't, we may be trading in her Outback while we are there in a couple weeks for something smaller. I'm not as concerned with storage in the garage just that the two vehicles will fit.

We have a Charlotte and have a 2 person cart and a Chevy Equinox. It is tight but there is a lot of room at the front of the garage. The bigger the garage, the more stuff you collect unless maybe you have a hobby that requires extra room.

[BRN_RI_FL]

I thought I should answer this for any buyers having a similar question. Our Subaru Outback and 2017 Yamaha gas cart do fit in the garage. It's a bit tight though and we need to be careful especiallly with the car going in and out while the golf cart is inside. There's also still ample storage with both vehicles inside. The golf cart going in and out while the car is inside is no problem. If we had a longer 4-seater cart I'm not sure it would fit. Question for anyone else with a Charlotte courtyard villa - do you angle the cart when driving in towards the door leading to the house? I've already spoken to one person in Phillips Villas who has scraped his car.

[Topspinmo]

I thought I should answer this for any buyers having a similar question. Our Subaru Outback and 2017 Yamaha gas cart do fit in the garage. It's a bit tight though and we need to be careful especiallly with the car going in and out while the golf cart is inside. There's also still ample storage with both vehicles inside. The golf cart going in and out while the car is inside is no problem. If we had a longer 4-seater cart I'm not sure it would fit. Question for anyone else with a Charlotte courtyard villa - do you angle the cart when driving in towards the door leading to the house? I've already spoken to one person in Phillips Villas who has scraped his car.


For me it's easier to back the golf cart in at angle, then swing the front end over. Way easier for me, but I drove quarry truck when younger and could back it up beside a dime. For me it's easier coming out (of course) and going in backwards. I tried going in forward and found it harder to back out than to back in. :gc:

[BRN_RI_FL]

For me it's easier to back the golf cart in at angle, then swing the front end over. Way easier for me, but I drove quarry truck when younger and could back it up beside a dime. For me it's easier coming out (of course) and going in backwards. I tried going in forward and found it harder to back out than to back in. :gc:

Thanks!

[VIN574]

We put my wife's Subaru Legacy and my golf cart in our CYV. We park the cart on an angle. There's enough room for us to get around and do the laundry out there too.

I have a larger SUV that barely fits. We leave that up north.

I'd say it all depends on how much other storage you use it for. I know our full-time neighbors have a need to put more of their belongings the garage.

Best

[BRN_RI_FL]

We put my wife's Subaru Legacy and my golf cart in our CYV. We park the cart on an angle. There's enough room for us to get around and do the laundry out there too.

I have a larger SUV that barely fits. We leave that up north.

I'd say it all depends on how much other storage you use it for. I know our full-time neighbors have a need to put more of their belongings the garage.

Best

We also park ours at an angle. Going to try what Topspinmo is suggesting backing in at an angle then turning the front so it is straighter.

[BK001]

I have a feeling you will be a great addition to TV. Welcome To Your New Home. It will be better than you even imagined. I went from a 2 plus car garage to a Golf Cart Garage and it is just fine because we live here. I am determined to not let myself repeat the mistakes of the past and stay in the accumulation mode. I sold or gave away much of my tool collection. I love fixing things with a check book. Its really nice when possible. :wave:

We too left all the tools behind and decided that it's time for someone else to do the fixing and for us to write the check - seems only fair! I will think of the Nuckys everytime I use the phrase "fixing things with a checkbook" -- in fact, I have enough to say on that topic I think it deserves its own post. LOL

OP - we have 1.5 car garage. Sure I would have preferred larger but the home had everything else we wanted. So for me the challenge is to think creatively in terms of "air space" -- shelves, peg boards etc -- different ways to eliminate using floor space. good luck and welcome to TV

[pgc4340]

Looking forward to being back in the Villages in a few weeks. We're planning on buying a golf cart at that time. For some reason I'm a lot more excited about that than my wife. I'm curious how tight the fit will be on a car (Subaru Outback) and a golf cart in the garage at our new place at Phillips Villas. As I mentioned in the title, it's a 1 1/2 car garage. This is probably something I should have asked before the purchase, not after. Thanks in advance.
Bruce

Garages in The Villages are very "ify" as far as size. Our vehicles are very tight side to side but no worries in the front. Best to measure and consider if you want to open car doors inside the garage to get in.

[Greg Nelson]

Not big enough...you'd think TV would get that

[BRN_RI_FL]

Garages in The Villages are very "ify" as far as size. Our vehicles are very tight side to side but no worries in the front. Best to measure and consider if you want to open car doors inside the garage to get in.

My wife gets out in the driveway and folds the sideview mirror in before I drive in. I'm sure I would have scraped the mirror by now if we didn't do that. Plenty of room for the Subaru in the front also. You just have to be real careful driving in or backing out the automobile.

[Xcuse]

I will not be a happy camper if my Subaru and golf cart do not fit reasonably well in the garage. It was advertised as that and should fit! I can understand it they don't fit because the garage is loaded with other stuff.

We have a 1 1/2 garage and the car, golfcart and workbench all fit. The passenger side riders have to exit the car before it goes into the garage and the "other stuff" will always expand to fill any space.

[autumnspring]

Looking forward to being back in the Villages in a few weeks. We're planning on buying a golf cart at that time. For some reason I'm a lot more excited about that than my wife. I'm curious how tight the fit will be on a car (Subaru Outback) and a golf cart in the garage at our new place at Phillips Villas. As I mentioned in the title, it's a 1 1/2 car garage. This is probably something I should have asked before the purchase, not after. Thanks in advance.
Bruce

First for you-from your post you have already committed so why question it NOW.

We bought a large TV at Best Buy a few years ago and were questioning, perhaps like you-HOW BIG. The simple reply was, No one complains that they bough too big a TV.

In your post you state 1 1/2 car garage. I think that is a normal garage with extra width to it-not a golf cart garage

[Topspinmo]

Frogot to ask? Do you have electric or gas golf cart? Electric pretty easy to back up due to the control with the electric motor. Gas on the other hand with the centrifugal clutch can be tricky. Just don't push the gas peddle down too far or it wil jump when the clutch kicks fully in. Best to practice feathering the gas pedal when backing to control the speed so you don't get the big jump when the RPMs suddenly increase.

[BRN_RI_FL]

Frogot to ask? Do you have electric or gas golf cart? Electric pretty easy to back up due to the control with the electric motor. Gas on the other hand with the centrifugal clutch can be tricky. Just don't push the gas peddle down too far or it wil jump when the clutch kicks fully in. Best to practice feathering the gas pedal when backing to control the speed so you don't get the big jump when the RPMs suddenly increase.
We have a gas Yamaha. It is a little tricky and will take practice as you mention.

[Bob45]

I have a CYV. I back my car in the garage putting the passenger side about a foot from the wall. That leaves enough room to open the drivers door and am able to get the golf cart in and out without moving the car.
Bob