Info on electric golf carts

[bespoke]

We are thinking of moving to TV within 2 to 4 years. We have an opportunity to buy an electric golf car now. We don't know much about them. It has new batteries. If we store it for years, will it ruin the batteries? What would be the best way to store it? Also, it's street legal and the current owner tells us it will go up to 40 mph. We would prefer that it not be capable of going that fast. Is there a way to dial it back to 19 mph?

Thanks for your help.

[renrod]

A golf cart is NOT one of those things you need 2-4 years in advance. There are over 50,000 carts here and the new batteries will not be FRESH in 2 years. You can find a used cart in a relative short time frame here depending on how picky you are.

[Dayzee]

We went through the process of purchasing our first golf cart earlier this year. One of the deciding factors toward gas was the fact that electric carts should be used on a regular basis and we are still snow-birds, thus storage during the summer. This may be a tempting buy for you, but if you aren't planning on moving to TV for a few years I suggest you wait - there are always good deals to be found. In regards to electric verses gas - there are pros and cons to both, you'll learn a lot from people here on TOTV.

Welcome.

[George Bieniaszek]

We own an electric golf cart and love the quietness and power it has. We have over 4500 trouble free miles on it in the 2 years we owned it. With regular use, you can expect the batteries to last between 2.5 - 4 years on the average.

You can purchase a Battery Minder which will keep the batteries at 100% charge, BUT, if you are going to put the cart into storage for 2-4 years, and not use it, you are looking at purchasing new batteries for the cart no matter what you do. Having the batteries sit for that period of time does more harm than good for them. Batteries will discharge while in non-use at approximately 3-4% per month. So in 2 years they are totally dead and more than likely cannot be revived. A new set of batteries will run $650-$800 depending on what configuration your cart has.

A second issue is that the cart is "street legal". Once Florida registration is put on the cart and it is listed as a street legal cart, you cannot go back to non-street legal status. So now you have to keep it registered as a motor vehicle and carry insurance on the cart when you start using it regardless if you slow it down to 19 MPH.

Unless the cart is a smoking great deal, realize the cash outlay in a complete battery replacement once you put it on the road along with registration and insurance expenses.

[ajbrown]

We are thinking of moving to TV within 2 to 4 years. We have an opportunity to buy an electric golf car now. We don't know much about them. It has new batteries. If we store it for years, will it ruin the batteries? What would be the best way to store it? Also, it's street legal and the current owner tells us it will go up to 40 mph. We would prefer that it not be capable of going that fast. Is there a way to dial it back to 19 mph?

Thanks for your help.

If you do not mind sharing, what are the specifics of the deal?

Where would you keep the cart?

You may be able to sell batteries.

40 MPH?...... hmmmmmm....sounds kool..............I mean, very bad.... exceeding 25 MPH is very dangerous and illegal.

Changing it back to 25 MPH depends how they got that speed. Controller setting? Motor? 72 volts?

I agree it likely makes most sense to wait, but....

[jchase]

You have been given great advise!

WAIT TO YOU GET HERE!

:agree:

[bespoke]

I appreciate all your input. The cart is bright red, looks just like a Mercedes, has a cooler, chrome spoke hubcaps, a heater, cd player ... really, I'm dazzled by it. Those aren't good enough reasons, huh?

[Carl in Tampa]

I would not purchase a golf cart "two to four years" in advance, neither electric nor gas. Vehicles in storage deteriorate. Batteries go flat; seals in gas engines harden and leak. Tires develop dry rot.

I would wait until I was in The Villages to make my purchase and ask my friends and neighbors for recommendations.

Not to open the can of worms controversy over "Gas or Electric?" I would point out that the majority of golf cart sales here are gas and it seems to me that Yahama dominates the market.

I purchased a used gas Yamaha 4 passenger cart from The Villages Golf Cars in the Spanish Springs area. It had been a rental unit and was refurbished mechanically and from the frame up was entirely new. The price was lower than a new 2 passenger cart. We have been running all over the park in it and I am very happy with it.

I have strong opinions in favor of buying gas, but to me the point of this particular thread is whether to buy such a long time in advance of needing it and putting it in storage. I recommend against it.

You say the cart in question looks like a Mercedes. That would kick the price up. What is the asking price for the cart? Personally, I wouldn't buy a street legal unit for the reasons already detailed in other posts and because I wouldn't want to mingle in with automobiles and trucks in a vehicle as flimsy as a golf cart.

All of the foregoing could be summarized as Don't Do It.

:gc:

[thistrucksforyou]

I appreciate all your input. The cart is bright red, looks just like a Mercedes, has a cooler, chrome spoke hubcaps, a heater, cd player ... really, I'm dazzled by it. Those aren't good enough reasons, huh?

Ask yourself 2 questions ......Do I need it or do I want it...

There enlies your answer !

[asianthree]

Ask yourself 2 questions ......Do I need it or do I want it...

There enlies your answer !

there will be another one just as cute two years from now

[Joaniesmom]

I agree with the other posters. Much as you would love to buy it now, wait till you get here. There are bizillions of carts around. There will be one at TV you will be happy with.

Joaniesmom

[pfhannan]

Do your self a favor, there are dozens of carts here, wait.

[bespoke]

Thanks so much for all of your input. I so wanted to get it but you've all convinced me to wait. It's not what I wanted to hear but I appreciate it.

[justjim]

Bespoke: Good decision---WAIT! But retire as soon as you possibly can----you won't be sorry! Good Luck.

[Fourpar]

Thanks so much for all of your input. I so wanted to get it but you've all convinced me to wait. It's not what I wanted to hear but I appreciate it.
You'll be glad you did! For a number of reasons.:agree:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I would not purchase a golf cart "two to four years" in advance, neither electric nor gas. Vehicles in storage deteriorate. Batteries go flat; seals in gas engines harden and leak. Tires develop dry rot.

I would wait until I was in The Villages to make my purchase and ask my friends and neighbors for recommendations.

Not to open the can of worms controversy over "Gas or Electric?" I would point out that the majority of golf cart sales here are gas and it seems to me that Yahama dominates the market.

I purchased a used gas Yamaha 4 passenger cart from The Villages Golf Cars in the Spanish Springs area. It had been a rental unit and was refurbished mechanically and from the frame up was entirely new. The price was lower than a new 2 passenger cart. We have been running all over the park in it and I am very happy with it.

I have strong opinions in favor of buying gas, but to me the point of this particular thread is whether to buy such a long time in advance of needing it and putting it in storage. I recommend against it.

You say the cart in question looks like a Mercedes. That would kick the price up. What is the asking price for the cart? Personally, I wouldn't buy a street legal unit for the reasons already detailed in other posts and because I wouldn't want to mingle in with automobiles and trucks in a vehicle as flimsy as a golf cart.

All of the foregoing could be summarized as Don't Do It.

:gc:

I have heard elsewhere that the majority of carts sold here are gas. I wonder where that statistic comes from.

I was in the golf business for 35 years and purchased and managed several fleets of golf carts. Over 85% of all carts sold nationally are electric. Of course using a golf cart to play golf on a golf course is very different than using one in a community like the Villages.

Someone told me that the majority of the carts that the Yamaha dealer sells are gas which would make sense since they make a great gas cart. Maybe that's where the story of the majority of carts sold here are gas.

My personal and very unscientific observation is that there are more electrics than gas, but I could be wrong.