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gigi22
10-10-2007, 01:42 PM
We're planning on moving to TV this year. :) We think that we need both of our cars and one golf cart, but I believe that the majority of couples at TV get by with one car and one golf cart. Finding a home with a golf cart garage makes it more difficult and more expensive. Most of the homes that have these are either on the golf course or on corners, which isn't really what we want. What is your experience? Do you get by with one car and a golf cart? Do you have any regrets that you didn't get a golf cart garage? If you do have one, are you glad you spent the extra money for one? My husband will probably golf about 3 times a week. I might golf once a week. I'm fairly young (for TV that is...early 50's) and I just don't know if I'm ready to give up my car. :dontknow: I think we'll both be pretty active during the day going to different activities. My concern is that something I want to do will be at the other end of TV and will be too long of a trip by golf cart. I'm looking forward to hearing your feedback!

villages07
10-10-2007, 02:50 PM
gigi...we have 2 cars and one golf cart; more often than not, we 'fight' over who gets to take the golf cart. I think you would do real well with one car and two golf carts and ok with one of each; it's extremely rare that we would need to take both cars out at the same time. When one of our cars is not longer functional, it will be replaced with a second golf cart.

We have an extended garage (4 ft longer) and 2 full size cars and the golf cart fit in there nicely. That's another option over the golf cart garage.....a lot of extra space at far less the extra cost of a golf cart garage.

bargee
10-10-2007, 03:01 PM
One and one half car garage(Patio Villa)one car,one golf cart,no problem.Been here 8 years.

Avista
10-10-2007, 03:35 PM
We have a Courtyard Villa with a 1 1/2 car garage. We have gone down to 1 car and one golf cart. It is working out pretty well. My husband does volunteer work outside of The Villages, and he needs the car for this. When this happens I use the golf cart for my things. Often the car only comes out of the garage one or two times a week.

Frank2
10-10-2007, 03:48 PM
One car garage with double wide door. One car and a golf cart...seven years and it's adequate. No problem.

Hancle704
10-10-2007, 04:08 PM
Been here 10 years with 1 car and 1 golf cart. Use the golf cart more than the car. No problems. We are retired and there is hardly no place we can't get to by golf cart. That's one of the greatest benefits of TV. Other retirement communities we looked at, required a car for everything but golf.

Happy Villager
10-10-2007, 07:16 PM
One car and two electric golf carts. Two car garage but my husband would love to have a golf cart garage too. Our garage is very organized and roomy enough for what we have. We rarely use our automobile and use at least one of the golf carts every day.

gigi22
10-10-2007, 07:49 PM
Thanks for all of your responses. :clap2: I'm reconsidering our need for two cars and a golf cart. Maybe we should start off with one car and a golf cart and see how it goes. We can always add another golf cart or a small car, as long as we get an extended garage or a golf cart garage. We saw a home that we liked in Duval with an extended garage back in June, but we hadn't sold our home, yet. It was good to see that option. If anyone feels that they really need both cars, I liked to hear from them! Thanks, again!

swrinfla
10-11-2007, 03:36 PM
gigi22:
As a single person, I get by very easily with my car and my golf cart. But, you should listen to the others who've posted here, as there are very few reasons to have two cars! I've actually met several couples who've lived in TV for years who have given up their automobile altogether! They claim that, if they need to go anywhere where they can't go in their golfcart, they can easily call The Villages Taxi, or, better yet, their neighbor! A good way to save money!

JohnN
10-13-2007, 06:12 PM
interesting question, my wife and I are wondering the same thing. I've seen the smart car (8' x 5') at www.smartusa.com that is street legal but might fit in that 1/2 spot. It's pricier but gives the flexibility to go anywhere. Just a thought.

SteveFromNY
10-13-2007, 06:39 PM
We have 2 cars now and expect we'll keep them both for awhile - I expect to be living in TV next year. I am planning on getting 2 carts and leaving a car in the driveway. Our normal (not expanded) 2 car garage easily holds one car and 2 carts, and our driveway is wide enough to maneuver around. Once one of the cars goes, we'll dump it and go with one car and 2 carts. All of our visits to TV have found the car in the garage and us riding around in the cart. As has been said before, one of the unique aspects of TV is the ability to go almost everywhere by cart.

Hyacinth Bucket
10-13-2007, 07:01 PM
John N that was a good idea about the Smart Car. I will look into that.

Hyacinth Bucket

zcaveman
10-13-2007, 07:54 PM
When I moved here, I had a car and a pickup truck. After we bought a cart, the pickup stayed outside of the 2 stall garage. Sold the pickup and get by just fine with the one car and the cart.

JohnN
10-14-2007, 07:30 AM
Hyacinth, let me know what you think about it, especially if you test drive or buy one. I'm curious

Reggie
10-14-2007, 08:49 AM
We have a two car garage and we have been able to get both cars, a Honda Element and an Accord, plus the golf car into the garage with the golf car sideways behind the Element.

chuckinca
10-27-2007, 01:39 AM
Decisions, Decisions

Which one of my six cars/truck/van/suv do I keep??????

Can probably retire on just the car payments, insurance and maintenance savings!

jadebox
10-27-2007, 01:47 AM
Been here almost 6 years and have one car. We have three golf carts which is a little much BUT you should have 2 golf carts and one car.

jtdraig
10-27-2007, 02:18 PM
We've been here for two years now. We have two cars and a golf cart. For perspective, we've driven one car about 14,000 miles a year which includes at least 3 trips per year to Connecticut & Vermont. The other has been driven about 4500 miles in the same period. We have concluded that we can easily get by with one car and one golf cart. I'm still twitching though because I still want my car..must be a guy thing. My recommendation is that if you have two cars, try it out for a while. It goes without saying that you will get a golf cart.

F16 1UB
10-29-2007, 01:13 PM
Decisions, Decisions

Which one of my six cars/truck/van/suv do I keep??????

Can probably retire on just the insurance and maintenance savings!


Been kicking this around for over a year. What to do upon the move to TV?. Another 4 car garage? Too many toys. ??? ::) :dontknow: :( Guess when the time comes I'll She'll decide.

Steve

NJblue
06-20-2008, 08:41 PM
Sorry for resurrecting this old thread, but this is a topic that is of interest to us since we may be making a purchase decision in the near future. My wife insists that we need two cars plus a golf cart - even if the cars will be lightly used. It would seem that the obvious solution is a house with 2 car garage plus a golf cart garage. However, this adds to the price and, even more importantly, significantly limits the number of houses that may be available that meet this requirement. It would seem that the obvious solution if a house without a golf cart garage wins our hearts that we just keep one of the cars outside. However, this leads to 2 questions:

First, are the golf carts maneuverable enough and/or the driveways big enough to allow them to get around a parked car in the driveway? I'd hate to think about moving a car each time we wanted to use the golf cart. We would probably be getting a Designer home, if this makes a difference in the answer.

Secondly, based on the love bug discussion, it sounds like they can do damage to car finishes. If a car is parked in the driveway, how would one avoid damage? Would it have to be washed every day during love bug season?

JohnN
06-20-2008, 09:37 PM
I'm partial to two cars, just for the "comfort" factor, but...
realistically, a golf cart will indeed replace one of my vehicles,
I can't cost justify having two based on the posts above, nor really in my mind

for what purpose, for the once a year both parties want to go separate ways outside of TV?

SteveFromNY
06-20-2008, 11:59 PM
Sorry for resurrecting this old thread, but this is a topic that is of interest to us since we may be making a purchase decision in the near future. My wife insists that we need two cars plus a golf cart - even if the cars will be lightly used. It would seem that the obvious solution is a house with 2 car garage plus a golf cart garage. However, this adds to the price and, even more importantly, significantly limits the number of houses that may be available that meet this requirement. It would seem that the obvious solution if a house without a golf cart garage wins our hearts that we just keep one of the cars outside. However, this leads to 2 questions:

First, are the golf carts maneuverable enough and/or the driveways big enough to allow them to get around a parked car in the driveway? I'd hate to think about moving a car each time we wanted to use the golf cart. We would probably be getting a Designer home, if this makes a difference in the answer.

Secondly, based on the love bug discussion, it sounds like they can do damage to car finishes. If a car is parked in the driveway, how would one avoid damage? Would it have to be washed every day during love bug season?


I have a designer with a 2 car garage and there is no issue getting a cart around a car parked in the driveway. We've squeezed 2 carts and a car into the garage. We have 2 cars now, but I suspect we will eventually get rid of one and have 2.

The love bugs damage cars when you drive through them and they smash against the paint, not while parked.

redwitch
06-21-2008, 03:08 AM
Another solution is two golf carts, zero cars. Rent a car when you need one.

jadebox
06-21-2008, 11:29 AM
Been in TV seven years. Decided if something happened that we needed a second car we would rent it. Never happened. We have two golf carts which are used much more then the car. Many times weeks go by without using the car.

zcaveman
06-21-2008, 04:30 PM
Sorry for resurrecting this old thread, but this is a topic that is of interest to us since we may be making a purchase decision in the near future. My wife insists that we need two cars plus a golf cart - even if the cars will be lightly used. It would seem that the obvious solution is a house with 2 car garage plus a golf cart garage. However, this adds to the price and, even more importantly, significantly limits the number of houses that may be available that meet this requirement. It would seem that the obvious solution if a house without a golf cart garage wins our hearts that we just keep one of the cars outside. However, this leads to 2 questions:

First, are the golf carts maneuverable enough and/or the driveways big enough to allow them to get around a parked car in the driveway? I'd hate to think about moving a car each time we wanted to use the golf cart. We would probably be getting a Designer home, if this makes a difference in the answer.

Secondly, based on the love bug discussion, it sounds like they can do damage to car finishes. If a car is parked in the driveway, how would one avoid damage? Would it have to be washed every day during love bug season?


My answer to you would be to get a two car garage (if you cannot find one with the added golf cart garage) and bring the two cars down and see how it works out. Depending on the size of the garage and the cars, you can put both cars in the garage and the golf cart parked laterally to one of the cars. The next door neighbor does in with an Amarillo (ranch). If you park the second car about half way down the driveway you can maneuver the golf cart around the parked car. After a period of time, decide if you still need the two cars and make the decision then. That is what I did. And I still miss the pickup but it became unnecessary and the insurance and registration costs were reduced.

As redwitch pointed out the love bugs are only problems when you are driving and they splatter into your front bumper, hood and windshield.

redwitch
06-21-2008, 04:45 PM
Actually, it was StevefromNY who clarified the lovebug question, but thanks for giving me credit.

BTW -- If you insist on killing the bugs that land on your car while it is parked, do remember to immediately clean off the gooey mess. Personally, I have great fun swatting them while they're flying. My rolled up piece of newspaper is nice and yucky after a bout of lovebug revenge.

Avista
06-21-2008, 04:59 PM
We have one car and one golf cart. Using the car less and less. We use it perhaps once a week when we leave The Villages. Otherwise, always use the golf cart.

swrinfla
06-21-2008, 05:24 PM
Indeed, gigi22, I've met long-time Villagers who have actually given up their automobile altogether! Should they need to go somewhere "off campus," they usually call on a neighbor, or, in a pinch, The Villages Taxi. When they need to go visit family up north, a neighbor takes them to the airport shuttle and picks them up when they come home!

They keep asking what all the fuss is about gas prices! :joke:
SWR

NJblue
06-21-2008, 05:39 PM
Thanks for the replies. I tend to agree that one car and one golf cart makes a lot of sense. However, my wife has always dreamed of having a 2-seat sports car and wants to fulfill that dream in Florida. Obviously this would not be practical for long trips or going places with visiting friends or relatives.

rdmills
06-21-2008, 05:54 PM
We went down to one car and one golf cart when we moved in. After a year or so we found the need for a second golf cart. We use the two carts and just leave the car in the garage for rainy days.

spruillie
06-22-2008, 12:52 PM
We have flown to The Villages and stayed a month with no car, only the electric cart. Also, the cheapest way that we've found to get to/from the airport is to rent a car one way (Enterprise).

JohnN
06-22-2008, 02:43 PM
NJBlue,
Same issue here, small Florida car. But we figure we'll rent one for the long trips to visit.

MMC24
06-22-2008, 02:54 PM
We sold our 2nd car after moving to TV and bought 2 golf carts. We rarely use the car anymore. My wife loves her cart and goes everwhere in it. We do most of our errends using the carts. I don't think we used more than 10 gallons of gas in our car last month. I filled our car in the 3rd week of May and it is still a little over half full. Both our carts are electric.

bigfoot
06-23-2008, 04:26 PM
My wife wanted two cars also, but I think I have talked her out of it by suggesting one car, one cart and two Vespa's! I think the scooters were the key!.

MMC24
06-24-2008, 06:13 PM
My wife wanted two cars also, but I think I have talked her out of it by suggesting one car, one cart and two Vespa's! I think the scooters were the key!.


Good Idea!!! I don't believe my wife would be interested in a scooter but I sure would. Thanks for the suggestion.

Jullie
06-29-2008, 04:26 AM
We have a designer 2 car garage. We have one vehicle + one golf cart. Works out great.
No problems yet.

Russ_Boston
06-30-2008, 01:34 PM
How about 1 car - 2 carts - 1 scooter or motorcycle with a sidecar!

Floridagal
07-02-2008, 02:44 AM
We are living here almost 4 years and have one car and one golf cart and have no problems. If my husband takes the car I take the golf cart and if I take the car he takes the golf cart. If we are together we mostly use the golf cart except if we are leaving TV.

renielarson
07-02-2008, 03:25 AM
NO, no, no

I have to have 2 cars....

What if it's raining cats and dogs...don't want to be the one stuck in a golf cart.

Laura
07-03-2008, 12:45 AM
We have two cars, and two golf carts and a two car garage and a golf cart garage-standard sizes - we get both cars and both carts in with no problem. They are all driven straight in - no sideways cars or carts.
Want to know how it is done - e-mail me and I will send you a picture.