How many have downsized to one car from two?
 

I keep looking at our lifestyle and often reach the conclusion we could with minor bumps here and there go down to one car plus our golf cart of course.

It is not like it saves a lot of money to do so, insurance and infrequent fill up and service.....but gaining the extra space in the garage would be a plus.

Have you done it?
Would you do it again?
Why not do it?

Since we basically use our golf cart for golf, transportation to a neighborhood party, or occasionally to go to the store, giving up the 2nd car is very difficult for us to do psychologically. I imagine if a household uses their golf cart a lot it would not be a problem.

We downsized from two cars to one and, of course, it was my car that had to go, and I really hate it. I don't like using the golf cart for general transportation and much prefer to be in a car. I don't use a golf cart in the evening when it is dark, or when it is raining, or when it is cold ...... so I need a car.

In November, we just sent a car north temporarily for one of our college students. Although it isn't much of an indication because it has only been three months, we really haven't felt much of a hardship.

We got rid of a great big old truck and only miss it when we buy something too big to fit in the car! Sure is nice having the extra garage space, not that you ever have enough SPACE!

one car - one cart
 

We've had one car for many years, but both of us love driving the golf cart and that is our preferred mode of transportation. The car is primarily back-up for bad weather, trips outside TV and those times when we both need to be somewhere at the same time.
We usually group multiple errands when we need the car and will often hit Home Depot and Kohls, etc, rewarding ourselves with lunch at a restaurant that we can't visit with our cart. After awhile that habit seemed to eliminate the need to jump in the car and go somewhere at the drop of the hat.
An evaluation of your trips outside The Villages might help you decide whether you can let go of your second car or whether you really do need to keep it. For instance, if you often play golf outside TV and your spouse needs to get to Ocala at the same time - or from one end of TV to the other- it might be a valid reason to keep two cars. If its just a matter of developing new habits, then downsizing to one car is quite doable.

We got rid of our second car, a large SUV, prior to moving to TV. We have one car and a golf cart. Very seldom do we have the need for two cars, but we work it out. There have been more occasions where we needed two golf carts that where we needed two cars.

When we moved here, we had a car and a pickup truck. The pickup came in handy when we were buying stuff for the house. After we got the golf cart, the truck was put in the driveway. We decided that we needed only one vehicle and my pickup lost in the vote. My wife and traitor dog voted for the car.

I still miss the pickup. :cryin2:

Z

We have our van and it holds the whole family at the moment. Grandkids are of marrying age so not for long.


And we have two golf carts, one a four seater gas and one a two seater electric.


Works great for us.

We went from one car, one pickup truck and one golf cart to one SUV and two golf carts. Suits our needs perfectly. On those extremely rare occasions when we really need a second car we rent one. (Happens less then once a year.)

We had 3 when we were both working, sold one when my husband retired, and sold mine when I retired. It was more of an issue where we were before, but had the house for sale and knew we were coming here. We got a cart fast (!), and haven't regretted not having the other car yet! As some people have said, sometimes we BOTH wanted the cart, which is why my husband got the scooter that takes him to all the local rec centers and pools. I'll tell ya a story from just last week... we so infrequently use the car that (as we were afraid of) the battery went dead, and we had to charge it. It was in the back of our minds that this could happen (duh!), but somehow forgot all about it. We will be more careful in the future, and are purchasing a charger of our own to keep handy!
P.S. I had company once while my husband was away for a week with the car...most days we used the cart, but we rented a car for 3 days, too...cheap and easy!

We got rid of our second car as soon as I retired and officially became a frog in December. (Hubby was here 6 months ahead of me) We now have two golf carts and a small SUV......perfect, and if we ever have need for a second car....Enterprise is in town! We sold our car via TOTV in one day and even got our asking price.

We have 2 cars and 2 carts. Would give up a car before I gave up one of the carts! We really don't need 2 cars; one is an SUV and the other is a 2 seat convertible, so they serve 2 different purposes and we can never quite decide which one is unnecessary.

We have had one car for two years now. Never miss it!

We have one car and one golf cart and so far have had no troubles.

On occasion, I wish I had my truck down here but I have neighbors that let me use theirs.

I see people with multiple cars and multiple golf carts juggling their vehicles around and it sure doesn't seem worth it.

We came to FL with 2 cars in 2004 and found we only needed 1 so we sold 1.
Then we decided to get a new 2005 Thunderbird convertible. We sold that in 2012 with 3,000 miles!
So the answer is we get along wonderfully with 1 car and 1 golf cart.

1. We did it when we first moved here ... sold both cars then bot one that we would both use

2. No

3. After about a year of scheduling who got to use the one car, my wonderful wife informed me it wasn't working and she wanted a MINI Cooper. She was very persuasive so now we're back to two cars. :)

The pivotal issues here are parking space and preference.

We have plenty of space for two cars and have a golf cart garage.

I dislike using my golf cart and only use it once every week or two. My wife and I prefer to walk the executive courses. If I play a champion course on the north side I rent one of their carts because I don't like going down Morse in a cart. However I have gone down Morse in it.

I do not desire to give up our second car because I rely on it for almost everything including driving to the golf course (executive)

No problem in TV. Slight problem when we go up North for the summer.

The GPS units in my two cars were disenabled for northward travel:crap2:

We downsized to one car and bought a golf cart. No problems and more room in garage.
We would do it again. When you first move here you use the car more getting out and about and furnishing and decorating your home. After that, we use car maybe once a week or to go on a vacation.

Is the Kohls outside the Villages? I did not see it when I visited.

My wife and I did it 5 years ago. One car, one Golf Cart and we live in StoneCrest. I fill up the car about once every three weeks. If your in The Villages it should be a snap.

Piece of cake, went from 2 cars since 1968 to 1 in September 2013 since moving to TV from Peabody MA. Bought a new golf cart in September and already have over 1700 miles on it. It's nice when you get 39 MPH in the golf cart, compared to 18 MPH in a GMC Terrain and get to the TV destinations about the same time. Just bought a 2nd cart and the only time taking the Terrain is going outside TV or when it rains.

Last year we went from 2 cars and 1 cart to 1 car and 2 carts. Much easier to fit in the garage. The car will sit for weeks at a time.

Rollie

I am a new member and hope to purchase a home in TV. As a snowbird, I am planning to be able to fly down and use a golf car to get around. I have investigated ZIP cars and the closest is Orlando. I have email them to suggest TV would be a perfect location for this type of service. You pay by the hour or by day when one needs a car or pickup. Hope someone starts a franchise as this would be great. ANYONE OUT THERE INTERESTED??

Cars vs Carts
 

We sold our second car before we moved down in June of 2013. We bought a golf cart in July 2013. We use our golf cart 95% of the time. We only use the car when we drive to Sam's, Kohl's, Target etc. or off campus.

You can google ZIP Cars to get the details but, basically, you open an account online and are given a card, like a credit card, and it will open and start the car. Cars are left at designated spots and you just go and drive away. You may be charged for the day or by the hour. When you are finished, return to same spot. Very simple. It would be very easy to take a plane to Orlando, shuttle to TV and use golf cart to get around. Of course, I would love a car also but it would be very expensive to keep a car in TV idle for several months. And, it may not even start when not being used. Best solution for snowbirds. I also have friends in TV.

Hey a solution to your truck being gone. We always had a car and a pick up in out working life. Always had things to do around the house tow boats etc.

When we moved here we decided to get rid of the truck and go to one car and the golf cart. But I still like to have the advantage of a truck so we bought one of those Harbor Freight trailers. For less than $275. we put sides and rigged a cover. It's a 4'x8' bed. Will haul what a truck will haul but not as much weight. They are cheap but it has been reliable. We were snow birds and had to go Back to Cincinnati every year. That trailer hauled all our junk and tools for the six months that we were back up north. I think it made about 12 one way trips near 900 miles. We still have it for all the little projects I like to do here. Always have been a diyer. My neighbor just made a kayak trailer from one. All a little off topic but I thought you might be yearning for a truck like solution.

Tom

I forgot to mention it folds up.

Sailor, That is a great idea. Can you post a picture? What did you use for sides, cover and floor? Thank you

Kohl's is in the shopping center with Best Buy and Bed, Bath & Beyond. That is on the SW corner of Rolling Acres Rd and Hwy 441, which is not accessible by golf cart. Across the street from Home Depot and Sam's Club, which are also not accessible. The farthest south you can go in a golf cart is the Target Shopping Center on the NW corner of Rolling Acres Rd.

The floor is a sheet of 1/2" treated plywood, the sides are 3/8" plywood not treated. The trailer is 4'x8' so the floor is one sheet cut into two 4'x4' so that the trailer can fold. The sides are 2' high, and are framed on top with 2x2s and have 2x4 stakes that fit in stake pockets that are part of the trailer. Too fold the sides must be removed. I have a two car and golf cart garage and one side is my work shop. I have room to leave the trailer unfolded and the sides are on.
The trailer is available in three 4'x8' models. This is the mid sized unit. It will hold a little over 1000# and it has 12" wheels. The smaller one uses 8" wheels. I think 8" wheels are too small for high speed (70 MPH) use so I opted for 12". The heavy duty trailer does not fold. Check out the Harbor Freight site for all the details.



Tom

Trailer Pictures
 

Harbor Freight trailer forgot how to up load photos so here you go.

[ATTACH]35936Attachment 35936

Thank you, sailor47

We are downsizing from 3 cars to 1 before we move. We moved everything we planned to keep for the new house in a POD when we closed. Now we have just a few things here, pretty spartan actually, which we will move in our Prius when we come down for good.
We just bought a golf cart and plan to buy another once there. Both of us are excited to be using the GC most of the time.
But the Prius has been a delight!! 145K miles on her and she still drives like a dream! Best car we ever had! We will need her for our vacation travels and visits to see kids and grandkids.

Love the trailer! That really is the best of both worlds! We have found we can fit an amazing array of things in the Prius, but I am sure we will find ourselves in a bind trying to bring certain things home. It will be an adventure to find out!!

You will be surprised to know but my neighbor, the one that is using a Harbor Freight trailer for his kayaks, is towing the trailer with his Prius.

Tom