2008 EZGO Carts
 

Anyone here have one of the new 2008 EZGO carts? I am thinking about trading my 2002 Club Cart in and was looking at the new EZGO and I am interested if anyone has any experience with one of them.

I forgot to add I am looking for electric. The lady of the house does not like the gas carts.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Zman
Yes we just bought one...

We bought a gas one...and so far very pleased.

I Test Drove One...Fantastic!
 

I own a 2007 model here and a 2000 model up in Michigan--both electrics. When I visited my dealer in Spanish Springs shopping center a few weeks ago, he was raving about the new models and bemoaning his inability to get enough of them to meet demand.

What's fantastic about the new model is it's new 48-volt AC-converted drive train. Don't try to understand all that gobbledegook. All you need to understand is that he new drive train will drive you UP steep hills at the maximum speed of the cart (about 20 mph)! The cart also brakes itself using the motor, not drum brakes or disc brakes. (It has a brake pedal, but all that does is slow the cart using the electric motor.) Another big change is the suspension--they've used automotive A-frame in front and trailing arms in the rear. The new suspension makes for a much more car-like ride. They've begun to advertise "the longest range of any electric cart". When I asked about that, they're saying their new 2008 electrics have a 60-65 mile range.

Back to the uphill speed. I took one out and went over to the golf cart bridge over 441. After watching for a lull in traffic, I floored it uphill over the bridge. Yep, they go full speed up hills...at least it felt like a full 20 mph to me! Interestingly, you have to "accelerate" going down hills to slow down. If you simply take your foot off the accelerator, the cart stops...quickly! The new drive train takes a little getting used to, but it is a fantastic machine. By now, I'm sure the supply chain has filled in, as well.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Thanks for the replies. I did research the carts on the internet and have made a visit and got the brochures and sales sheets. I wanted to hear some first hand experience and I got it.

I found a great ad in the Sunday paper for $1000 in free accessories.

Now I have to convince myself to get rid of the Club Car cart. It was my first cart and it is hard to part with.

Kahuna - where is your golf cart dealer in Spanish Springs? Also, I am wondering if there is a setting so that the cart doesn't stop when you take your foot off of the accelerator. When I first got my IC Club Car cart, it did that and I had to learn to rejudge the stopping range. When I got the cart checked out one day, the service tech changed a setting and it starting coasting when you took your foot off of the accelerator. A question that I will have to add to my list of questions.

Technically, It Might Be Spanish Plaines Plaza
 

The dealer I used--who I like a whole lot, by the way--is right next door to the Ace Hardware, on almost a straight line behind the Perkins on 441. You can drive up to the back of the place and they'll clean your upholstery with compressed air, fill your tires and provide a pleasant greeting--all free. Good guys.

As far as braking adjustments--can't help there. But I didn't find it too hard to get used to.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

The few people that we spoke with about buying a cart (one was a dealer) had all convinced us that the gas carts were the way to go. Told us that the electric carts would lose power not only as your charge wore down, but also as they got older and needed to replace the battery. We were also told that the batteries are very expensive and make the gas carts more affordable because the batteries need to be replaced every couple of years in the electric models. However, since I have been reading posts on this website it sounds like almost everyone has an electric cart. Maybe we talked to the wrong people????

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

About how much $$$ does one of these new ~puppies~ run???

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

You can get a brand new Yamaha Drive from TNT golf carts in Quincy, Illinois for $4799 plus accessories -- free delivery to your house in the villages and no sales tax -- Great cart, great deal !!!!!!!!!!

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

The price list I got from EZGO two weeks ago has $7495 for gas and $7295 for electric.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Zman,

I paid $6800. just about 2 weeks ago....and like I said I have every option available.

I bet you can get the salesman to come down.....

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Thanks. I also have a trade-in for when I decide.

Electric Versus Gas...Again
 

Specifically regarding the E-Z-GO electrics...
[br]

• The new 2008 models are being advertised as having a range of 60-65 miles. This is greater than the Columbia Par Car which until now has had the greatest range.

[br]

• A new set of six batteries for a 36-volt E-Z-GO (the older models) costs about $350 and needed to be replaced every 3-5 years. I have an E-Z-GO up in Michigan that is still running just fine on 7-year old batteries.

[br]

• Presumably the replacement cost of the eight smaller batteries in the 48-volt system will approximate the cost of replacing the six larger batteries in the 36-volt system.

[br]

• At approximately 50-60 miles per gallon with a gas cart, with gas at $4 a gallon, an average Villages golf cart owner will spend more on gas in 3 years than a set of replacement batteries cost. (60 miles per week/60 miles per gallon=1 gallon per week X 52 X $4 = $208 per year X 3 years = $624)

[br]

• The 2008 E-Z-GO carts employ a 48 volt regenerative system that converts DC power into AC to run the motor. It actually charges the batteries as you go down hills or brake the vehicle, presumably resulting in the significantly increased range of the new models.

[br]
Personally, I don't think the choice of gas versus electric is a "cost thing". It's probably a "smell and noise thing" more than anything else. Try them both and see which one you find more enjoyable.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

We run our battery cart at less than 3 cents per mile. Do that with a gas cart. Approx 200 to 300 miles a month with all the range we need. We will surely look at the EZGO when it comes time for another cart. We will save enough over a period of time to get new batteries.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Lucko - I think the thread is about EZ GO AC drive carts not Yamaha - hence the price discrepency.

Joann - The thread is about the new EZ GO electrics not gas.

Just thought I'd play topic cop for a few minutes.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Russ - I added the line about electric after Joann replied. I should have been more specific in my original post. \\My apology.

Z

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

How do you determine the 3 cents/mile?

Gas is around 6.7 cents/mile for fuel if you get 60 MPG and pay $4/Gal

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

I just test drove an electric EZ Go last month. Was very impressed with the suspension, structural integrity to include the frame for the top. The rails were much larger than previous models. The seat side rails also came up higher as if to hold you in place. Warranty for the electric was bumper to bumper 4 yr. The "Fly by Wire" technology has found its way to golf carts too with electronic engine braking. Batteries consisted of 4 unlike my old Club Car that had 6. Cost of ea battery was $120 per salesman.

F16

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Divide kwh used by number of miles driven times price per kwh. In the past 4 months:
1092 miles
258 kwh
approx .13 cents per kwh

Actually, just over 3 cents a mile.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

everybody's test driving, but I don't hear anybody buying! LOL

Message To Reddy Kilowatt
 

Where in the world did the formula of "miles driven divided by cost per KWH"come from? How many kilowatt hours does it take to charge batteries? That factor seems to be missing in the formula.

There are all kinds of sources that estimate the operating cost of running an electric cart at somewhere in the range of 1.3 to 1.5 cents per mile. There are similar sources for calculating the operating cost of a gas cart. Unfortunately, with gas headed towards $4 a gallon, many of these estimates are out-of-date. Calculating the operating cost of a gas cart at $4 a gallon leads one to an updated answer that a gas cart costs about 6.7 cents per mile to operate. That's forgetting cost of the the annual "tune up" needed for gas carts, but not electric.

To be fair, one should add in the costs of replacing the batteries for the electric cart, which should be done every 3-5 years. Using the estimate provided by the E-Z-GO salesman, replacement of the four batteries would cost $480. Splitting the difference between 3-5 years and using 4 for the calculation, the cost of battery replacements every four years, amortized over Villages "average" useage (8 miles a day, 56 miles a week, 240 miles a month, or 2,900 miles per year), the total cost of operating an electric cart including the amortized cost of battery replacement would be 5.4 cents per mile, about 20% less than a gas cart.

Then you have the question of smell and noise. It's a slam-dunk decision for me.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Great analysis, Kahuna. :bigthumbsup: What did you do in your other life? ;)

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Works for me Kahuna :bigthumbsup: Smell and noise also sums it up :bigthumbsup:

I did not realize when I started this post that there are two versions of the 2008 EZGO ELECTRIC carts. There is the TXT Freedom and the RXV. The TXT has the standard drum brake system and the RXV has the electric braking system and the AC converted drive train mentioned further up.

I found this out when I went to purchase the RXV and wanted the $1000 in free accessories that were offered in the ad. I was told that was for the TXT version. It is in the ad. Since I wanted the RXV I said okay and got the RXV. It didn't much matter since most of the accessories come with the RXV cart anyway.

I should get the new cart in 7-10 days. I will let you know what it is like after I drive it for a couple of days.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

zcaveman, cool !!!!!!!!!! give us the test drive report

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

VK:

20% or so more for Gas isn't a deal breaker

Noise isn't a big factor for me

Smell - can it be that much worse than a car?


Any comment about long time storage of gas vs electric over the summer for us part timers

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Kahuna,

divide kwh used by number of miles driven times price per kwh.
In the past 4 months:
1092 miles were driven
258 kwhwere used during this period
electric cost from SECO was approx $.13 per kwh
258 / 1092 x .13 = 3 cents per mile

I had a hard time with algebra and am not mathemetician by any stretch, but is that not correct ?

KWH used to charges our batteries are measured by a meter like the one on the outside of your house, only smaller. SECO has them for sale. It's called a kill a watt, about $25 from SECO power store here:
http://www.energyfederation.org/seco....php/cPath/388

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

So, Kahuna says it's 5.4 cents per mile and Chacam says it's an additional 3 cents per mile for the kilowatt hours. So that makes a total of 8.4 cents per mile for the electric carts as opposed to the 6.7 cents per mile for the gas. So I guess our sales rep was correct when he told us the gas was cheaper to run.

Seasonal Storage Of EZGO Carts
 

I can't speak for any brand other than E-Z-GO, but their electric carts have a switch in the battery compartment labeled "Run" or "Tow". When leaving for the season, all you need to do is fully charge the cart, disconnect the charger, and move the switch to "Tow". When you come back in several months, switch it back to "Run" and you'll still have almost a full charge. I do this for the ten months of the year that we're here and my E-Z-GO in Michigan works fine. In fact, the batteries are year 2000 models and still run the cart fine.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Thanks VK

Wonder why putting the cart in the "Tow" position for long time storage hasn't been mentioned on the many other posts on cart usage?

This issue is what makes me a leaner toward getting a gas cart.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

I can't seem to find a good review/comparison of

EZGO vs Club Car vs. Yamaha

anyone have any insights?

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Club Car also has a TOW position. This disengages the motor from the electric system. When you check out the batteries you are supposed to put it in Tow. I found out from a Spano technician, that if you are having your cart towed, you better put it in the tow position or you will have to have your electric motor replaced since it is fighting the tow when the cart is in neutral.

It is a safety feature. When you are in Run and you do not have the brake on, the cart will try to stop from rolling. It also beeps to warn you that it is rolling. This prevents the cart from rolling into the pond before you can get to it.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

My new EZGO RXV arrived today!! :hot: :hot: :hot: My 2002 Cart Car left today. :( :( :(

I took it for a test drive and loved it. Uphill/downhill - we did great.

Only a little problem with the EZGO place on 441 - phone tag trying to get the delivery date/time. Once I did some serious BS they finally came across. Took seven or eight phone calls - not happy about that.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Z, I looked at the new EZ electric and was very impressed, lookin forward to an update after you've lived with it for a month, what brand did you have...Thanks...GN

Factory Store Versus Town & Country
 

Z,

Your experience is what I've heard often about the E-Z-GO factory store on 441 north of 42. I've heard they're "just OK' prior to the sale and then difficult to impossible to get hold of after the sale. Obviously, you'd have to get them to come and trailer the cart to their place for service. I wonder how they are on that end? Although I have to admit, in two years I've had only one small 'nit' on my E-Z-GO, a lock that needed fixing on the glove box door.

For those of you reading this who have an interest in an E-Z-GO, shop the factory store for sure. But also give some consideration to Town & Country E-Z-GO, right behind Perkins on 441, right near where Avenida Central intersects with 441, across from the CVS on 441. I think they'll match any price you get from the factory store and they are a whole lot more friendly, golf cart accessible, and responsive than what Z has described. In fact, I'm going to buzz down there this afternoon to have them pressure clean my upholstery and check the tire pressures--all done for free, with a smile, and as soon as you drive in.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Kahuna,

May I ask a silly question.....what would you estimate the cost of recharging your batteries on the electric carts on a monthly basis.

Cost To Charge Electric Cart
 

I couldn't possibly break out the cost of charging the cart from our electric bill. But there are lots of analyses of operating costs of electric versus gas carts, a couple of which are actually in this subject thread if you read all the entries. Estimates I've read suggest that the operating cost of an electric cart is in the range of 1.3 to 1.5 cents per mile. So I guess if you drove the cart, say 200 miles a month, your electric bill would include about $3.00 for charging your electric cart.

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Thanks Kahuna :)

Re: 2008 EZGO Carts
 

Update on my new RXV EZGO Electric Cart:

I took my new EZGO RXV cart for a long ride yesterday. I went from Springdale (Marion county) to Lake Sumter Landing to pick up some forms at the doctor's office. I had never been to LSL by cart so going I took the Buena Vista recreational trail. The cart performed great!! Nice ride and easy steering. No problem in the tunnels. The electric brake does take some getting used to as well as the forward/reverse being on the key switch.

Coming back, I took the 466 route and ran into a rain storm so I got a chance to try the rain enclosure. It is much more air tight that the one in my old Club Car. There are no holes for rain to get into. But there are also no holes for air to get into!! It did get a little warm. This is not a big deal because I only drive the cart in the rain when I get caught in the rain. Also, with this rain enclosure, I still have a 360 degrees view as there is clear plastic in all of the panels. It seems to help in the rain.

Today we went and played golf at Hawkes Bay. Again the cart handled great. I have to get used to not trying to put on the parking brake. It has an internal electro-magnetic parking brake. But, again the rain!! Had to quit after three holes. I played with my wife and she is a fair-weather player only.

I have a service call in for a turn signal indicator they forgot plus outside mirrors which I forgot. They did call back on the day I put in the work order and gave me a day and time for service. I will let you know how that works out.

I did mention TOTV and the comments about the lack of callbacks to the manager. He was thankful and I believe that problem will be corrected.

To sum it up, I am loving the new cart.