Picking Up New Cart
 

I'll be picking up my new cart from the Villages Golf Car in Brownwood on Friday is there anything I should check on the walk around? I'll check the self-canceling turn indicators, speedometer, and the general fit and trim. Is there anything else that are trouble areas I should look at?

Are the tires "round?" In other words, do you feel a thump-thump-thump as your drive?

Is the steering wheel pointing to 12 o'clock as you drive straight forward?

Pay close attention to the seats. Make sure there are no small tears in the fabric. A small tear will become a large one very shortly with just average use. Ask what your top speed will be.

When we ordered ours, I was surprised :shocked: how expensive the self-cancelling turn indicators were (as an option). Seems like a simple timer relay would be easy to add, cancelling the signal after 10 seconds (+/-). As I recall the option on the cart is more that $250:22yikes:

When I bought mine from Villages at Lake Sumter they delivered it to my home and the salesman stayed and ran over the entire operation of the cart.

If your cart can go over 20 MPH, you are driving a illegal low speed vehicle, ask for (demand) a document stating the speed is set a 19.9 or 20 MPH, and potentially save yourself lots of dollars, points, and aggravation if you get stopped.

I'm not sure that will make a difference, if you're ever pulled over...after being recorded actually above 20mph.

Particularly, since a simple wire-tie, installed by the owner...can override the governor. :shrug:

Six years ago I had The Villages add an LED light to each windshield post connected to the turn signal, flashes right in front of you, cost $50. My neighbor saw that, and had Villages Discount Golf Carts install the same lights on his. Even though he had an flashing arrow in the rear-view mirror, the one on the right side was not visible from the driver's seat, I think he said they were also $50.

A problem I had with mine when I first received the cart was the large rear-view mirrors on the windshield posts were eye level, and every time I made a turn it created a blind-spot, almost had a head on with another cart on a trail. I took it right in and had them lower the mirrors so the top of the mirror is on the same level as the fold in the windshield, so you will view over top of the mirror. I think The Villages now mounts the mirrors much lower because of my complaint.

Gas or electric?

No worries, the Villages Golf Cart will honor any problems that may arise with your new cart. They are very good about honoring warranty work if your new cart has any problems. Just make sure all the options you purchased with your cart are installed and drive it away and enjoy. If something comes up later, they will fix it.

Worth every single penny to me. Besides the self cancelling turn signals, the steering wheel features high beam lights which are excellent for visibility at night. I didn't know about the high beams until I picked up the cart. I was willing to spend the $250 just for the self cancelling turn signals and those high beams were a HUGE bonus. Oh.....also the horn is on the steering wheel with two buttons; one on each side of the steering wheel.

Really? On an electric cart? I would love to be able to add 2 mph to my 20 mph. Where does the wire tie go? I'm not handy. Who can I get to do this?

I second making sure the steering wheel is at 12 o'clock when the cart is going straight. Our club car is at about 10:30 when going straight and it always bugs me. Also, when we bought our club car from Villages Golf Carts we upgraded from 8 inch to 10 inch tires and were told by the salesperson that if was a good idea and common upgrade. After driving the cart over some bumps and around some corners we noticed the tires were rubbing inside the wheel wells. I was furious and brought the cart back. The service manager told me the cart was not designed for tires larger than 8 inches and it would need a lift kit, which they don't install. They offered to swap back the 8 inch tires and refund me for the upgrade, but I wanted the bigger tires. I had to bring the cart to an outside service place and pay another $800 to have a three inch lift kit installed to accommodate the tires. I must admit, the cart looks much better with the lift kit and we get many positive comments from people, but it was an unanticipated expense.

Check tow switch
Look at the batteries to see if they look like they are new and ask how you add water and have then show you. You will then be able to see if the fluid level is correct.

Even though you obviously aren't "handy," you may want to Google what a "governor" is...in regards to golf carts.

That will (should?)...answer your question. :ho:

could you explain further? my cart can go 23.
why would that be illegal?

Because Florida law states a non street legal cart is limited to a maximum speed of 20 MPH. Exceed that at your (and your wallet’s) own risk. It isn’t a cheap violation.

I was told by a salesman that high beam lights aren't available?

O good, just what we need brighter lights blinding everybody 100 yards down the road. Most golf cart headlights can be use for raccoon hunting.

That is so true. Some are so bright that it hurts.

Is it safe to ride at night?
 

Thank you for mentioning high beams. I was wondering if it was safe to ride your golf cart at night? Future Villagers

Please dim your lights for approaching carts. Some carts have extra lights that are so bright it hurts. Also we can't see until they pass. Dangerous for all.

At 20 MPH you do NOT need high beams. Just turn them off if you have them. They are irritating and blinding.

Check that the self cancelling turn signals actually turn off automatically. On the cart I bought from Gordon’s Garage (the Lake Sumter Villages golf cars) the turn signal turns off after a turn about 50% of the time. When I complained they “fixed” it. Their fix made the headlights not work. By the time I got the cart back in it was out of warranty by a week, so I had to pay for the new part. They still only work half the time.

I do have another cart bought elsewhere with self cancelling turn signals. They work as advertised.

Must have been a short term warranty.