Depreciation on Electric vs Gas powered golf carts
 

Trying to understand whether it makes sense to start out my village journey with a new or used Golf cart, electric or gas? My sense tells me to buy used until I have a better sense of what I will need it for, other than golf and the occasional leisurely rides to the town squares. I am not retired yet so will probably drive to stores if it’s faster. It seems like electric carts would depreciate faster given the steady decline of the battery.

If I go with a gas cart, how many miles do these things run on average before repairs become more frequent? Would like a general idea of when to buy and sell, to minimize depreciation and breakdowns. Looking for the proverbial Goldilocks zone.

Based on my recent visit, Yamaha seems like the most popular gas power cart in the Villages??

I am interested in all opinions. I have no basis for making a decision yet. Thanks in advanced.

We have one of each: a 2019 Yamaha gas and a 2023 EZGo electric. Unless something changes drastically, my next cart (many years from now) will be electric.

- Neither cart has needed repairs though realistically, the 2023 is still too new to have problems.
- The gas cart requires a yearly oil change and will occasionally require a drive belt
- The electric cart *may* lose range in cold weather or over time. We *might* be seeing a little of that now but the jury is still out
- The lows sound level of the electric is really nice but the gas cart is not all that loud either
- The gas cart feels heavier and more stable in the corners but that may have more to do with the suspension than any difference in gas/electric

New or used? Really a personal decision
- New comes with a warranty to fix any problems that arise
- Used comes with the expectation that any problems that arose were fixed by the previous owner
- New comes with the ability to customize it at the factory
- Used can come with some pretty nice aftermarket additions
- We bought new rather than hope the previous owner took good care of the cart
- Others have reported good experiences buying used
- The price may be more negotiable for a used cart

go with a gas yamaha, 200 miles on a tank of gas. as far as repairs go, things go,but not often. may need a belt ,battery, tires.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...2&pp=25&page=4

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ighlight=carts


Just don't plan on moving and bringing your cart. Hardly a retirement community in the USA, allows gas powered golf carts. They went out of style about 20 years ago, everywhere but The Villages.

I think you're way overthinking it :)

There isn't a huge issue with wear and tear on golf carts. Change the oil annually, change the belts when they need it and enjoy.

My only advice is simply to get a fuel injected one, most models after about 2013/14 are fuel injected.

I put around 4000 miles on my used gas cart the first year here. A 2015, we bought in 2019. Other than some tire wear and a pair of oil changes, it's the same as it was.

In the subsequent years, I'm doing about half that annually, and I've replaced all the bushings once. I've changed the battery once as well and put on larger tires for some more speed.

My wife and I own 3 carts, one for the rental property, one for each of us. Hers is battery and she only goes local as the batteries are getting on in years.

The rental gets used like a rented mule and again, other than a new battery and oil changes, we've done exactly zero other maintence.

We own 3 club cars, but Yamahas are just as good or better.

Agree, you are over thinking it.

You will have the cart for a long time, unless you want a new one.

Gas or Electric, up to you.

i personally went with a gas Yamaha.

Gas Cart
 

Gas would be the way to go for depreciation or amortization limits. Batteries in electric carts cost way too much and need replaced a whole lot more often than gas engines.

The most dependable , maintenance free, bulletproof carts you can get hands down are the mid 2013 through 2016 gas Yamaha EFI carts. The carburetor Yamaha’s before then are good, but not as maintenance free. In 2017, Yamaha introduced the Quiet Tech, which has the rear independent suspension and is quieter, but has proven to be less dependable. Older electric carts that aren’t lithium don’t hold their value well at all, and for good reason. The jury is still out on how well the newer lithium electric carts will hold their value. We use a very good golf cart mechanic, who works on carts all day long six days per week, who told me to never sell our ultra dependable 2014 Yamaha EFI.

We have one 2018 gas and one 2016 electric. She likes her electric and I like my gas cart. The downside to electric is about every 4 to 5 years when you have to replace the batteries. That is a big expense and something to consider if you buy used.

Maybe true for lead acid batteries but not true for lithium. My lithium battery came with an eight year warranty; I expect it to last 12 years or more and I'll likely have a new cart by then.

Very unlikely a used cart will come with a lithium battery pack and somewhat unlikely even in a new cart.

With the lithium batteries, this might not be correct. EZ GO is guaranteeing batteries for 8 years. Personally, do not like gas carts because of the smell/smoke

Have a 2020 Yamaha and will politely disagree. 400 hours and no problems whatsoever.

Somewhat unlikely in a used cart perhaps but a new cart is highly likely to be lithium powered.

Would be interesting to hear of someone's experience with replacing a set of lead acid batteries with lithium equivalents.

Depreciation is irrelevant. . . . how much money do you have?
Expect to own the cart 10 years at the minimum unless you use it a real, real lot. .

you can buy a $25K new one or an $8-$12K used one. mechanically, they are no more complex than a ride on mower. . . or maybe a ride on mower is more complex.

just rent an electric cart for a month while renting down here, rent a gas cart the next month, and then you should have enough experience. . . to make choice, then decide how much money you want to spend. .

don't over think buying an oversized lawnmower with two seats and a roof. If you overthink a golf cart, picking the right house might take forever. .

there's no substitution for trying before buying

How many single developer retirement communities are as big or have all the cart infrastructure that TV has ?

You''ll probably get so many opinions you'll be more confused that ever. We had several carts before retiring and moving to the villages. Only one was electric, that was the one and only, never again. Many will dismiss or refute this, but we found when an electric cart does have a problem when you are actually out in it, most of us have no idea what to do. Yet, most, not all, but most people, do know the basics of care for such things as a lawn mower, and a gas cart is not that many grades above a lawn mower. When we bought batteries for our electric cart, it was a MAJOR expense, far more than gasoline, and the the gas cart was not sucking electricity all night ever time we'd come back for a round.People say gas carts are loud, they are louder than electric, so if your #1 priority is quiet, and electric will surely not disappoint you. We have personally found Club car the most dependable gas cart. It requires little maintenance, clean oil and filter once a year... 20 minute job at most (15 of that opening the cap and letting the old drain into a pan), a couple turns to screw the new filter on, not much to it. We had one Club car we purchased used, and we used it for 18 years with ONE new battery, and one new set of 4 tires ! Many will make the same argument for electrics, so, good luck with which ever you chose.

Peachtree
 

Peachtree Georgia is large (maybe 100 miles of cart paths?). It’s a golf cart community but more for all the ages. I’m sure The Villages is twice the size and a little warmer though.

We bought a 7 year old Yamaha when we moved to TV. Low miles since they weren't golfers and were getting up there in age. Paid $7000. Had several extras though like full locking dash, speedometer, Sunbrella, seatbelts, storage shelf, signals, etc. We've had no major issues with it but have had to spend around $1000 to replace a few things but I'm totally fine with that. We realized early on that we would need a 4 seater so we opted to have a 4 seater kit installed for $1600 the first year. We've had 3-4 people on the cart dozens of times so it just made more sense for us.

Likely in a couple of years we will upgrade to a newer one, but I'm sure the resale on our current one will be no less than $5000 considering the 4 seater upgrade. Seems like reasonably modest depreciation.

I have a 25 year old electric Club Car DS. I replaced the lead acid batteries three years ago with LFP batteries which will still be good for several more years. It will take me wherever I want to go and has never run out of juice. I just plug it in at the end of the day and it is ready to go. No gas or oil to leak in my garage like my neighbors did. No cart fires like a couple of recent gas cart fires. No exhaust fumes or noise. No myriad of filters, injectors, parts to replace. No tune ups or oil changes needed. I have seen a number of gas carts waiting on a tow but never an electric one. It's a no-brainer. Go electric. Those who still prefer gas are just resistant to change even it is good. My dad never wanted a front wheel drive car or a CVT transmission or 4-wheel drive without locking hubs but it has all been good.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...c-club-car.jpg

new Yamaha gas cart is the best option. We bought new 2.5 years ago and have 10,000 miles on it. You will have maintenance like a belt, oil changes, but we have had a couple big items replaced under warranty, We buy new cars and golf carts because I don’t want somebody else’s problems.
We had electric carts before.
Battery life will all depend on how you use them, how you charge them, which are too many restrictions for me. I put gas in and can go 200 miles more than a lithium cart on 1 charge.
The cost of lithium batteries is very high and is a toxic waste that harms the environment. I can rebuild a gas cart many times for the cost of 1 set of lithium batteries.
As for atomic carts, cute looking, didn’t like them after driving them.
Just my opinion.

I drive my Yamaha gas cart everywhere. Rarely take the auto. I get 47 mpg consistently. I golf all championship courses north to south. Other guys with new electric lithium battery carts won’t go as far as I do/can. I never worry about running out of gas. Electric cart owners worry about the distances they travel.

Electric is the only way to go.
 

The Villages is the onlly place left that uses gas carts. Their resale value will soon be about the same as a picture tube TV. Electric is 10 times less expensive per mile and 100x less polluting.

4 years ago I bought a 2011 Star Cart and replaced the batteries with lithium and have been thrilled with the results.

Buy gas only if you need to spend all day driving your cart ... or if you are very old fashioned.

It was a snap. Lithium is good for 2000 charge cycles. Thats 60,000 miles. Way longer than I'll be alive.

I bought directly from ReLion and installed myself, but Battery Boys sells them and will do the install. 4 years now and absolutely no regrets.

I personally would not buy anything but a gas golf cart. I love how far I can go without any worries. It takes corners better and I have had zero repairs needed. I will never buy any electric vehicle that needs to be plugged in.

The Villages is also the only Comunity large enough, with enough carts and with enough infrastructure to support a lot of gas stations that golf carts can get to for a fill up.

Gas versus Electric
 

We have had both electric and gas. Electric is quieter but batteries are very expensive. They don't get the milage only perhaps 40-50 miles before charging. We have owned gas since they don't have a gas odor like the old ones. I get about 50 miles to a gallon. Neither have had much repairs. You think you only go short distances but lose out on going over the bridges to the south side because you're afraid of running out of power. Overall, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Used versus new. That's a personal decision and costs. I prefer gas especially because I can get more distance. Good luck

Last year, about 80% of the golf carts sold by Villages Golf Cars had Lithium Ion batteries. That’s a reverse from two years before, when it was mostly Yamahas being sold.

I ordered a beautiful custom EZgo with lithium battery when I moved here three years ago. $21,000! But I don’t play golf, and after a year I had only put fifty miles on it. So I sold it for about $17,000, I think. A couple months ago I bought a 2020 Toyota Prius Limited with all the extras for $26,000. It had spent its life in The Villages, averaging 153 mpg over 46,000 miles. So, nearly all my driving in The Villages is powered by battery, and it’s more comfortable by far than a golf cart, just as quiet as that EZgo, fast, and heated in the cold and air-conditioned the rest of the year. I don’t miss the golf cart at all.

Any statistics on how many "gas carts" caught on fire (short of throwing a cigar in the tank) vs. "lithium battery carts"??? I don't know either, but I have a pretty good idea---never had a gas tank blow up while getting charged:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:
Gas carts getting towed----very rare, and can be filled if out of gas
Electric carts getting towed----out of juice and can't be filled up

We did 19 years ago and saved $2000. We had a friend to trailer it down. As far as purchasing now, I would go with a used one, either from a dealer or private owner. Most sellers will negotiate, and if you find one you like, have it checked out/driven by a knowledgeable friend. If you're really a novice, buy new (gas).

you will be very sorry if you buy Electric!

A New Gas Yamaha is the way to go,
it's a One time purchase, you will change oil as required and Enjoy the Reliability of a Yamaha

No, not 10x, not even close. I have a gas and an electric golf cart. The electric costs about 2.5 cents per mile and the gas cost about 6 cents per mile. These are just the fuel charges. Eventually the gas cart will be replaced with another electric but the cost per mile is not a factor in the decision.

Agree that you are overthinking it. I was going to buy new a couple of months after we moved in but my wife heard through the grapevine that a couple with two carts was thinking about getting rid of one of them. So, instead of paying $10,000+, I picked up a very nice used one for $3,500. After a couple of years of trouble-free service I plan to replace the front wheel bearings this spring. I can do it myself but will probably hire a mobile tech several of my neighbors have used. It was bought new from the Club Car dealer on 441 in Lady Lake. I dropped by to talk to them about it and they assured me it was good to go.

If you want the best value for you money... You can actually pick up a deal on a really good used electric cart with old batteries and then simply have someone do a lithium battery conversion.

Most lithium batteries come with a 8-10 warranty and are actually projected to last closer to 12-15 years with essentially zero maintenance.

Bo's Buggies does a great job and is very reasonable.

A lot of older folks prefer the Gasoline carts. The vibration and noise helps keep them awake and alert. It's way too easy to fall asleep in a silent, electric cart.

The only thing I would add is - if you are going to spend a lot of time in your cart buy one with either a Sleekline or Curtis cab

Reading this by now you think it’s probably a coin flip electric versus gas cart. We have a 2010 gas Yamaha came with the house also bought a refurbished 2020 Gass Yamaha. Newer cart little quieter, smoother ride. Your biggest decision next is what color and do I buy the upgraded seats which I suggest you do. Good luck and happy trails!

Electric carts are very hard to come by. I did a search of used carts and out of 7 pages of used carts at TOTV I only found 4 that were lithium. Given that 40% of carts sold in the villages are now electric it appears electric owners are keeping theirs.
Resale value equals supply and demand...I think thats what you were looking for.

So then comes the big question: What will be the resale value of your lithium cart when it needs batteries, and you want to sell it? Might even be very hard to sell...

I prefer gas. Easy to maintain and no worry about the cost of battery replacement. The length of the drive in The Villages is getting longer and longer. Personally, I don't want to worry about running out of juice, but at the end of the day it is a personal preference. I vote for new. You never know how a used cart has been taken care of or if it has been abused...again, personal preference. Of course I won't but a used car either for the same reason...