2+2 Golf Carts
 

We are currently in the process of moving to The Villages and in the market for a golf cart. What are the + and - of 2+2 golf carts? Interested in ride quality and usefulness for golf. Thanks and see you soon.

If you are going to get a 4 seater, get the rear facing back seat. Only downside to a 4 seater with all seats forward facing is that it can be a little harder to make those 90 degree turns into a tunnel.
I won't have a 2 seater. It's just more convenient for everything.

We have a convertible Yamaha 4 seater since 2013.
Advantages: can still use it for golf, with the seat up holds 2 golf bags, with the seat down we can have 2 additional passengers. Over the last several years we have only used the rear seat maybe a dozen times. The cart is only 3 inches longer than a standard cart.
Disadvantages: We had to add additional brake lights as the fold up floor blocks most of the original taillights. The suspension was modified for the additional seat, and therefore we have a stiffer ride. If you have 2 adults in back the steering can be a little sloppy.

I had a 2 front + 2 back four seater and traded it after a year. Adults are not comfortable in the back
We got a 2+2 front facing (note, we also have a 2 seater)
4 seater is a little tighter in the turn and a bit harder to park, but I like it.
Fine for golf.

When I first rented in TV, all I could rent was a 2+2 forward facing cart. The extended roof made pulling my club out of the bag a bit more cumbersome, and yes, the tight turns at the tunnel were a challenge (I did graze a curb on occasion...:o).

But the thing that drove me crazy was when I was playing golf, after putting my clubs in the bag, I would instinctively climb into the closet seat (the back seat). I felt like Chevy Chase in "CaddyShack" where he's sitting in the left seat of a right hand drive Rolls and get's confused because there's no steering wheel...

I do like the back facing rear seat with the fold up seat & floorboard. But you lose the sweater basket behind the seats...

With fold down back seat you have a platform for hauling something. Maybe grocery's. If you were planning on having a 3rd or 4th passenger on a regular basis I would go with the forward facing seat.

Same. In our case, the loss of the sweater basket is made up by adding a plastic tray across the top of the inside windshield. I like the tray a lot for holding things. It was added as part of the original cart order.

Make sure you attend the Golf Cart Safety Clinic. Given the 3rd Wed every month at Colony Rec Center 9AM and it's free. It just might save your life

facing rearward insurance
 

some insurance companies wont insure a cart with seats facing rearward fyi

We opted for a 2 seater originally. On the occasions, when you have out of town guests, you can rent a cart. We now have two golf carts so that we can each go our own direction. Of course, the dog now thinks he own the passenger side of my wife’s cart.

Prefer two seater. Morecomfortable ride, the 4 seater has tighter suspension, easier to handle, less room in garage, easier on golf course, % of time you need a second row is minimal, cheaper

We have a 2022 Yamaha Quietec 4 seater (rear seat faces backward). Bought new from Villages Cars at Magnolia Plaza. It has the golf bag rack on the inside of the rear seat. It comes with heavier suspension because of added weight. Has an extended roof over the backseats. Runs extremely quiet. Play golf 3x a week and fill it up every 2-3 months. Insurance through State Farm. Very happy with it.

Just be aware that over 99% of the time you will have no one in those back seats that you paid a lot more money for.
Secondly, no adult really likes riding in the uncomfortable and bumpy ride rear seats.
If you are going to have a ton of company, then maybe 4-seat carts make sense, but this is not the case for most of us.
When we have company, we just use our second 2 seat cart and if we need more carts we borrow from a neighbor, or the other option is rent a cart.

My 2013 4 seater Yamaha I added a rear light bar underneath the rear bumper. Gives extra light view.

We have an electric EzGo with rear facing extra seats. Quite costly at well over $20K two years ago. Fully custom upgraded seats and other features. I'm extremely comfortable in the back seat. Nice quiet smooth ride. Get cart designed that way so suspension is designed for the four seats and the roof will extend over the rear seats. The whole cart is a bit longer as well. Do tests drives. Good luck!

I had a 2+2 with the seats facing back. The back seat folded up which seemed great. Issues we had was with people in back it made the cart go down in the back. You felt like you would slide out. Seat belts are a must. Also there is not a handle in the middle to hold on to. Last the roof does not cover the back seats. Riders either get wet when it rains or sun drenched. I finally traded it in on a 2+2 that faces back also but it sits higher in the back, better suspension. It also has a handle in the middle to hold on to and a big improvement was the roof covers your back riders. Both can hold golf clubs.

That is good to know. Thank you!

I still have the sweater basket, but I also have the front and rear overhead shelves for extra storage. I always leave a hat or two up there, a few extra shop towels (that I can wet, to cool off)and whatever else I want out of sight...

I really can’t comment on a 4 seater since we both have a 2 seater cart. However, I do want to welcome you to the Villages! Enjoy, relax, don’t try to do too much (I’m the type that had to have every box emptied and put away before driving around to see the sights!). People are generally nice, just like anywhee else, there are jerks (ignore them, don’t let them ruin your sunshine!)

Welcome. You will absolutely love it here. Golf cart is an important part of the Village life. Having 4 seats is really good to have. Now have a 2 plus 2 or a 4 forward is dependent on your "visitor" situation. We started out with a 2 plus 2 and love it. It is a bit uncomfortable for pur guests going backwards especially since we will go 40 miles round trip at any moment in time. So, we are getting our 2nd cart with 4 forward. It is actually the new wave of golf carts being purchased. Both versions can have a golf bag attachment in the rear. 2 plus 2 a bit shorter, easier to park and easier to turn in the tunnels. 4 forward a bit longer and may need an actual full car space to park. All these factors can de different depending on the manufacturer. Just decide what you may want and then have fun shopping. Good luck. Reach out if you have any questions

Have a great weekend.
Thanks
Serge

We have a 2 seat gas and a 4 forward facing electric ezgo. 4 seater is only about 10" longer than the gas. Great for guests easy to talk and fits in standard parking areas and no trouble turning into tunnels. Only issue was the roof was too high for the saddlebrook tunnel, couple hours at home fixed that problem.

We paid $1500 to add the rear seat and love the extra storage we have now when going to the grocery store or the squares.

It's also nice not having to worry when visitors arrive in finding them a golf cart if they're not too willing to rent one.

I enjoy riding in the rear seats when my brother visits with his spouse and the ladies drive in the front row.

I wouldn't feel comfortable lending or borrowing from a neighbor in case something bad ever happened.

Was a good $1500 well spent converting our 2 seater to a 2+2 really.

Thought we needed 4 seater but SO GLAD WE BOUGHT 2 SEATER.
- back seat riders do not like it
- rarely is anyone in back
- upgraded suspension gives a rough ride
- golfing is a PITA out of a 4 seater

Rent or borrow
 

The best advice I got from my cart dealership 11 years ago was to rent one on those few occasions when I had guests. Only needed a rental twice.
Championship courses have carts available when playing.

I'm interested in adding a rear facing backseat to my 2 seater. Other than the Village Golf Carts Sales at the squares are there any other recommendations for people or businesses to install such?

Carts & Clubs in Ocala did ours. Very happy with it. They will pickup and dropoff your cart even. They had our cart for around 3-4 days.

One thing to be aware of that almost caught us out was that some four seaters are too long for our garages so check before you buy.

unless you are hauling more than 2 people frequently, I'd get a 2 seater (and rent a 4 seater as needed). Very few adults will ride comfortably riding on the back seat facing backwards for any length of time.

We have a 4 forward facing Yamaha and a 2 seat Yamaha with rear facing seat. The 4 forward is the one I use for golf and when we have friends who ride with us. It rides nice and I still can back in park at the squares like the regular carts. The 2 forward with rear facing we use if it is just us running around. We will leave the seat down and put a cooler on the flat area if we go the the store. My wife uses it to haul her cardio drumming set up. We like both. If just getting one cart, I would go with the 4 forward facing seats.

I have a Yamaha factory four seater with the back facing rear seat. I would personally not be crazy about a long ride facing backward but I have not heard complaints from guests who have survived it. The factory installed back facing seats are superior to the aftermarket seats IMO. THE factory installed seats are deeper and thus more comfortable and I think the suspension is beefed up. Also, my back seat can be lifted with a cooler underneath which can be used to carry groceries or anything else that you need. I seldom need the extra seat but I subscribe to the old saying “I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it”.

The one issue I have with carts with the extra seats is when they park at the square and their cart sticks out more than the others. Make sure you pull in as far as you can so you don't stick out too far and run the risk of being hit. I wonder if that has actually happen to any of these larger carts?

The 2+2 it's no problem. The 4 seater facing forward it is. We like parking at the squares so being able to park directly in front of the restaurants is a huge reason to stick with a 2+2 for us.

How is a 2+2 any easier to park directly in front of the restaurants than any other cart?

A 2+2 is roughly around 6 inches longer than a 2 seater. A 4 seat front facing cart is 110-112 inches usually which is much too long to park in a golf cart parking spot at a square in front of the restaurants.

The beauty of 2+2 is that you have a fold down bed for your future Costco runs :)

And don't forget the puppers!!!