Golf Car research questions
 

Hi there,

I am not yet a Villager but we will be making our lifestyle visit next month and I believe in planning planning and more planning.

So I have some questions about Golf Cars. First I am aware of the local concern that has several dealerships around The Villages but I know that there must be alternatives. I have also heard that they do not perform service on cars that they don't sell.

Has anyone used The Villages Discount Golf Cars? What are your experiences?

I saw a video that mentioned a villager that performed mobile service? Is that still a thing? I would hate to buy offsite and then have issues getting the car serviced.

Any advice anyone can offer would be helpful. Still not sure about Gas or Electric. Having to buy a golf car that cost more than many of the cars I have bought in my life is a bit much to handle.

thanks,

--John

Oh Boy, are you going to be busy. Okay, so my two suggestions for someone that believes in planning, planning, and more planning. Firstly, any thought or question you have, you can start by going to the green bar at the top of the screen, and the 7th option from the left is "Search." Use that. A lot. Reading, reading, and more reading.

Secondly, go to YouTube. search "The Villages." When you find content creators you like to watch or you find helpful, go their page. Click on "Videos" and then scroll through to find ones you think might contain informative content.

Examples include: GoldWing Nut, The Newcomers Jerry and Linda, Retiring To The Villages, Michael and Tiffany TVE, Pittman Law Office, Rusty Nelson - even though he hasn't posted in months, his older stuff is very informative, David is in Florida, etc.).

P.S. - No one except the climate change Avengers are going to want to weigh in very deeply on your Gas vs. Electric golf car questions - they have been beaten to death ad nauseam and usually result in off-topic personal attacks and political sparring. Back to the green bar "Search" button and you can read all the threads and posts about any topic, particularly that one. Whatever you do, don't ask when The Developer is going to stop building, where the center of The Villages is or will be, or when Trader Joe's is coming to The Villages. Just some friendly advice :jester:

Hope this helps. In addition to planning, planning, and more planning and it's cousin reading, reading, and more reading you can also add in watching, watching, and more watching. Then, if something comes up you are not finding out about, that is a great time to post to TOTV.

There ya go - best way to help someone is to help them help themselves.

I have both gas and electric and like both of them. I would probably buy another electric before gas but that is primarily so I don’t have to make trips to the gas station.

Both the northern and southern extremes are about 11 miles from me so well within the range of my electric. If I was planning to live in either extreme then I would need to consider the distance and whether I would take the cart anyway.

The one thing I would recommend is a comfortable seat. The stock seats aren’t that good if you plan to spend any time riding around.

Worry about the house first. Everyone seems to think that they have to have a golf cart the minute get here. You don't. You'll have plenty of time to know what your needs are after knowing exactly where you are going to live.

John, both myself and my neighbor have carts from Villages Discount Golf Cars and we are both satisfied with them and their service.

Funny you say that. We just went to Discount Carts today Village Carts last week and Cart Max yesterday. I will send you a PM with what we found. Also numerous pics we took of carts and pricing I can send you if you want. We are going this Thursday to make a purchase. I think I'm having last minute second-thoughts on which one :shrug:

Yes, we did not even get a cart for several months as to busy with settling in. The car will work fine provided you have one.

Check out the new Venom EV carts at Adventure EV in Wildwood. The showroom is in the same plaza as Ace Hardware

Very well built, lots of cool features and priced right. Fit and finish on them is better than many of the other ev carts I've looked at. Battery is made in the USA.

The owner is a great guy. We're going to sell our 2018 Yamaha queitech and get one. Range is not a concern for us. We'll never go more than 50 miles in a day.

https://adventureev.com

Highly recommend Country Villages Power Equipment in Webster, Fl if you are considering a Yamaha. They are a very good dealer and they will service your cart at your home for simply things, or for a small fee will trailer your cart to their shop. You will save some significant scratch buying from them versus The Villages Golf Carts. There are also several businesses that will come to your home to service your cart. Todd Casey is my favorite home service provider. Best of luck with your journey and decisions.

I used Villages Discount Golf Carts( NOT associated with the Villages Golf Carts). Very happy with their sales, service, customer service. They come to my house once a year to service my cart and the price is about $125. Go see them for sure on 466 right next to Birdies Golf. When I bought my cart from them, they even took my old cart in trade. Very fair trade in price too.

We purchased ours at Wholesale Golf carts. They delivered our cart the day after we closed. We purchased a 2 year old, Yamaha quite tec 2 for it's reputation of low maintenance and lasting a lifetime.

Wholesale Golf Carts did the remodeling of the Golf Cart to make it a Village Kart and the total package was half the price of a new one

Once a year they come to the house pick it up and service the Kart and return it the same or next day for $125 dollars.

Google Maps

Don't forget, when you purchase from Discount Golf Cars you are getting a used cart and you have no idea how it was treated or maintained in its prior life.

They look nice, but when you put lipstick on a pig.......you still have a pig.

Yamaha is the way to go.
We looked around at all the new cart dealers and once you get apples to apples, the pricing is about all the same.
The Villages have thousands and thousand of happy customers........when you sell that many carts, you will have a few unhappy buyers.

golf cart
 

don't use village discount golf .They promise you the world ,lie ,and they ripped me off I'm taking them to court now !!! Buy a gas cart I had an electric ,gas is better .

Don't forget to have seatbelts too.

Golf cart advice
 

I have never owned a golf cart but my mom & brother have. I highly recommend an electric (not for any political reason) but because gas carts SMELL!! When moving slowly the exhaust smell is atrocious. Even when going full speed you can still smell it, I wouldn't get a gas one. If you park it in a golf cart garage you'll have that smell in there too.

Also, they are mechanically more complex and I am told they break down more often. In addition, since you are moving here, I have a property for sale in OBG. If interested, let me know. Good luck with the cart!

Thank you!
 

Yes, please send any info my way. I just like to know options and it is very hazy when you are not actually in the bubble when looking at Golf Carts. The stores don't disclose all of their pricing.

There are several mobile service providers that come to your house. I have used Todd Casey for 21 years.

Golf Crs
 

Could you also send me the same information you found out and what you decided on? Sounds very helpful!

Maybe an air bag, too?

Crash bars?

Off site Golf cart stores give better service than the Villages, they come to your house, you don't have to drop off and get a loaner. Gas vs Electric is now sort of a stupid discussion since Lithium carts are up to 60 or more miles on a charge. Believe me, that's a LOT of time in a golf cart. We have one of each, a Yamaha gas cart we bought from Carts and Clubs in Ocala, and an Evolution D5 Lithium we got from Hidden Creek Golf Carts right outside the Villages. I doubt we will get another gas cart as the lithium is quieter, doesn't smell, and requires less maintenance. Personally, I think buying from The Villages Golf carts is a total rip off, their prices are crazy high, and you get nothing extra for it.

Add Wholesale Golf Carts to your research list.
I have purchased two carts from them (gas and electric). Buying a "reconditioned" cart will save you a ton, and being able to pick all of you customization down to thousands of paint color choices is a fun process.
I think the main benefit is that you spent a whole lot less while you figure out what it is that you truly want in a cart, then when you finally do you can trade your cart to get exactly what you want.
They do their own service - pick it up and drop it off at your house - which is also a lot more convenient then getting it up to a store and having to wait or worry about how to get home.
The Villages Golf Cars is now also selling their own reconditioned carts from old Lifestyle houses in a similar manner so you can compare pricing.

I purchased my cart from Discount Carts. The price was very good. I chose electric. No gas, oil changes and its quiet. It had 180AH battery so it should be fine for 50+ miles when fully charged. Gas carts don't have mileage restrictions as long as you get gas. Some people don't care for the exhaust fumes. I joined a "AAA" type service for golf carts, they will come and help you, fix flats etc. It was around $50.00 for a whole year

Southern Cartworks
 

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I have used Southern Cartworks (formerly Willies) at 352-391-2047 on our TWO carts for the last 4 years (getting serviced yearly). They come to the house on YOUR schedule. They recently replaced the drive belts on both carts. I have recommended to others and they have been pleased. TV golf cart service is expensive and it's hard to schedule. I bought there originally and sorry I did. Paid a premium for no reason that I can see.

The concern with a smelly gas cart is a thing of the past now with the newest technology of fuel injected Yamaha quiet carts. Any gas cart you may smell now is an older carbureted cart. Even in the tunnels you do not smell anything now days.

My experience is that TV’s both work on and sell parts for Yamaha golf carts not sold by TV dealers.

However they only have 10w30 oil. They DO NOT HAVE 10w40 as recommended in THE MANUAL for the high temperature in TV.

Plan for an ELECTRIC golf cart because the internal combustion engine is the reason for all the HEAT in the US and worldwide. Heat makes the hurricanes stronger.

We just went through this process and I would advise you to NOT consider suppliers first, but rather the golf cart make and model you want - then find the best supplier. For us the process was:
1a. Gas vs. EV
1b. Manufacturer / Make

2. Model - 4 fwd? 2+2?

3. Supplier / Dealer

For 1a and 1b: If gas, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better manufacturer than Yamaha, maybe EZ-Go. Along with Club Car - not very present here in TV - these three brands have dominated the golf course market in the US and have established presence, service, and part. EVs are newer but are the future and I would recommend them only if getting a larger batter (200+ mAh) for which you will need to upgrade. If EV, then Yamaha are out (they don't make them). EZ-Go have the Liberty Elite and the other "big name" (i.e. TVGC sells them) you'll see are Star. There are LOADS of other EVs on the market, the biggest one being the Evolution D5-Ranger but brands like Atomic, Denago, Tomberlin, etc., etc., etc. will be all over the place.

Two concerns for us with most of these carts (Yamaha sources from Japan) being either completely fabricated and assembled in China - and something you should at least be aware of - was (a) quality and dependability and (b) parts/service, noting the two active federal investigations at the urging of the Big 3 (Club Car, Yamaha and Textron / EZ-Go) into Chinese "dumping." And third concern was size - both height (TV golf cart tunnels up north don't accommodate some newer models) and length (our golf cart garage in a brand new home barely fit a 4 Forward model we were considering; we literally would have had to turn off the car and walk it in to make it fit before closing the door as there was less than an inch clearance).

That's not to say you can't but a 4 Forward Evolution D5-Ranger for thousands less than, say, a EZ-Go Liberty Elite, but know you are taking a risk on quality/dependability (some of these brands are < 3 years old), service, and parts (lawsuits). We also heard from two dealers outside TV who INDEPENDENTLY suggested a company like Evolution would be out of business if the penalties the government imposed were steep enough, despite the fact they introduced their new D5-Max (i.e. refrigerator-on-wheels).

One other point: NONE of the warranties are transferable. If you're considering buying a used cart, you can totally disregard the "6 years left on the battery warranty" and the manufacturers - both gas and electric - only warranty to the original buyer and, to my knowledge, NONE of them are transferable on resale.

So, best of luck, but I would strongly suggest this framework: start with type (gas vs. electric) and manufacturer/make (brand reputation). Once you know that, it's pretty simple to narrow down the model (i.e. 2+2, 4 Forward, etc.) and from there the supplier. Of course, you should do your research by visiting suppliers/dealers, test driving carts, etc. and some things suggested to select first might influenced by items later (e.g. if you REALLY want a 4 Forward only certain manufacturers make them). By going to a supplier, hearing their sales pitch and/or looking at the carts themselves without a framework first, you're risking a big investment.

And of course there will be some who are comfortable with "my 4 Forward electric WooZang cart only cost me $10k and I got all this crap with it vs. the $20k+ I would pay for a more established brand" --- but I would gladly pay double for the peace of mind in knowing my cart isn't going to crap out in 1-2 years, leaving me with no recourse.

We have an Electric, Lithium Battery Powered Cart from Villages Discount Golf. The cart runs great and they come out to the house if service is needed. We have the 210ah battery and travelled as far as 86 miles in one day, testing the range. You can go anywhere in TV and return home without fear of running out of juice.

I been living in Florida going on 10 years and never had any interest in buying or owning
a golf cart.
I hated traveling in those dingy buggy's traveling 5-6 feet from traffic going 40-50mph.
Just something else to maintain, store, and insure.

I also got my 2015 SUV sitting in my garage and paid for, why would I need a golf cart??
I can go anywhere in air conditioning, complete silence, bring home more grocery items, all taking along 6 more people.

Your Welcome! :gc:

The government sanctions go into effect August 7th. All the Chinese carts are going to be about 3+ times as expensive as they are now. That will put all of them out of business. Getting parts for these carts after that is going to be virtually impossible.

Let's start with Warrantees ... both Club Car & Yamaha warranties are transferable in the 1st three years.

Let's go to where they're made. Yamaha is almost exclusively made in the USA, as is ClubCar.

ClubCar is the Cadillac of Golf Carts. EZGo is the Kia. Yamaha falls in the middle.

I've yet to meet the first person in TV, who's happy they bought a 4 seat golf cart. I'm sure there's someone, but I haven't met them yet.

As for both seats facing forward? I wouldn't be surprised if they get banned from the MMP's or at least banned from parking perpendicular in the Squares. They're an abomination ... they are not a "golf cart".

The choice between electric & gas is easy. Buy 1970's technology or buy 21st Century technology.

Golf Cart service shops readily available.
 

There are many golf cart service shops that will welcome your business. There are also many cart service vans that will come to your home & perform routine service on pretty much any brand of golf cart. A typical full service runs around $120.

You will not have any problems getting your cart serviced.

And yes, golf carts these days are not cheap! A well equipped New Yamaha, prob the most numerous brand here in TV can cost $24k. I am selling my ‘22 StretRod cart. StreetRods are custom carts designed to mimic cars of the 30’s & 40’s. New they cost upwards of 26-28K . I’m selling my very low hours ‘22 StreetRod coupe ( 2 seater) & asking $19,500 (OBO) . Email me if interested @ gmoscowitz95@gmail.com

Given that you are a planner, try renting a golf cart for the first month that you are here. While the cart will be basic, it will give you time to understand how you are likely to use the cart going forward. You will also see the variety of options that are available - and there are many options! Besides the usual gas vs. electric war of words, most of what will drive your decisions will be your location and how much time you will spend in the golf cart.

BTW, we went from a couple with two cars to a one car and two golf carts. We bought both new with oldest being 12 years old and still going strong. Good luck on your decision- both where you will retire and the golf cart!

plz share
 

Would you mind sending me the info also. Been here awhile and been researching... But, recent info is always helpful.

I have a gas cart and considered swapping it for an electric one. My concern is the heat here inside and outside the garage. Heat affects lithium batteries and can cause them to not only fail but a fire hazard. So I changed my mind and will stick with my gas cart

Plan for a GAS golf cart because the electricity production and transmission is inherently filthy to the environment and wasteful. This energy production is the reason for all the HEAT in the US and worldwide. Heat makes the desert hot and boils your hot dog water.

Whatever else you do, make sure you ask for golf car advice from the guy who has admitted never owning one and only once a few years ago rode on a friend's cart. That's valuable advice, for certain! Almost as good as his book, "Do it yourself open heart surgery."

A Short Drive To Webster
 

Very simple. Drive to Webster and see some of old central Florida on the way. When there, go to Country Power, a Yamaha dealer, and buy a cart. You'll get a brand new cart for the price of a "rebuilt" one from Discount Golf Carts, and, probably, $3K less than The Villages. Country Power will come to your house for the regular services. It has a service truck in The Villages several days each week. There are lots of brands and types to chose from; however, there is a reason why three or more of every four carts you see in The Villages are Yamaha gas.

If you want to save a few dollars, check out the classified ads on this site. There are always low milage/low hour carts for sale. Buying a used Yamaha gas cart is not rocket science. Looking the cart over to see if it has been abused and driving it around the block is usually enough. Check out the condition of the seats, the plastic side curtains, and all the zippers. If you feel you need help, hire Todd Casey or one of the other persons who service carts to check it out for you. I would want to see the paperwork for the original purchase to verify it was a new and not rebuilt when purchased and that the miles/hours on the odometer or the gauge are consistent with the time since it was purchased. I doubt that even 10% of the carts in The Villages are driven more than 100 hours/yr

I did a lot of legwork and decided that CART MAX was the best bang for the buck. You pick you colors of paint, enclosure, and seats from 100's of colors and it is ready in about a week. I bought two 2014(one year old) for $12500 each. That's about half of what The Villages Golf Carts wanted for a new one. Warranties are overrated. These Yamaha carts are almost bulletproof. I had my last one 14 years and had only one small repair. Change the oil twice a year and they last forever.

If you have general knowledge and skills, just buy used on for about 1/2 price or more for new ones.

Maybe your mom’s and brother golf cart needed carburetor work? EFI engines much more efficient. I’ve been told electric cart batteries are made using child slave labor? I also had older Electric cart, the smell when charging in garage was atrocious.