2012 Yamaha EFI
 

We are going to order two 2012 Yamaha EFI golf carts. Seeking opinions.

1.If you have one, do you love it or not, and why?
2. Where is the best place to buy it locally and why? Would you price shop between different places?
3. What are the most important features in the cart for the Villages since it will be used day and night, and also multiple times daily going over the Morse Street bridge. Would you buy every option available?

Very interested in this one since we will be buying 2 carts also and thinking of the same outcome.

I have 2 2011 Yamahas, a 2 seater rigged for golf and a 4 seater for when guests are down and for the wife. The 4 seater has a huge compartment/cooler under the rear seats which is way cool. My golf cart has Curtis Cabs which we love when it gets cool or a sudden rain hits.I have "Ultimate seats" which are plush and kind to the tushy on longer cart rides (a MUST have for me). We both have breesy easy air fans for hot days. Many thoer things were freebies.

My bud from my golf group just got a cart like mine and had shopped around extensively. The best price, best free options, discounts and 24/7 service was from Villages Golf Carts in LSL believe it or not. I bought there because I liked having the dealer close. To save a few bucks and go all the way to Ocala was not an option for me but when my bud told me they were the best deal he could find,,,,,well that was buyer reinforcement.

I would shop The Villages store and Carts and Clubs in Ocala. It is not very far away. They seem to have different deals at different times that make the comparison worth while. I own an 2009 from The Villages and a 2010 from Carts and Clubs. One significant difference is the enclosure from Carts and Clubs. It is way better. I personally did not like the Curtis Cab, because I like the more open look and fell of the Sunbrella enclosure.

I would get the upgraded seats, the fan, 12 volt accessory plug, larger wheels and tires, storage tray, cooler and sand bottle, gas gauge, speedometer, compass, clock and maybe a radio. Really not sure about the radio. Didn't get one, thought about adding it, but not sure I want the noise factor.

They call the EFI Yamaha a "2012.5" model. Bought mine from The Villages Golf Cart store (late January) and it was the dressed up model that they advertise to which I added the front overhead tray, aux plug, full dash, speedometer and in-dash gas gauge. I did not consider the upgraded seats due to their cost. I've added the steering wheel cover since then from Golf Steer and you can add it to the cart at time of purchase for $27 which was my cost doing it on-line later. This does make steering easier as the steering wheel is on the slick side and the tacky feel of the cover just makes turning with one hand easier when you want to do it.

When I bought mine last month they did not have the ok from Yamaha to install a gas gauge because the efi model uses a pressurized gas tank and Yamaha was evaluating impact on warranty. I wanted the Acewell speedometer that includes the gas gauge, but because of the pressurized fuel tank the Acewell was not available... so I got the cheaper model speedo (from Striker). Shortly after I picked up the cart the salesman called and said they'd just gotten approval from Yamaha to install gas gauges and I could get the in-dash gauge installed at same cost as offered on a new cart installation. So I went that route.

I traded a 05 Yamaha 48 volt electric cart so really don't have the experience of a gas cart to tell if the "efi" feature is worth the extra expense. I went that way as it seems to me to be be the next generation type engine and I wanted to get the latest version.

On the dressed model that I bought they have the two external side mirrors that stick out from the cart. These do give me an extra thought or two on the Morse street bridges. They also get bumped out of position easily in the garage or while parked on the street or golf course. They also can get pretty close to the vertical square posts that are placed at the entrance of some golf cart paths. I'm not so sure that the inside mounted side mirrors might not be a better option everything considered.

Hope this helps.

Let us know what kind of gas mileage you get with the EFI.

Jane, you owe it to yourself to shop both local authorized Yamaha dealers - the TV store(s) as well as Carts & Clubs in Ocala. As l2 stated, there are some differences between what the two dealers do when adding the options to the carts. Ask questions at both places - ask them what they do and why.

Lots of people are starting to opt for the aftermarket seats. Sit in a cart that has a particular seat installed to see how it feels to you. Others can't justify the additional cost - - - it's your choice. Same thing when it comes to the cart enclosures. C&C offers the MEE enclosure (in addition to the Curtis Cab) which some people like as an alternative to the Curtis Cab. Again, some folks will pass on the extra cost of those types of enclosures versus going with the usual Sunbrella package.

Also ask for their input on the other various options/accessories they offer. Then you'll have to decide on what to get based on the value they have to you.

Lastly, a sales person at one of the TV stores told me Yamaha also reworked the clutch on the new EFI models. It's supposed to have addressed the issue some owners have had with the jerkystart/sudden take-up when accelerating from a stop with earlier model year carts. C&C has offered a similarly modified clutch in the past as an option.

Hope all of that is of some help!!!

Bill :)

We have the EFI and the gas mileage we got was 46.50 MPG. This was the second time we put gas in it. The first time was just after a little over 100 miles, the second time was at around 150 miles. Doing more of a check of the gas gauge to see how close it may be. The salesperson said it should go over 50 MPG after a couple of tanks.

Jim

I looked at an EFI last week. How is the noise and fume factor? The salesman said the EFI has made great improvement over older gas models.

Didn't you forget about the GPS and radar detector? How about the CD changer, heated steering wheel and seats? Just kidding you I2ridehd.
Whatever you get it's peace of mind to have a cart road side service to help for flat tires, out of gas, etc.

[QUOTE=deano_hoosier;460037On the dressed model that I bought they have the two external side mirrors that stick out from the cart. These do give me an extra thought or two on the Morse street bridges. They also get bumped out of position easily in the garage or while parked on the street or golf course. They also can get pretty close to the vertical square posts that are placed at the entrance of some golf cart paths. I'm not so sure that the inside mounted side mirrors might not be a better option everything considered.

Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]

Interesting about the mirrors. I have the inside mounted mirrors and they are worthless, only give me a view of me, or outside the cart too close to do any good. I am planning on converting to the outside mirrors, but since reading your response, will have them mounted high enough so not to hit post as you mentioned.

Anybody buy a CLUB CAR golf cart?
 

Thinking about buying a CLUB CAR golf cart,would like any feedback.

Thanks.

EFI clutch
 

I am going to get my cart back this morning. After a few weeks of ownership, I had to send it back for the "jerking clutch" problem, so it has not been properly corrected.
Hopefully they took care of it now.

Yamaha EFI
 

Why is anyone looking at gas vs electric. At the Villages Golf cart store at Colony, Ross, the salesman said I was was sharing a moment and I mentioned that my EZGO RXV electric was the best, and he said that he thought the same. (yamaha does make an electric, its nice, but the A/C motor used in the RXV is hard to beat) Encouraged by Ross, I then climbed aboard the new Yamaha EFI and took it for a spin. Nothing new here. Still noisy, still vibrates, still stinks. When I returned, Ross understood my issues with it as it was hyped as a new cart with new features. I returned home in my RXV and am very pleased on my decision. Oh, range issues, not with the 6-8volt setups. Anyone says anything different, and their not either maintaining things or just plain biased against electric. PS. I'm the guy passing everyone on the Bonita hill.

Sounds like the new wave of Harley riders:loco:

Thank you everyone for your comments and ideas. I will be taking all these responses with me when I shop! Looking forward to being there March 16!

Another with a bad first post. :police:

Electric
 

Spoken Well! were never going to win against the hydro carbon range anxiety owners.

I'm a Tomberlin Fan but I believe the company is in trouble. The EZGO with the AC motor is a winner!

Checked gas mileage after 440 miles on new Yamaha fuel injected cart. 49 mi/gal.

Almost as good as our Prius.

As a fairly new Villages resident (2010), I daily check the messages here to learn more about this wonderful place.

A question to better understand the "forum rules of conduct".....

What do you mean by "Another with a bad first post"?

I think the comment refers to the fact that the board periodically gets negative posts from new members as their first post. Then, they are never heard from again. This has lead to the suspicion that we are seeing people with an axe to grind with a particular business and are coming here to generate negative publicity to harm the business. Could be a disgruntled employee or ex-employee or someone who has a competing business. So, negative first posts, usually those that provide no real detail, are sometimes viewed with a jaundiced eye. Not saying that is the case here, just explaining.

Sometime back I posted on TOTV why I was not told about EFI of Yamaha when I bought 2012 in December. I bought it from Colony Village Golf. Since they started advertising in January, I thought I should have been given the choice and felt they were trying to get rid of non-EFI 2012 model. In February, I did hear from management and they did apologize for not giving me an option and mentioned that if I wanted EFI, I could get one for additional $500. They also told me that Yamaha is not making non-EFI 2012 model any more and they are still selling well without EFI. I am o.k. with their explanation so case closed and am not switching to EFI.

yamaha fi
 

that all sounds get, I TOO LIKE THE GAS YAMAHA FI, JUST STAY FAR AWAY FROM THE EZ-GO AND THE NEW STORE FRONT NEAR CVS ON RT.101, AFTER YOU GET YOUR CART AND WANT SOMETHING FIXED, THE HEAVY FAT GUY AT THE DESK GOES TO THE MECHANIC IN THE REAR SHOP AND THEY HAVE A LAUGH { HE OR SHE WANTS IT FIXED WHEN} STAY WITH YAMAHA NICE PEOPLE TOO:pepper2::bowdown:

Yorio, I remember your post. Glad to hear that the TV store management made you the offer they did - that sounds very reasonable as that's about the price difference (if not even a bit less) between the carb and the EFI versions.

Thanks for the update!

Bill :)

Yorio, I agree, thanks for the update!

I purchased a non efi cart from Carts and Clubs in December. They told me that for an additional $600 I could purchase an efi cart. After some consideration I decided to just go with the regular gas cart because I didn't think that the advantages were worth the $600. Just my opinion. The other day I did ride in an efi cart while golfing with a friend. It was a little bit quieter than mine but he had a foam pad under the seat which I'm sure reduced the noise somewhat. I contacted Carts and Clubs about this and was told that I had purchased a deluxe seat which didn't come with the foam pad because if I had one it would be touching the motor.

I am happy with my cart for quite a few reasons, meei cabin, rear shelf, and nice seat. I think I'll just stick with what I got. :gc:

John

Any specifics of problems you encountered there? I have never had a problem with those people of their products. In fact quite the opposite. I'd would like to hear specifically what problems YOU encountered.

We are ordering the Yamaha EFI with optional Ultimate Sport Seats. These are marine grade vinyl and you customize them with 2 tones.
They are extremely comfortable and both seats adjust forward and back and tilt as well.
Be careful, once you sit in them you will want them.
Get the speedo and odom. as well as side marker lights to be seen at night.
10 or 12 inch wheels complete the cart.

In August, EZGO will introduce a Hybrid Cart. I attached a link. Looking forward to checking it out. You may want to. Good Luck in your decision.

EXCEED HYBRID TECHNOLOGY

2012 Yamaha EFI
 

We purchased our second Yamaha EFI cart from Carts and Clubs two weeks ago.Bought our first one from Carts and Clubs three years ago. Now we have two gas carts. We got rid of our original electric Club Car. Carts and Clubs has already addressed the jerky clutch issue with the EFI . Pricing between Carts and Clubs and The Villages Golf Cart Stores are comparable - however you need to look at the differences between the two places. Check out the way the enclosure is attached, the location of the sand bottles, odometers,etc. Their service team comes to your home and does the work on your driveway. I highly recommend Carts and Clubs.

I think you posted about the hybrid a few weeks ago. I checked it and after looking at the pictures it seems you won't be able to have golf clubs on the cart. I may be mistaken. Guess we'll have to wait till August to see how it looks.

I know the link showed a rear facing seat available, which had available additional accessories to hold items. I did post it last week, and had a senior moment realizing it was not available until Aug. I liked the idea of a hybrid, quiet electric, but increased range like a gas. :wave:

Wow! Very interesting. We're looking for a cart and will be arriving in December. Will definitely check out the EZGO Hybrid. Looks like a winner!
Any pricing yet?
Thanks for posting!
Bob

QUOTE=KEVIN & JOSIE;469413]In August, EZGO will introduce a Hybrid Cart. I attached a link. Looking forward to checking it out. You may want to. Good Luck in your decision.

EXCEED HYBRID TECHNOLOGY[/QUOTE]

No way to confirm it, but I read on two different blogs that the hybrid cart has a $2K premium. Could be just rumor, but it seems in the right ballpark, since it's a small gas generator and some electronics.

Interesting Normandy!! I have a 2010 EZGO RXV and totally enjoy the cart. It has plenty of power and has been trouble free for over 4000 miles. I purchased mine from Town & Country in Spanish Springs and Kyle and the staff will bend over backwards to take care of their customers.

Not criticizing the Yamaha carts! They make a quality product!!

I bought a 2012.5 EFI after owning an electric CC for 6 years. Personally I do not like the noise and the puff of exhaust fumes. I would like to sell mine and buy an EZ GO!

Check out both Yamaha dealers, but for my money I would look at Club Cars. Easier for parts and easier to work on. I have a gas and love it

Mine is for sale $AVE
 

:pepper2:

Best place to buy is a place in Ocala called Carts and Clubs. They offer many more standard options, and offer a better quality seat (that is not as expensive either)