Going Gas! Where to buy?
 

We've always had electric golf carts but have decided to buy a Yamaha gas cart. Looking for advice from those who've bought from The Villages, and from Carts and Clubs in Ocala. Why did you buy where you did and would you do it again? Hope you can help us decide!

Gas Cart
 

We purchased our Yamaha gas cart from The Villages Golf Cars in Spanish Springs over a year ago, they also have businesses in Colony and Lake Sumter Landing. We think we got a good deal from them, we liked the salesman, we followed their advice and took their payment plan and paid it off with no interest. They bought our old cart for a fair price. They pick up and service with no hassle. So far very pleased with the purchase.

We purchased our Yamaha gas cart from The Villages Golf Cars in LSL. Bought it right off the showroom floor, with No $$$ down. When the first payment was due, we paid them $4,000 cause it was at 17%. Then waited for the balance of what we owed them. Took the balance to the bank, got a loan at 7%. We now have a payment of just over $120. Thats how we did it. We have free pick up and service (oil change once a year) for 5 years. Our cart is due in May for our first free oil change.

A couple of previous threads on the topic:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...s-clubs-50613/

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...aha-efi-49493/

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...hopping-45696/

Bill :)

Bought mine at the new location at Colony Plaza. See Ross, good guy, no bull.

Another Villages Golf Cart at Colony customer. Our salesman was Larry and you couldn't ask for a nicer guy to work with!

I just got back from Village Golf Cars in SS - had to replace a rear tail light bulb on our '96 Gas Yamaha. Cost a buck, tax included. In and out of the store in two minutes; excellent service.


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Bought at Colony also. See Kim. She was a wonderful salesperson. When we picked up the cart she had just got done detailing the cart so it was perfect. My experience with service has been exceptional and only wish car dealers would give the same great service.

Appreciate it!
 

Thanks to all for your responses. It seems that both places are great places to do business, with advantages on both sides. Choosing between two well-thought-of businesses is a very nice problem to have!

We purchased both of our Yamaha gas carts with Carts & Clubs. I know when we were out looking at the time for our first cart The Villages was higher priced, so we called C & C. Gave us the price on the standard cart and we built one using the options & pricing list. Large amount of choices they offer. We been extremely happy with the first cart. Time for a second cart, we didn't even shop around, we ordered from C & C. Being previous customers, they gave us a deal we were very happy with. I'm sure The Village Yamaha dealers are very reasonable as so many posters are pleased with their purchases. Either way it's the brand Yamaha that you'll be buying and I very seldom see any posted related to problems with Yamaha gas carts.:eclipsee_gold_cup: Good luck on your purchase and the fun of driving with the flaps up and the fresh in coming in. My husband tells people we even have air conditioning in our carts. The half windshield down, the air is on. I don't care for the air on, messes up my hair ;)

I was originally going to go with Grandpa & Grandma's Village Buggies LLC - Services they never update their website, they are always too busy. They'll talk to you forever and are very friendly.

They are on Hwy 27 on the rightside about two miles north of Hwy 42. They've been in business about 7 years and they had a lot of good reviews on this site when I was looking about a year ago. They sell refurbished Club Car gas carts. A couple in their mid 50's own and operate the place and use to live in Virginia before moving here, and he worked at a golf course there. Now they buy all the carts from that golf course when they get to be a year old and have them shipped down. He redoes the outside so it looks brand new. He puts them back together with all the options and usually has a few for sale when I was there.

https://sites.google.com/site/monday...800x590%29.jpg

I was all set to pull the trigger on a black 2010 model that had everything, even the ultimate seats, and it would of been $8300 plus tax. I ended up get everything on a Yamaha from Villages at LSL for about $10,000. So I would of saved about $1700.

I got to thinking about having to work with a dealer that is off campus. Also, since it a ma & pa operation, who knows if something were to happen to them. Plus, even though they are only a year old, a year at a golf course is probably like 3 or 4 years here considering they are probably out on the course twice a day. Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong checking them out.

I think the businesses that refurbish used carts like to get them from "up north" versus a warmer southern climate as they'll have less hours on them - probably only used for 7-9 months a year in colder areas versus year around down south.

Bill :)

That's probably true to a lesser extent. I came from Baltimore last summer and the previous winter I played twice a week except from mid December to late February to mid March I skipped. So we were essentially out on the course for about 9 months and this winter they say was even milder. The Virginia courses are a little further south so they would probably get an equal amount if not more use.

When we were visiting the dealer once, a big summer shower poured heavy and we ended up spending about three hours there talking to them. One question I asked was even though the outside looked brand new, how's it under the hood, do you rebuild the engines? He said, when you buy a used car the dealer doesn't rebuild the engine. He does put on new tires and wheels, batteries and the replaceable items but that's where it stops. That's where I had my doubts about buying and then having to deal with a shop that is ten or more miles away from Tamarind Grove and with a shop that could take off for a two week vacation at the worse time. Anyway, they were very nice and that's why I wrote they should check them out.

Why gas? Don't tell me ...you like the smell in the tunnels & wanted to contribute!!

OH BOY. Lets bring up the gas vs electric argument again. GET OVER IT. Some folks like white tile some like green. Some folks prefer steak, some like fish. If people want a gas cart let them have it. If they want electric so be it. Every possible reason and pro and con has been on here 100 times. I have one of each and love them both. And each type has there place in The Villages.

You are quite right about the smell and the noise! We have always vastly preferred the electric experience and reluctantly will switch to gas. The reason is simple, we're now retiring on a fixed income and don't know if we'll always be able to afford the big price tag for batteries in the future. Also, we use our cart much more than expected and want to be assured we have the range to do all we want to in a day.

Buying Gas Cart
 

Seems most people who buy gas carts, buy Yamaha. I have driven carts from The Villages and Carts & Club and they seem Ok. On Sat. we stop at Cart World and drove a 2012 Club gas cart and it seemed quiter than the Yamaha. The "take off" was very smooth. They use a "presure" oil sytem vs a "slinger" oil system. Any "Pros or Cons" on Club gas carts and the dealer Cart World?:bigbow:

I bought at the The Village Golf Cars in Market Square. I did research on electric vs gas and felt with the distances we would travel gas would be better. We are pleased with the service and operation of the cart. I bought a certified recondition 2008 Yamaha and love it. No problems. Salesman was Gary DeLoach and he has been great and very responsive to any needs.

:bigbow:

Can prices be negotiated like purchasing a car from either Carts and Clubs or The Villages?
They are offering $400.00 off of the Yamaha EFI but can a better price be had?

I bought my gas cart from Gary DeLoach too. He is the Best IMO.....NO recondition one for me. Bought a new 2011 Yamaha off the showroom floor. No problems here. I turned my speed-up, just to have a little extra speed (when I need it) too pass Mom & Pop:icon_wink:

Purchasing from The Villages Golf Cart Store
 

We have the same question relative to negotiating price. Can folks who have bought a new cart from The Villages store please let us know your expereinces with negotiating price? Thanks!

We chose gas 2012' EFI after a lot of research, decided to buy from Carts and Clubs in Ocala. The ultimate price was the same but they included a Lot of extras like a gas pedal extension, I am short so it was hard to reach; their club cover is clear on three sides so better visibility. There were several other items, if you want to discuss please pm me.

At our age we should be entitled to what WE want if we can afford it; that is my story and I am sticking to it.

Good luck on your search.