Gas carts - Yamaha or Club?
 

I will be closing on my house in three weeks. Then needing my very first (USED) golf cart, I think I could use some experienced HELP. A mechanic told me Club car has the oil filter and that was a better system. I would welcome some ideas, experiences, or just plain old likes and dislikes.

Too broad a question

What are your needs, what have you found so far.

Budget

call carts and clubs will tell u what they have and bring down what you want and give them a check can't beat that very happy:clap2::clap2:

Electric - restricted range & quiet

Gas - noise & you must buy gas once in a while but it'll go for hours and hours and hours and hours

IMHO -
electric - EZGO
gas - Yamaha
:spoken:

I think what I was wanting was opinions on the brands because I'm thinking gas for either one.

Elec can go 40-50+ miles, do you really think U need more?

Add solar

Brand Club Car 100lbs lighter alum frame never rust.

Gas Yamaha, just beware of the noise and your carbon footprint, go in a tunnel when a few R in there.

We like our '11 Yamaha. If you're considering used and can/want to afford it, try to get the current model Drive model (2007 and newer). LOTS of improvements over prior models and the ride/suspension is more comfortable.

Yamaha uses an engine of their own manufacture - Club Car uses Kawasaki engines (to the best of my knowledge - someone correct me if I'm wrong!). Yamaha does use a 'splash' type of oiling system - it's not going to have a filter. Kawasaki's engine uses a pressurized oiling system and thus has a filter. In a golf cart application, I'd be comfortable with either engine - both are from quality manufacturers with plenty of positive history behind them. With proper maintenance, I don't think you'll wear either one of them out.

Bill :)

Thanks all. I will start looking around for a used cart shortly.

Food for Thought
 

I've gone back and forth on this gas vs electric issue. I'm back to electric now that I know we are purchasing a home in Rio Grande (very central). A friend is buying a villa in St. James and just bought a Yamaha EFI at Carts and Clubs in Ocala. Now to my food for thought:

1. Depending on the village you live in, a gas station could be quite a distance off. To me that would mean keeping a 5-gal gas can in the garage. If you have or will buy a villa, keep in mind most have the washer/dryer in the garage. Not sure I would like gas fumes while in a hot garage doing the wash.

2. If your home is fairly centrally located (using 466 as central), the range on electric carts can get you a round of golf at Bonifay or Lopez and back with range to spare for cruising, squares, dinner and more.

3. If you live or plan to live on one extreme or the other (i.e. Orange Blossom, Chatham, Sanibel, Tamarind Grove) then gas would get my vote hands-down.

Again, these are opinions, just mine. :D

Finally, as far as which brand, seems the vote goes to Yamaha. The new EFI helps with better mpg and they quieten down a lot after reaching cruising speed. Basing this on sales pitch and test driving one.

Good luck with your decision!

I have seen several comments about gas smell with gas carts in the garage. I have a gas cart and have never smelled any gas in the garage. Just my 2 cents.

John

That's just because you've never had ME in your garage before, John...... :shocked:

:1rotfl:

Bill :wave:

I think it's a bit odd that some electric cart owners seem so passionate about how superior their carts are to gas carts. When someone asks about which kind of cart is better, the electric folks pop up and seem to to want to SELL you a cart, like the guy with the big smile and the polyester suit at the used car lot.

In my eight years in TV I have not heard any real complaints about Club Car or Yamaha gas carts. The owners don't agree that their carts are 'loud' or 'smelly'. They just drive them anywhere and enjoy them. But I do hear lots of griping about having to replace batteries, controllers, etc., frequently in electric carts. These are reinvestments that cost hundreds of dollars. And, many electric owners admit they would not leave home without a tow rope.

Back on topic;
Our 1994 Gas club car has given us flawless service since we acquired it with our first house in 1996. Change the oil and filter, pump the tires, and an occasional drive belt and we been good to go.
The only concern I would have with the new club cars is the low narrow placement of the headlights behind that opaque housing. You would have to see for yourself if the lights work as well as the current high, wide spacing in all the other brands.

I think they are both good
 

I only looked at new. IMHO: The Club has a better oil system. It uses an oil pump and filter. The Yamaha uses a "slinger" for the oil. (Your car has an oil pump, your lawn mower has a "slinger"). I think both carts are quiet compared to the "older" gas cart. I did not smell fumes with either cart. I ended up buying a new Yamaha from a dealer in Kentucky and saved about $2k. The club has a better oil system but did not like the headlights. Seems there are more Yamahas here, maybe better resale. Club seems to have more "after market" add ons available. If you can, wait until you have your garage cleared out and take measurements. A 4 seater can add 12"- 24" to the length. Take your time, test drive and shop around . :gc:

You only need 1 or 2 gallons to keep on hand in case you get low and don't think you can make it to the gas station. Remember, you get about 40-50 mpg. When you do get gas, dump the gas in the gas can in your car and refill it with fresh gas.

Personal preference gas or electric. I can tell you that the electric NEW gets 45 to 60 miles in range but then when the batteries get older they get less and less range you have a problem going up golf course slops or the golf cart bridge. Gas up once a month full power and a range of 300 miles or all month for me. I have a Yamaha gas and change the oil twice a year (one quart of Mobile 1) $6.00. I would never expect the engine to blow! If you change the oil and that is cheap and easy to do you will never have a problem with it.
I have heard the alluminum frame on the Club Cars prevents rust in your driveway in later years. My Yamaha is 12 years old and no rust in the driveway or garage yet.

Good one Bill!!!!!:BigApplause:

Thanks everyone for all the information. I have been checking on line, paper classifieds, walking Sumter Landing, and even stopped by The Villages Golf Cart store checking prices. It seems that gas carts run about 75% - 100% more than electric carts of the same years. This may be due to large demand for gas carts. I was told most people are changing from electric to gas leaving a bigger supply of electric carts. The store said gas was 97% of sales.They also recommended to by 07 and newer because of the upgrades to the carts. I'm sure that I'm not the only one looking for a very good used cart at the best price. I still have a month before closing on the house so I will keep doing what I'm doing. Worst case scenario, I can ride my bicycle until. :gc:

Go with the one you get for the best buy. Either cart is fine, both work well. I have a gas Yamaha and an electric Yamaha. Both have pro's and con's, but very few con's with either one. Both work very well. Good ride, good range, good features.

If I only had one cart it would be the Gas Yamaha. Just keep a one gallon gas can full. When you get low, take the gas can and cart, go to a station, dump the full can in the cart and then fill the one gallon can and cart with new gas. Change the oil with either cart twice a year and they will run forever.

I only know one person to ever wear out a gas cart. And they run a home watch business and drive it probably 50 to 75 miles a day year around. The cart had many thousands miles on it when they bought it used and then it still lasted 5 years before giving up. And that cart was a late 90's gas Yamaha.

Pretty challenging for the average person to ever wear out a gas Yamaha. And my guess would be the same for a gas Club Car so buy the one you get for the best deal.

I don't keep a gas can I use the "filling" station only. It's not like you are at the staion every day or week I usually get gas about every three to four weeks.

Point Taken
 

See. . .that's what happens when a guy like me (who isn't there yet and has no cart) makes an "assumption". . . y'all came to my rescue and set me straight. But, in my defense (which I must do) I have rented and used a gas cart. I guess the fumes I referred to were in the garage when I started up, etc.

Thanks for setting this "soon to be frog" on the straight and narrow! :bowdown: One day maybe we can all gather at a watering hole and the first round is on me! :beer3: That includes popcorn too Bill! :1rotfl:

We have a remanufactured club car bought in 2004. We upgraded the batteries by Battery Boys and have over a 60 mile range.
We run all over including from 466 to 466A everyday and have never even seen the battery gauge go down. Sometimes we go days without plugging it in. It is bogus to say electric doesn't have range. All you need to do is upgrade your batteries.
My neighbor borrows our electric when she has company so her company can enjoy the ride, talking on the ride and no odor!!!! We' get their loud stinky gas cart and hate it.

Love our Electric Club cart
 

Just looked at responses. We are on a dead end street and 12 have electric and two gas.

Since 2004 we have had no mechanical issues and got 4 years out of first batteries and have 4 years on upgraded batteries so far and they act new. Also, we use our cart everyday as we live here year around.

Giving you our experience. There is a great deal of misinformation on electric.

And of course we don't have to go to a gas station or store gas. Newer homes really have a distance to find the one gas station which is usually 10 cent higher than ones on 466 or 441. Plus the station has closed many times.

I had a gas Club Car and now have 2 Yahama gas carts, I've never had any major problems with any of them. I believe either make is a good choice.

Absolutely, I can't tell you how many times I've heard my friends say I just spent $600 or $800 on batteries!

Gas
 

And how much does one spend on Gas at $4.00 a Gallon after four years of constant running around? And Oil changes and service .Bet it about equals the price of new batteries every 4-5 years.

Lets see I have been told the average cart travels 6000 miles a year. So at 40 miles per gallon = 150 gallons of fuel. 150 gallons at $3.5 average = $525 per year for fuel. Times 4 years = $2100.00 And then we add on at least $100 a year in Oil Service thats another $400 so lets say $2500 over four years. VS $800 worth of fresh batteries

And are you plugging your cart into your neighbors electric because the way you post you don't mention the cost of the electricity for your cart.

$100 a year in oil service? What is that? A gas cart takes one quart of oil for an oil change done at most twice a year. Maybe $12? As for annual maintenance, having one of each type, at least three different places I have used charge the same.

If you go to the golf cart store in LSL they have a chart that looks at all cost for gas and electric. They will give you a copy. It looks at gas, maintenance, cost of batteries, cost of electricity, and is quite comprehensive. It shows that total electric is about 20% more expensive to operate every month then gas. And I realize NOBODY on either side of this very dumb argument will agree with anything about the cost of operations. However before you all start throwing arrows go get the chart and understand what it shows. And no, I don't believe they have any vested interest in selling one type of cart over another.

Well here are the "facts" from a gas cart owner. I travel about 300 miles a month and gas is usually $20.00 a month. Thats $960 for gas in four years. Service I do a tune-up once a year myself (the kit is $18 at the Villages Golf Cart). Oil changes I do it myself (anyone can) no filter one quart of Mobile one $6.00 at Walmart. So here are the 4 year facts:
Gas: $960
Tune ups $72
Oil changes $48
So for this average golf cart user I have paid $1,080 in the last 4 years NOT $2,500.
And the biggest hole in your argument it cost "ON AVERAGE" $1.50 a day to CHARGE the batteries thats $2,190 for four years plus your batteries $800.
$1,080 Gas vs $2,990 ele

I can only tell you what I have experienced- own a gas Yamaha g22 (2006 model) never a minutes trouble. Bought it from The Villages Golf Cars (Ralph Wolf-superior) - can't beat their overall service. So happy with car #1 that I have ordered a new 2012 gas Yamaha Drive which will be delivered next week by The Villages Golf Cars. May cost a few dollars more to deal locally versus Ocala but in the long haul it is worth it. Get a nail in a tire, need a headlight bulb changed, horn buzzer too loud...whtever the issue I take my golf car in to LSL and it is corrected (usually at no cost) and a loaner car always available to me when mine is in for service. They are here for you seven days a week.

You decide, but for me I am a satisfied customer of The Villages Golf Cars.

:agree:

I won't even mention the pollution carbon footprint issues:$:

Maintenance is needed on gas every 200-250 hours, this is not just driving time but also idle warm up time, all based on a hour meter.

Keith, I know we disagree on this issue, but the dealers here get 47.50 + tax for oil service etc., that's without tuneups which I would guess is another $50, say $100,
If you do 300 miles a month (your figures) with electric going 50 miles on a charge that comes too 6 charges a month or $9.
If you maintain batteries 6 years is likely and more is possible.

You also have to depose of the used oil?
Not convenient, clean up etc, oops the oil spilled all over the driveway:mad:

Not everyone does their own work.

Here's how it's done, how many in TV do theirs --
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqkhLiU_0Bs&feature=related]How To Tune Up A Golf Cart by Fairway Karts Unlimited - YouTube[/ame]

Its absolutely pennies!!!
Electric is so much easier than gas. I know on our street, people have changed out of gas to electric.

To each his own, their will be no agreement.

Both sides put false info out,Do a search and you an find studies done by golf courses that use both.They say costs are about the same for both.I would trust them because they have large fleets that would give them better data then anyone here has.For some reason village cart likes to push gas and don't know why.Then you have another shop that will not sell any gas carts ,I'm sure they both have a reason.

Interesting is the price difference at TV and outside the bubble, Yamaha's are $5,000 else where (gas or elec same) and $7,000 here for gas, Elec $8,000:$:

Now why is there that kinda difference?

Why does the dealer here ask $1,000 more for elec than anywhere else, appears to be bias for gas I don't know why but would think it may be due to margin of profit or factory incentives possibly their personal likes.

They also claim that elec carts lose 6mph in speed on any type hill,
I ask if you experience that or not.

The oil change & service is $75.

.

If my air filter was as nasty looking as the one shown in that video, it would hit the trash can and get replaced with a new one! :D

Bill :wave:

What air filter?

Ummmmm......well.........oh, never mind!

:jester:

Bill :)

Gas Golf Carts
 

When your ready come and test yourself, I have a ample supply of both Club Cars & Yamaha's gas carts and you can judge for yourself.

Frank you didn't pop up as a dealer on their website, R you selling used than?