Living without car?
 

Hi,
I'm a new member to the forum. I'm planning a visit shortly. Thinking of purchasing property in the villages. Ultimately would like to be able to do without a car: Fly down, take shuttle to Village, get around in golf cart, etc.

Do you think this is possible? How far away are the grocery stores? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks, Nancy

It is absolutely possible. In order to answer how far away anything would be, I'd have to know the village where you are staying and how fast your cart goes. I can go from the Historic Side of TV to Hillsborough and Collier by golf cart in 50 minutes. I live on the Historic Side and to go to Winn Dixie or Publix or Walmart or any number of stores including two bowling allies and Spanish Springs Town Square takes approximately 10 minutes.

Also, welcome, welcome, welcome to Talk of the Villages. I think you will find the forum very informational and The Villages amazing. Ask away!

Hi, and hopefully welcome! Are you talking about being without a car while you house hunt, or being without a car after you buy?

I have a friend whose husband was still working, in another state. He had their car, and she went everywhere in her golf cart. He came home every other weekend. She claimed it was no problem. I would probably want to have a car to get to different shopping areas, but really, I think you could get to most everything you need in a golf cart. I would think you'd want to live close to one of the shopping areas--Spanish Springs, Colony, 466.

Others who have lived here much longer than we have can hopefully answer you with a more experienced opinion.

when all gets said and done you can reach just about anything you could want by golf cart no matter where you choose to live.

The only issue would be distance....still can be almost anywhere in 15 minutes....a little further maybe 15 to 30 minutes get one 90% of places.

One can/could EASILY live here in TV without a car.

I guess if you never want to leave TV or shop anywhere but the local stores you could.

The only time I really need to leave TV is some doctor apts and a trip now and then to Home Depot or Lowes. Comparing keeping a car for these few trips you probably could take a cab or rent a car and be well ahead. You could also make sure your doctors are in TV and golfcart accessible.

Another concern is the weather. During the summer, we have thunderstorms. Contrary to some beliefs, you are not safe in a cart when there is lightning around. You can be snug in a cart with the sides down when it is cold or windy or raining, but I would not venture out in a cart when there is lightning in the area.

Now, that's not a problem unless you really HAVE to go out and all you have is a cart. There is a taxi service in a pinch, but less convenient than your own transportation.

I would want a car. Sometimes things come up and you need to get something done quickly, not excluding health issues that are not emergencies.


Also there are times that it is just too hot or too cold to be comfortable going for long distances in a golf cart. And I don't like asking others for favors which you would really have to do at times if you didn't have a car.

Off the top of my head, I can think of two of my friends living in The Villages who don't own cars. Both are from New York City, well one is from Manhattan and the other is from The Bronx. They go everywhere they need to in TV by golf carts. One of my friends rent a car when when she needs to go off campus and doesn't have a friend to take here and the other gets rides from me and another woman.

We just rented golf carts to two couples who came down to visit and rented a patio villa together. They did exactly what you are proposing to do and came in from the airport on the van and never used a car. We just got another cart back from an older couple who did the same thing but decided to rent a car during their last two days so they could go somewhere off campus. It can work but it depends on the individual and their lifestyle.

I don't think I would like to be without a car. I wouldn't want to choose my doctors based on whether they are golf cart accessible or not. I have seen several doctors one in Ocala, one in Orlando who are specialists. Not sure how I would have gotten there without my car. Of course if it is a budget issue you do what you have to do, but if budget isn't an issue, I vote for having a car.

My neighbor here in the village of Hillsborough moved here from Queens last year. They have never owned a car. They bought a golf cart but mostly rely on the Village taxi (a full size van) and are very happy with this arrangement. They say it is about $12 to go almost anywhere within the Villages. So, in answer to your question, it is doable to not have a vehicle on your visit. Enjoy your visit!

Our neighbors are here for 5 months and no car..so far so good. ..if someone goes to an out of reach are they offer to take them on the road trip

We stayed both in Virginia Trace and Hemmingway this winter and had a rental car and a golf cart. When we had the unit with a gas cart we didn't use the car much but when we had the electric cart we used it more as if we got cruising around too much the battery would run out. There is an enterprise rental car agent in Sumter Landing and if you organize your shopping and side trips out of the bubble you could rent a car for just the day. We did a long term rental from them but out of MCO (Orlando airport) because they had a corporate rate of $850 for the first month and less there after a lot of which was taxes. But we might this next time just rent for a couple days at a time as we will have a gas cart with our 2015 rental. Also check your car insurance we were able to reduce ours to storage mode on the car at home and it still covered a rental car for 30 days. Saved us enough to buy a policy off the net for the other months. But if we rented a few days at a time it would have been totally covered. The insurance from the rental car companies is outrageously priced.


Hope this info helps.

I have a niece who moved from Germany to White Plains, NY and got around by taxi for four years. She didn't have a U.S. driving license and she claimed that the expense of cabs was less than the expense of owning a car. She finally got a license and drives. There are many people here who only drive golf carts. For myself, I couldn't do it - too many places that are difficult or impossible to reach by golf cart, plus the weather, too cold, too hot, too stormy etc.

Thanks for the insightful information. I didn't ask the original question but I was educated by your answer. Thank you.