Golf cart
 

I hope to buy a home in the villages. Won't be there permanet for about 18 months so plan on coming down for a week every 3 or 4 month.

What type of golf cart (gas or elect) would you recommend since it won't be getting driven every week?

Hopefully, you'll have someone watching your house when you're not here. If so, they should consider driving an electric cart around the block as part of the job or give a gas cart a nice, long run once a month.

If you're not getting a housewatcher, have you considered just renting a cart while you're here? Jim Followell rents them by the week at around $100 (all gas carts, though). That way, you'd have no risks or worries.

What I've suggested to a couple of clients is that they buy a cheap cart (under $3K) for now and then resell it or trade it in when they're here permanently. That way, you get a better idea of what you really want on a long-term basis and have something to tool around on on a short-term basis.

As usual good advice Red!

It is so important to have someone drive your cart and if electric check the water level in the batteries. We had a Homewatch person who was suppose to check our house and cart twice a month. The water level in the batteries was not checked and it ended up costing us over 700.00 for new batteries. Yes I know we could get batteries for less money but we were not sure what the problem was since we were not there. The Villages Golf Cart shop picked up the cart and discovered the batteries had not been maintained properly and were dead.

I have heard so many positives comments about Redwitch that I recommended her to a friend who is also a seasonal resident, she has been very pleased with her services.

I recommend you not buy anything until you determine if you even want a golf cart. I know, not having a golf cart in TV is some sort of sin, but I have yet to see the value of them. Rent one each week you are here (both elec and gas) and see for yourself. I have been a snowbird for 2 full winters and still do not understand the great attraction.

Renting a golf cart is a great suggestion. But no golf cart at all? :faint:

We purchased a gas cart. We came down a few weeks in the summer, week or two during other times. All that we did was shut off the gas, put it in neutral and ran it out of gas. That was in 2000 to October 2002. Still have the same cart and still runs great. We now own two gas carts.

Sorry, I just do not see the attraction. We rented in TV in 2008 and liked it so much we built a home later that spring. We had a golf cart for the month's rental and initially used it quite a bit. But over the month, we used it less and less and eventually not at all. The major issues I had were

• Uncomfortable. It was a nominal 2 seater converted to four seats with the standard rear conversion. That includes a set of springs which are too stiff for the vehicle unless it is fully loaded -- sort of like an unloaded truck. One of the first things I do when I buy a car is to replace the whole suspension and my cars are really stiff. But that golf cart ... I have ridden in a half dozen other carts and just do not like the way they handle or feel
• I am in pretty good shape; so the mobility issue is of no concern to me -- some people use golf carts where I would just walk.
• I do not use a cart for golf. I walk as golf was intended to be played. No one playing with me has ever complained that my walking slowed the game down -- most of the times it is the other way. And yes, I drive my car to the course most of the time.
• I find that I can use my bike to get virtually anywhere and I normally get there faster than I would in a golf cart. I ride on the roads not the multi-purpose trails (which saves a lot of time) because some people in golf carts do not respect people on bicycles, but traditional motorists do (just my experience so far).
• If it is too far for my bike, then it probably is out of the golf carts' "legal" area, so I drive one of our cars. I am a "car guy" so I always have a two cars here

Perhaps in time I will "see the light" and change my mind. Well, actually I have, sort of. I am concerned about gas mileage and even though the cars I drive get quite good mileage, I am buying a motorcycle to get even better mileage.

Hi CarGuy,
I did not mean to offend you and please, please accept my apology if I rubbed you the wrong way. I was kidding about the "faint". Of course, there is nothing wrong with preferring a car!

I just bought an aqua colored ladies' bicycle that I'm bringing down to TV when we come this week. Maybe I'll see you tooling the road. :wave:

You did not rub me the wrong way and no offense was taken from your reply.

We're not there fulltime yet either. We've rented a cart a couple times to try different models, however we know a lot of people without carts and it's not a given that we'll get one (we don't golf). You may want to just wait.

We have a golf cart and wouldn't have it any other way. We got an electric because it IS cheaper and can be left fully charged for weeks at a time (what do you think northern golf courses do with their carts over the winter?). If I want to walk the courses I can still drive there on my cart. It takes less parking space which is especially good if you go to the 'very limited parking' town squares. It takes the place of a second car without the expense of car ownership....etc.

We also only visit our house occasionally so we were advised by TV Golf cart store to buy a used gas cart which is what we did (not from them). The home watch people take it for a ride once in while and so far so good.

I was just wondering, was that a salesman at the store or a mechanic...because every mechanic I've asked said either it didn't matter which one or recommended electric

We are snowbirds. 5 months here. We have a electric cart because that is what we prefer. Before we leave for the summer we charge completly, fill with water, and disconect the main pos & neg wires and the charger. So far after 2 seasons no trouble. When we get back down we just charge over night and we are ready to go.

It was a salesman and he gave us Jim Followell's business card.