Golf cart reviews
 

I am looking to buy a used golf cart. Are there certain years that are a problem. My current cart is a 2011. It runs great but is very noisy and I need better seats with belts.

There are some years of Yamaha golf carts with WET brakes versus the normal drum brakes and there have been some negative as well as positive comments regarding these. As I recall you need to be careful about changing the differential fluid and using the correct fluid. I would recommend a Yamaha QUIETECH EFI golf cart, we have 2017, runs much quieter than our previous golf cart. We bought through Village discount Golf Carts, these are reconditioned golf carts with a decent warranty and reasonable price.

IMO if you have no clue how golf carts works and what makes it work, just buy new one. All the advice will not help choosing used cart, you have to have knowledge and ability to determine if it’s looks reliable and functions properly.

How true. In 2011 we bought an older Yamaha that had been parked in the square with a for sale sign on the windshield. Within months, the gears were grinding and seals leaking, and the seller (who was not even a Villager) was in the wind. It needed a whole new axel, which cost another thousand dollars.

Give us a call at 352-793-3948 and we can go over what we have in inventory as well as any questions you might have when purchasing a new or used Yamaha cart

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We have purchased two used carts since relocating to The Villages and have been VERY pleased with both purchases. Like you, didn't know much but got educated through research and talking with others (neighbors, golfers, those in other groups and clubs). We decided on used just to not take the hit on a $20K new cart. We wanted Yamaha Drive 2 Quietech. I understand 2017 is when they switched to independent rear suspension which is what we wanted. I HIGHLY recommend one with upgraded El Tigre seats. They are significantly more comfortable than many, in my opinion. Having said all that, find what works for you and that you like. We have toyed with swapping one of ours out to an electric option but have not done so yet. We have friends with different models, years and seats and all seem pleased with their decisions like we have been with ours.

Try Hidden Creek Golf Carts, Main St. Wildwood. Electric, almost no maintenance like gas engines, disc brakes, and lots of upgrades if you desire. Top of the line fully loaded and it at maxes out less than 16000.00. But they start at 8595.00 & 9595.00. So if you are on a budget you can get brand new just not all the bells & whistles.

I don’t like our noisy 2010, but we’ve had fewer problems than a 2017 we garage for a family member (brake pedal, clutch). I would get a later model than the 2017, the first year of Quietech.

We have a 2010 Yamaha that came with the house we bought four years ago. We added a 2020 refurbished cart from The Villages in 2022. So far the newer cart needed both headlights replaced six months apart and our battery just died giving us the chance to experience how great Kart Aide is. The 2010 is louder, but it’s peppy and you’ll notice there are lots of loud golf carts in the The Villages.

You basically have two excellent options with Yamaha. The G29 Drive (2007-2016) and the Drive 2 Quiet Tech (2017 - current). The G29 is a simple, the most reliable, and longest lasting cart money can buy. The earlier models (I believe through 2013) are carbureted, after that they have fuel injection, referred to as EFI. As mentioned earlier, some models of the G29 have a team axel (I believe they stopped making the team axel mid 2014), which contains wet brakes rather than the rear drum brakes. It is very difficult to find parts and replace a team axel gone bad, but if properly maintained the wet braking system is an excellent and reliable feature. Our 2014 has the team axel and it’s been completely trouble free with bi annual replacement of the rear differential fluid with Yamaha friction modified rear diff fluid. Over time, the G29 has proven to be more reliable than the Drive 2, but that being said, the Drive 2 is an excellent and reliable cart also. The two main differences between the two models is that the Drive 2 was modified to make it run very quiet and Yamaha added independent rear suspension. The independent rear suspension is an excellent feature and most definitely makes a difference for folks with a cranky back when hitting bumps. With quality aftermarket seats and the rear independent suspension, you can drive one of those things all day just like a comfortable car.

We have both a 2014 G29 and a 2022 Drive 2 and are extremely happy with both carts. I typically drive the G29 when alone listening to music on the Bluetooth speaker so I don’t even notice the louder drive, although the noise doesn’t bother me anyways. When driving with a passenger, I usually take the Drive 2.

If you’re looking for an incredibly reliable golf cart and never want to give range a second thought, you can’t go wrong with a Yamaha. Yamaha is by far the most popular brand in the Villages for a reason! Lastly, with a Yamaha you won’t ever have to worry about finding someone to service your cart and parts are relatively easy to come by. Hope that helps.

Electric cart
 

We went the electric evolution cart. I know people are gonna say you have to worry about the range you’re gonna get but the battery powered carts. Well let me tell you, we got the 160 amp battery and can go over 50 miles on a single charge. There are not many times I believe you are going to want to travel over 50 miles.
Its quite and pretty much maintenance free and only around $11,000

Excellent post, thoroughly explains the primary differences and pros/cons of the last 15 years of Yamaha models.

Concerns about our climate and environment are more reason to shy away from newer (id est - Lithium) carts is the incredible damage they wreak upon the environment.

Firstly, you have to have all those coal burning power plants to recharge the "clean" vehicles.

Then when the lithium carts reach the end of their lifespan, you have to dispose of these incredibly toxic, heavy metal leaching batteries. Imagine what's going to happen to your grandchildren's water supply! We are not even talking about the coal-burning, air-killing electricity required to keep electric carts "fueled!"

Be careful when buying a gasoline golf cart because th previous owner may have "jacked-up" the speed control which sends MORE GASOLINE through the engine. The cart gets a higher top speed (sometimes 30 MPH) but the added fuel causes the rings, valves, and pistons to wear out faster. If you stand on the side of the road and have someone drive a used cart past you, after it is about 30 ft away from you - you can smell un-burned gasoline. Do NOT buy a golf cart like that.

E-golf carts are better for the environment than gasoline golf carts. Gas carts do NOT even have pollution control devices on them. They are producing uncontrolled pollution. A lot of electricity is produced by wind, tides, and solar. Large electric generating plant have LARGE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS and other methods of scrubbing their haystack smoke. Gasoline golf carts have NO such scrubbing. Some golf carts use lead acid batteries for carts that don't need long range. And battery science improves every day.

This response is 100% wrong. Completely disagree. O.P. should make up their own mind.