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Golf cart opinions

Jeff423

Jeff423

US Veteran
Joined
Nov 13, 2007
Messages
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Location
St. Charles County, MO
In my new community people tend to get around in golf carts so I would like to get one. I have a personal preference for gas powered, but on the used market there are more electrics and they are cheaper. My experience with battery powered things has not been great but I haven't tried a 48v golf cart.
FWIW it won't be used for golf.
 
We have two Yamaha gas carts. My wife has a newer Yamaha Drive and I use a 30 year old Yamaha. We only use the carts for 2 months out of the year so an Electric cart will not work for us.

If I needed one that I was going to use all the time it would be electric. You will need new batteries about every 5 years at a cost of maybe $800.

The electric is so much smoother and they make no noise.
 
I have used many different electric carts in the chemical plants and factories over about 40 years. For the most part very dependable

SOP is to plug them in off shift so you always have a full charge.

We built racks and installed racks and loaded them down with that, tools and people. Instant torque hit the go switch and they move right out.

About the only big expense is the battery if you get it used check out battery for age and holding charge.
 
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What NYlakesider said!

When we moved back to Georgia in 2010 we bought a used electric golf cart from the previous owner of our home. A year or so later the cart would not make it up the gradual subdivision street slopes of North Georgia. One of the local golf cart dealers came to pick it up. Then the pain began.

1. The cart we bought was intended to be used on flat surface streets which are typical of Florida;

2. The steering and suspension mechanisms require some (a lot) of annual PM. Replacement parts can be expensive.

3. The batteries were no longer capable of being re-charged. I believe that there were six. I thought that Wal Mart would fix me up. Wrong. The cart required a special type of battery at a cost of ~ $200/each. That would have been ~ $1,200.00 plus the cost of the suspension system repairs.

I told the dealer to just keep the cart and scrap it.
 
Electric may be the wave of the future, but I am still more comfortable with infernal combustion. I have little experience with golf carts, but I do know that a gas-powered EZ-GO is not a bad off-roader. The smooth bottom glides over downed logs. You do have to get out and push.

I have no idea what it would be like to drive one completely sober.
 
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Unless there has been a change in law in Missouri recently,golf carts need to be licensed to drive on public thoroughfares. That means lights, brake lights, turn signals and inspections to obtain a license. As I have been retired for a few years, I am not completely up to date on those requirements, so you might want to check with St. Charles PD.
 
Different states have different regulations about golf cart requirements and licensing. Texas relaxed theirs greatly not too long ago, but some communities still have fairly stringent requirements about lights, etc. Generally, private retirement communities don't care, nor do small towns. Larger cities probably won't allow them on city streets. Of course it is foolish to drive any golf cart on any highway.

I have a 2001 electric Club Car I bought used in 2003, and it has been excellent. I am now on my third set of batteries, counting the set originally in it. It takes six- eight volt batteries, they sell for less than $100 each at Sam's Club (the cheapest place to buy them), or did the last time I bought them about two years ago. I have never had any problems other than battery and cable replacement, but cables are cheap. And I have replaced some tires. Most tire shops can fix flats for about $10. I do get flats from thorns, etc., but I have stopped driving off the pavement.
 
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Jeff423 said:
What do I need in the way of a charger? I'm guessing my 12v chargers won't work.
Click to expand...

I have six - eight volt batteries. Some use six or eight - six volt batteries. You almost certainly will need a special charger, as it will plug into a special socket on the golf cart. All batteries charge simultaneously, so my charger puts out 48 volts. The correct charger should accompany each golf cart, new or used. They are fairly expensive if you need to buy a new one. The only charger problem I ever had was I needed to replace a relay inside my charger about six years ago. A simple job, but it was a little difficult to find the correct relay. I did find one on eBay.
 
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BSeabrooke said:
What NYlakesider said!

When we moved back to Georgia in 2010 we bought a used electric golf cart from the previous owner of our home. A year or so later the cart would not make it up the gradual subdivision street slopes of North Georgia. One of the local golf cart dealers came to pick it up. Then the pain began.

1. The cart we bought was intended to be used on flat surface streets which are typical of Florida;

2. The steering and suspension mechanisms require some (a lot) of annual PM. Replacement parts can be expensive.

3. The batteries were no longer capable of being re-charged. I believe that there were six. I thought that Wal Mart would fix me up. Wrong. The cart required a special type of battery at a cost of ~ $200/each. That would have been ~ $1,200.00 plus the cost of the suspension system repairs.

I told the dealer to just keep the cart and scrap it.
Click to expand...

He was ripping you off on cost of batteries. Most dealers around here are less than $100 ea
 
Nightowl said:
Unless there has been a change in law in Missouri recently,golf carts need to be licensed to drive on public thoroughfares. That means lights, brake lights, turn signals and inspections to obtain a license. As I have been retired for a few years, I am not completely up to date on those requirements, so you might want to check with St. Charles PD.
Click to expand...
I'm going to use it at Innsbrook.
 
Eddietruett said:
He was ripping you off on cost of batteries. Most dealers around here are less than $100 ea
Click to expand...

Some of the golf cart dealers and battery shops are very proud of their golf cart batteries. I remember seeing some prices in the $150-$175 range before I bought mine at Sam's Club. Sam's was selling "Energizer" GC batteries, they seem to be pretty good. Many GC dealers sell the "Trojan" brand, I guess they are supposed to be better because they are more expensive.
 
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We also had a Club Car, but as I listened to the dealer describe the recommended annual maintenance costs, plus the fact that an electric cart is just not the best solution in our area, especially if there are more than two adults on board.

This may only be true in the Atlanta area, and no where else in the world, but many merchants, dealers, etc. have a nasty habit of adjusting their prices (usually upward) based on your street address, subdivision, or zip code. What DWalt said is also very true - the same people will charge the highest price possible for what they do. I just refuse to play their game.
 
I have two 2009 Yamaha 48 volt carts. I intended to install lights and a rear seat on both, then use one at our house in the mountains and one at home to ferry the grandkids to the pool.

Turns out the standard electrics will not pull the gravel roads in our mountain community. Upgrading the motor/controller/wheels/tires will cost a few thousand dollars.

EZ GO and Club Car have motors that incorporate three different speed settings, the Yamaha can be adjusted once. If you are tall, the Yamaha has more leg room.

A few months after I bought my two I discovered a cart company in SC that sold and delivered carts set up like I think I need for around $5,300.00 each. Looking back I wish I had found them first and bought one cart, then a Kawasaki MULE for the mountains.

Grandkids love to fight over who drives the cart.

There are golf cart paths in our community. Many of my neighbors have been ticketed for driving gas powered carts on those paths.
 

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I have an 04 Club Car up at our campground. I purchased used from the original couple. It was optioned out for the golf course but it goes all over the campground with no issues!
So far I've had no maintenance issues and it still runs great! :D
 
I live on a course that is in hill country. Electric carts are nice, but the seem to wear down on the hills. IMO gas carts do better in hilly terrain. Most here use gas carts for that reason. Have owned ezgo and yamaha. I currently have a new yamaha with fuel injection. The fuel injection is great.
 
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