School me on... Golf Carts

[Bowen]

This weekend my Father-in-Law decided that he wanted to get a new golf cart to drive around the lake and keep at the lake house. Translation: He wants me to do all of the leg work, give him a couple choices, negotiate, and he'll show up to pay for it. I know nothing about golf carts. Teach me Obi-Wan(s).

We have a 1995 club car right now that is extremely under powered and barely makes it a slight incline (batteries are fine, just older). The requirements for a new cart are:

4 person (where the back two seats fold down to create the little truck bed (needed to run the trash to the dump).
Electric
Powerful (I really don't know much about 36v vs 48v) but we want it to have some go
Lifted and good looking
Preferably NO stereo...we could always add it later if needed.
Newish
$7kish

Anyone have any thoughts?

These two dealers are relatively close to me (I'm in DFW):
http://www.golfcartsforfun.net/
http://www.corplecorral.com/

I don't have time to build one myself.

Any preference between brands?

[Commodore]

I know JonyB had quite a few different ones at times, and they were all powered up and pretty badass.

I don't have much other information. I do know that people who get the mildly lifted ones are glad they did it. Not the jacked up real high ones. Just the ones with a few inches, and some lawn mower tires. They said it allowed them much more flexibility and places to go that you wouldn't think a regular cart couldn't do.

[Broccoli B]

I'm not real knowledgeable on electric carts, I have only had gas. I believe 36v is only better because it requires less batteries.

The GolfCartsForFun place looks good. It will be super simple to walk in there, pick out a cart and leave with it in a matter of 30 minutes. Bring a pickup and they will put it in the bed with a fork lift.

Here is mine.

[Bowen]

In reality we'll probably just show up, pick one up and leave with it, but I want to be knowledgeable first. I found some Club Car vs. EZ Go debates on other forums (that might equate to one of our Hyperlite/Liquidforce or Nautique/Mastercraft/Malibu debates) but I trust my wakeboarder.com bretheren to steer me in the right direction.

We definitely want a moderate lift with bigger tires on it.

[ohsix]

My dad bought a golf cart for his lake house last year. I don't have a picture, but he ended up getting a gas powered Club Car with a small lift and the 4 seater/hauler conversion. He looked at electrics, but the regular electrics wouldn't make it up the hill from the lake. They make a "high torque" electric, but it still didn't seem as powerful as the gas version.

I don't have any good pictures of the hill I'm talking about, but it's in these two:



The hill gets fairly steep at the top. The cart will make it up the hill going straight with 2 normal size (~160 lb) people, but won't make it with 3 or 4 people.

[finkle]

First of all, 160 lb people are not normal sized people. That's a little larger woman and a small man. Neither of which are "normal".

If you have to do hills on a regular basis or will be carrying a larger load, you will need gas. I prefer electric to gas but if you have certain needs, you will have to go with gas. I don't think you will go wrong with either club car or ez go but I'm not really a fan of the Yamaha cars.

FWIW.

[Bowen]

We really don't have to worry about hills. we have one slight incline when taking trash to the dump (1.5 miles away).

ohsix, what lake is that? Looks like a nice setup!

[ridininmd]

I have a club car we use as a pit car when we're racing. If you go electric go with the 48V it will last longer between charges and has a little more juice. On the newer carts there are aftermarket controllers and motors that will really make them fly. I've got a friend that has one that will run 35mph and does wheel stands from a stop. Pretty wild for an electric cart.

On your older cart between the controller and the motor there is a copper wire that that is coiled up. You can pull that out and cut about half of it off and then reinstall it. That will give you a nice boost in power.

Sounds like your best bet is just to walk in and see what kind of deal they will make you.

[ontrider]

[Blue22V]

Brands -

Club Car - Aluminum frame and no rust issues, but slightly higher cost
EZ Go - usually a little less expensive
Yamaha - mostly Aluminum, but parts are more rare

36V - less expensive when buying batteries, but less torque for hills
48V - some newer carts have 4-12v batteries, Most sugest a slightly older cart with 6 - 8v batteries. It is more $ to replace every 4-6 years, but they carry more charge and have longer life cycles

Electric vs. gas - Electric has to replace batteries every 4-6 years at a cost of $400 - $800. It has more torque for loads, is easier to maintain, and generally outperforms most gas carts. Gas is cheaper, but must be maintained and driven to keep the motors and parts lubricated. Either way, the trade-offs are about the same.

I have a 2002 Club Car IQ, that can be programmed, when I began looking around, that model seemed to be the best of the long term carts for the money. newer models have come out with better looks and the same options. There are many upgrade motors and controllers for electric carts that can pull boats up a ramp, or drive 35 - 65 mph with ease (I don't sugggest it). Gas carts can be similiarly modified just like a car.

Seats can always be added very easily, as can a lift or wheels. Remember that a lift will increase your truning radius, and not really give a whole lot of extra performance additions. Most GC makers suggest slightly larger wheel/tire combos and no lift. If you do add a seat, the flip/fold works great for chores around the property. I really do emphasize you add on a heavy duty rear spring set. That will help with the cart handling when people or heavy loads are riding in the back.

For parts - www.buggiesunlimited.com

PS - I May be interested in selling mine.

[ohsix]

[ohsix]