Golf Cars 101
What you should know about buying a Golf Car
This article has been prepared with the first time Golf Car buyer
in mind. The sub sections appear in no particular order. As they came to me,
this is how you see them.
Is it a new golf car or a used golf car I want?
Do I/we want a gas or electric golf car?
Where am I going to store the car? At home or the
golf course?
Does the golf course have power outlets to charge
the new golf car?
Can I drive the golf car from my house to the
course?
Is it going to be used for golf or work?
How much servicing am I prepared to do myself?
How much will my wife let me spend?
Am I going to pay cash? Or pay monthly?
In some cases this decision is made for you. Some golf courses only allow Electric golf cars. Some allow both but do not have any storage for Electric golf cars.
If you checked with your golf course or a local dealer, they could help you with a lot of these concerns.
Okay, which is better, Gas or Electric golf cars? There is no right answer to that question. This is why Golf Car manufactures make both. It boils down to circumstance and personnel preference.
Some electric golf cars have made tremendous advances in the last decade. Computers run them, have about 50 moving parts, very little down time and a pleasure to drive. One manufacture also gives you a factory speed setting of 19.6 MPH, adding a new level of fun. Most golf cars run about 12 MPH.
Today’s gas cars are not the gas cars of yesterday. Gone are days of a blue trail of smoke going down the fairway backfiring and sputtering. They are quite and reliable. Most of the major manufactures use a 4-stroke engine that has oil in the crankcase and regular unleaded gas in the gas tank, no need to mix the two anymore.
Tune-ups
Tune-ups for both Gas & Electric are an important annual function. An annual inspection on your golf car is much the same as going to your Dentist. Not only will the Dentist clean your teeth, they find out if something is wrong when it is small and easy to fix. Getting your golf car inspected once a year can be a very inexpensive way to maintain your golf car and fix any problems when they are small. And it’s painless.
Gas & Electric cars require a following:
Pressure wash car, undercarriage, batteries,
Brakes inspected, cleaned and adjusted
Increase tire pressure
Grease points greased
Check differential oil level
Specific to electric golf cars:
Clean all battery tops with water and baking soda
Remove and clean all battery cables, change as required
Top up water levels in batteries
Spray battery cables with Battery Protective Spray
Charge batteries, inspect battery charger for proper operation
Specific to Gas golf cars:
Oil change and filter
Air filter change
Fuel filters and spark plug changed as required
Check and change all belts as required
Check battery charging
Inspect Starter Generator brushes
Inspect fuel pump for leaks
Refer to your owner’s manual or local dealer for specifics about your car.
Determining Value
The value of a golf car is determined by the age and condition of the golf car. The older the car, the less value it has. However that is not to say a 10-year-old car, well maintained, could not have as much value as a poorly maintained (condition) 5-year-old car.
The overall condition of the golf car has to be taken into consideration in determining its value. Body, canopy, tires, batteries/charger, oil leaks, curb side appeal is all assessed to determine value.
The number of rounds on the car is a big factor. A good example of this is cars from Canada and the Northern United States command more money on resale, then cars from the southern states. The reason is simple, usage. Cars from the southern states will have 2 times and possibly 3 times the amount of rounds then a car from Canada or the Northern states. Which golf car would have more value to you, the one doing 150 rounds per year or the one closing in on 450 rounds per year?
It
could be the way they are sold. Here are some examples:
“As
is”, means exactly that, what you see is what you get, no more. It is the least
expensive was to get into a golf car but the most work required on your part.
“Shop
Readied Cars”, Serviced, and the obvious blemish such as torn seats, bad tires,
and paint touched up are repaired. A warranty might be offered. This would be
the category most dealer sales fall into.
“Reconditioned
Golf Cars”, this one is very hard to nail down because my definition of
reconditioned and yours may not be the same. A reconditioned golf car could
include the following, new front and rear bodies, new tires and brakes, new
batteries and cables, seat replaced, new accessories like, windshield, bag
cover, lights, floor mats, club & ball washer. A warranty should be in
place.
The
more a dealer has to put into a car, the more you will have to pay, but the
more golf car you will have.
Golf Car Batteries
Golf car batteries come in three different voltages, 6, 8 and 12. Six 6volt batteries will give you a 36 Volt operating system. Six 8 volt batteries will get you a 48 volt operating system and four 12 Volt batteries will give you a 48 Volt operating system. These are special deep cycle batteries designed for golf cars. Use the batteries recommended for your golf car.
I know what is going through your mind; I’ll get 3 - 12 volt batteries from ABC Auto supply for my 36 Volt car and save some money. Don’t try and reinvent the wheel here, it will not work. You will get frustrated, say a lot of things you did not mean (most people will be amazed at the range of your vocabulary) and spend a lot of money that was not necessary. See battery care and maintenance in this site or your local dealer. It’s important you do this one right.
Brakes
Golf cars have brakes on the rear wheels only. They are mechanical. That means you press on the brake pedal, it pulls a cable that pulls a lever that tightens your brake shoes and you stop-hopefully. If you did not stop, I hope you did not get hurt. At the very least you need your brakes adjusted and could need new brake shoes/linings. If you need your brakes replaced, replace both sides; do not do one side now and the other when needed.
As mentioned earlier, electric golf cars have made tremendous advances. One area that has happened is the area of braking. Some electric golf cars will automatically brake for you if you are going to fast down hill – reducing brake pad wear. Forgot to set your park brake on a hill? Not a problem, some cars will not let your car go past 1 mph, allowing you ample time to get your car.
Custom and very fast Golf
Cars.
Customizing a golf car is the neatest thing you can do to a golf car. It takes and changes the whole golf car from something everybody has, to something only you have.
You add the big tires and chrome wheels, 6” lift kit, fancy paint, bucket seats, and the list goes on and on.
Doing up a golf car is the same as doing up your automobile; it can get a bit expensive. Just because a golf car is smaller then your automobile, does not mean the price will be smaller to customize. It does cost a lot of money to do custom work.
If you get into fast golf cars you are going to have to come to the table with a few more $$$$$. After you have done the Pimping to your car, you have to add the performance end, new motor, heavy-duty batteries and cables, larger controller and the list continues. When you finish (can you ever finish?) you will have a work of art. Have fun with it and enjoy.
Buying a golf car is no
different then buying anything else, common sense should prevail.
Now get out there, enjoy
the fresh air and have fun.