which to choose 1980 vs 1998 Club Car

Shiverscart

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum and to golf carts. My family and I full time RV and currently we are at a Thousand Trails RV park in Texas. My wife is working as the activities director and I want to get here a cart to go from the camper to the office. So we don't start having problems with the big truck.

Ok I have a buddy that has a 1980 36v Club Car that has been sitting for about 18 years. I plugged the charger into it and attempted to the peddle in forward and reverse to see if it still worked. I got a hum from the motor and charger when I did but it did not move ( I didn't expect it too not enough power). I can probably get this cart for about $200.

My other option is I have found a 1998 Club car 48v that the guy says all it needs is new batteries and he recently rebuilt the charger. He is selling it for $300.

My wife and I both like the look of the 1980 Club car just because it is very unique, and not something you see every day. I'm worried that it might be a money pit though since it has been sitting for so long and I will need to replace a lot of items. Please let me know y'alls thought any input would be very helpful since we do not know much about golf carts. Thank you

BGW

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Jake_Daddy

I would buy them both! The old one should be super easy to work on and probably just needs a new set of batteries you could probably get it running and sell it for $1k or better (at least based on my local prices) use that money to put batteries in the 48v, or have yourself another cart. If your any kind of a tinker'er type person start with the 48v because you will want it in the long run and if your running around a camp ground a lot you will get much more drive time out of it.

Thats my $0.02

BBBHC

Aftermarket parts will be harder to find/modify for the 80. 36v is a much slower cart than a 48v. So depending on what you will want to do to the cart, that may be the deciding factor. Especially if you are going to want to put bigger wheels and tires on it.

NoleFan4Ever

If it is one or the other, I would be all over the '98. It is a far superior cart in regards to technology and capability. (48v, controller, powerdrive charger, etc.)

scottyb

I'd be cautious of both carts. If the 1980 CC is a 3 pedal Caroache with hydraulic brakes. These brake parts are hard or impossible to get. And the Drive system is 1940s technology. After 18 years sitting this will be a frame up restoration. Modern parts and motors are not going to fit it.
The 1998 could be an early regen drive system (assuming 48v) If 36v it has (basically) the same drive system as 1980 cart. You want to find out before you buy it. If not the regen then it will be series 48v and that is a slow cart. Which is okay as long as that is all you want.

Here is what to expect on the 3 pedal cart > http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...he-brakes.html

Aflyer

Shiverscart,
Can you post pictures of both carts and provide the serial # for the 1998? That will help us provide you more information.

If the 1980 is a Caroche with 3 pedals, the hydraulic brake system is rebuildable, here is a link for the Master Cylinder:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/AGB-MC4360
Aflyer

NoleFan4Ever

If that is a Regen2 cart, jump all over it as long as it is in fairly good shape. I mean come on, it is only $300! The Regen1's were discontinued in late production (~wk 40) of '97 in favor of the Regen2's. Alltrax now has a Plug&Play XCT controller for the R2 and if you just want the 300a model, you will need no other upgrade unless you want to go bigger. The R2's already have a Sepex drive, Run/Tow switch, better operating parameters, etc. I have done 3 of these and 2 were stock controller replacements and the last was bigger and faster so there were several other upgrades. The 2 stock replacements are running perfectly with a simple controller replacement from Alltrax.

Shiverscart

Thank y'all for the info!! It has been super helpful. The '98 cart sold this morning. It was on offer up and the guy wouldn't respond to me yesterday afternoon and they he said this morning that it sold. The guy with the 1980 CC has decided he will not take anything less than $400 buck. I have looked some and found that you can find some parts for it on Ebay and things but they are not the easiest things to find. I don't know if it is worth $400 with all the stuff that will have to be done to it. I do have some pictures but they are pictures of it covered in junk because it has been in the back of his barn for 18 to 20 years. So you can not see too much.

NoleFan4Ever

I would probably just wait now and keep looking around....

Mooncarter

You can't snooze on a $300 1998 Club Car. Even if it needs more than the proverbial "just batteries."