Buyer's Remorse?

Chilly · 04-01-2018, 09:19 AM

While I dig the idea of lifting my cart, putting on bigger meats, upgrading the CVT, and installing more power, I'm stuck on the economics of it. Seems one can easily reach the for-real purpose-built UTV territory. So it seems there is an all-in cost threshold where upgrading the golf cart stops making sense and one should consider a UTV instead. $11k is the MSRP for Honda or Polaris 4-sweaters with 4x4, more engine, forward facing rear seats, roll cage, a drive system that doesn't stop working when wet, etc. Consider that most of us are starting with 10+ year old machines. How much do you think makes sense to put into a 10yr old machine to approximate the performance of a real UTV of similar age?

Some love to tinker and gain a lot of satisfaction in the build process. Some just want to use the machine when it's done. From those who have invested heavily in their carts what do you think of as the threshold?

Thanks
Chilly

E36Racer · 04-01-2018, 09:36 AM

For me I wanted a silent electric vehicle and UTVs are not street legal here in south FL. I could have bought 2 of them for what I have in my cart. But didn’t have a choice

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

lockman1 · 04-01-2018, 09:53 AM

This is a tough one... UTV's and golf cars are Apples, and Oranges!
it really depends on what you use them for!

A lot of us use golf cars for campgrounds or communities where UTV's aren't allowed,
and most UTV owners use them for hunting, ranch or farm use!

I bought my cart new for $6200 w/tax and upgrades,
I've since added another $5200 to it to try to "out modify" the others at the campground.
Sadly, I sold my seasonal camping site, and I live in a somewhat "snooty" city where golf cars aren't allowed on the road.

Now, all I get to do is look at it collecting dust in my garage, start it once in a while, and run it around my little 1/2 acre lot a couple of times a year.
I still try to get it out to A campground a least once a year to run some of the old fuel out, but to me? it's not NEAR enough!

Is it still worth it to me? Absolutely!
My ex-wife already knows that if my cart is too expensive to bury with me... It gets donated to Wounded Warriors!

My .02

Scarter · 04-01-2018, 09:55 AM

Yeah, I believe a lot of it has to do with your end use.
I use mine at campgrounds and very few will let you have a gas vehicle and almost none allow utv’s. So for me it’s an electric golf cart.

The hunting carts make sense if you need to approach quietly. But for me I wouldn’t make a hunting cart, I would use a proper atv.

The idea of being in the woods doing real off-road trails with a golf cart does not appeal to me. Nothing against the guys that prefer it, just not my thing.

Swan · 04-01-2018, 10:07 AM

Well im a full time rv-er and like posted above is the reasons I have a electric golf cart (now street legal). If i was running around a 100+ acres of woods I would probably have something bigger and stronger. I got this cart i have now for 1800.00 ten years ago and have better then 6000.00 in it over the years . No I can never get my money back out of it, but to me it has paid for itself over and over again with every mile I drive and mine does on average 10 to 15 miles a day everyday.

Skoal82 · 04-01-2018, 10:37 AM

Well I have both, they started out with different purposes. Golf cart just for running to neighbors, pool, cruising the campground. Golf carts do not tear up people's yards, go slower, are safer for kids to learn to drive on. The side by side (ranger) is for trail riding, muddling, hunting. But with all the golf carts turn into a competition also with one wanting the fastest, biggest. Now we build them to go on the trails we're we take the side by sides. With the side by sides it's just hit the gas and go, with the golf carts it's a little more challenging and fun picking your route.

Rooster59 · 04-01-2018, 11:22 AM

Golf carts are the girl next door and a UTV is a trophy wife. The girl next door is more attractive all around for me. A golf cart intimidates no one, does 95% of what the UTV does, and isn't as "busy" to operate and own. Almost every 4wd truck has the transfer case engaged less than 1% of its lifetime. You have to push the limits to need 4wd in almost every case. If you do and like that then you NEED a UTV. Most people WANT a UTV but don't need it.

Quite a few friends and hunting buddies have UTVs. They are nice but they just don't appeal to me. They are more like a Jeep or truck. I like stepping into the "porch swing on wheels" and tooling around my property or country roads and trails. Seventeen years ago we spent $2200 on the golf cart with utility bed and large tires. Recently we spent another $1800 on a bigger engine and a few related upgrades. That's $245 a year plus fuel and maintenance. And it is ready to carry me another decade at least. But I have never tried to keep up with the neighbors. Only satisfy myself.

Our friends with ATVs and UTVs all want to take the cart for spin when we show up.

Your mileage may vary.......

Chilly · 04-01-2018, 11:48 AM

The reasons stated make sense for carts. Mine will be primarily for wife and kids to go to playground, the swimming area at the lake near where we live, and visiting friends in the community. So I think I'll just get it in tip-top mechanical condition, keep it clean, paint it a pretty color for my daughter (rattle can most likely), and equip with comfort items like windshield and back seat. Thanks for the insights.

Unfortunately no such thing as road legal LSV where I live.

Chilly

Lifegoeson · 04-01-2018, 08:44 PM

I shouldn't be driving my cart on the road but I do, a UTV is louder and draws way more attention. I have been driving my parents cart for over 6 years on a weekly basis. I drive my cart now on almost a daily basis. I bought used and did all the modifications and have a little over 3k way less than a utv too. And for street driving almost as useful

AirJunky · 04-01-2018, 09:00 PM

You can't really believe there is anything financially smart about building a cart. Their toys. Around here, carts can be driven on the street. UTVs cant. My cart is about the same loudness as a UTV & can easily tear up a yard if driven like that. But is only capable of 30-35 mph, rather than 70 or 80. I've had mine around 6 yrs & am probably into mine around $6k, still far less than most UTVs.

04-01-2018, 09:19 AM	#1
Chilly Getting Wild Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: W PA Posts: 123	Buyer's Remorse? While I dig the idea of lifting my cart, putting on bigger meats, upgrading the CVT, and installing more power, I'm stuck on the economics of it. Seems one can easily reach the for-real purpose-built UTV territory. So it seems there is an all-in cost threshold where upgrading the golf cart stops making sense and one should consider a UTV instead. $11k is the MSRP for Honda or Polaris 4-sweaters with 4x4, more engine, forward facing rear seats, roll cage, a drive system that doesn't stop working when wet, etc. Consider that most of us are starting with 10+ year old machines. How much do you think makes sense to put into a 10yr old machine to approximate the performance of a real UTV of similar age? Some love to tinker and gain a lot of satisfaction in the build process. Some just want to use the machine when it's done. From those who have invested heavily in their carts what do you think of as the threshold? Thanks Chilly

04-01-2018, 09:36 AM	#2
E36Racer Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,061	Re: Buyer's Remorse? For me I wanted a silent electric vehicle and UTVs are not street legal here in south FL. I could have bought 2 of them for what I have in my cart. But didn’t have a choice Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-01-2018, 09:53 AM	#3
lockman1 What the ....? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.E. Wisconsin Posts: 14,928	Re: Buyer's Remorse? This is a tough one... UTV's and golf cars are Apples, and Oranges! it really depends on what you use them for! A lot of us use golf cars for campgrounds or communities where UTV's aren't allowed, and most UTV owners use them for hunting, ranch or farm use! I bought my cart new for $6200 w/tax and upgrades, I've since added another $5200 to it to try to "out modify" the others at the campground. Sadly, I sold my seasonal camping site, and I live in a somewhat "snooty" city where golf cars aren't allowed on the road. Now, all I get to do is look at it collecting dust in my garage, start it once in a while, and run it around my little 1/2 acre lot a couple of times a year. I still try to get it out to A campground a least once a year to run some of the old fuel out, but to me? it's not NEAR enough! Is it still worth it to me? Absolutely! My ex-wife already knows that if my cart is too expensive to bury with me... It gets donated to Wounded Warriors! My .02

04-01-2018, 09:55 AM	#4
Scarter Not Yet Wild Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 44	Re: Buyer's Remorse? Yeah, I believe a lot of it has to do with your end use. I use mine at campgrounds and very few will let you have a gas vehicle and almost none allow utv’s. So for me it’s an electric golf cart. The hunting carts make sense if you need to approach quietly. But for me I wouldn’t make a hunting cart, I would use a proper atv. The idea of being in the woods doing real off-road trails with a golf cart does not appeal to me. Nothing against the guys that prefer it, just not my thing.
Scarter Not Yet Wild Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 44

04-01-2018, 10:07 AM	#5
Swan Cave Dweller Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Always On The Move Posts: 22,217	Re: Buyer's Remorse? Well im a full time rv-er and like posted above is the reasons I have a electric golf cart (now street legal). If i was running around a 100+ acres of woods I would probably have something bigger and stronger. I got this cart i have now for 1800.00 ten years ago and have better then 6000.00 in it over the years . No I can never get my money back out of it, but to me it has paid for itself over and over again with every mile I drive and mine does on average 10 to 15 miles a day everyday.

Today
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04-01-2018, 10:37 AM	#6
Skoal82 Gone Wild Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Central mn Posts: 1,036	Re: Buyer's Remorse? Well I have both, they started out with different purposes. Golf cart just for running to neighbors, pool, cruising the campground. Golf carts do not tear up people's yards, go slower, are safer for kids to learn to drive on. The side by side (ranger) is for trail riding, muddling, hunting. But with all the golf carts turn into a competition also with one wanting the fastest, biggest. Now we build them to go on the trails we're we take the side by sides. With the side by sides it's just hit the gas and go, with the golf carts it's a little more challenging and fun picking your route.

04-01-2018, 11:22 AM	#7
Rooster59 Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Central Missouri Posts: 1,955	Re: Buyer's Remorse? Golf carts are the girl next door and a UTV is a trophy wife. The girl next door is more attractive all around for me. A golf cart intimidates no one, does 95% of what the UTV does, and isn't as "busy" to operate and own. Almost every 4wd truck has the transfer case engaged less than 1% of its lifetime. You have to push the limits to need 4wd in almost every case. If you do and like that then you NEED a UTV. Most people WANT a UTV but don't need it. Quite a few friends and hunting buddies have UTVs. They are nice but they just don't appeal to me. They are more like a Jeep or truck. I like stepping into the "porch swing on wheels" and tooling around my property or country roads and trails. Seventeen years ago we spent $2200 on the golf cart with utility bed and large tires. Recently we spent another $1800 on a bigger engine and a few related upgrades. That's $245 a year plus fuel and maintenance. And it is ready to carry me another decade at least. But I have never tried to keep up with the neighbors. Only satisfy myself. Our friends with ATVs and UTVs all want to take the cart for spin when we show up. Your mileage may vary.......

04-01-2018, 11:48 AM	#8
Chilly Getting Wild Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: W PA Posts: 123	Re: Buyer's Remorse? The reasons stated make sense for carts. Mine will be primarily for wife and kids to go to playground, the swimming area at the lake near where we live, and visiting friends in the community. So I think I'll just get it in tip-top mechanical condition, keep it clean, paint it a pretty color for my daughter (rattle can most likely), and equip with comfort items like windshield and back seat. Thanks for the insights. Unfortunately no such thing as road legal LSV where I live. Chilly

04-01-2018, 08:44 PM	#9
Lifegoeson Not Yet Wild Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: FL Posts: 44	Re: Buyer's Remorse? I shouldn't be driving my cart on the road but I do, a UTV is louder and draws way more attention. I have been driving my parents cart for over 6 years on a weekly basis. I drive my cart now on almost a daily basis. I bought used and did all the modifications and have a little over 3k way less than a utv too. And for street driving almost as useful

04-01-2018, 09:00 PM	#10
AirJunky Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Liberty Lake, WA. Posts: 1,762	Re: Buyer's Remorse? You can't really believe there is anything financially smart about building a cart. Their toys. Around here, carts can be driven on the street. UTVs cant. My cart is about the same loudness as a UTV & can easily tear up a yard if driven like that. But is only capable of 30-35 mph, rather than 70 or 80. I've had mine around 6 yrs & am probably into mine around $6k, still far less than most UTVs.