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Gas Yamaha Gas Yamaha Golf Cars; G1 through "The Drive" and U-Max Utility Vehicles



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Old 10-01-2016, 11:09 PM   #11
AFBob
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Default Re: Smoother ride

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Mac View Post
Bob, is your car the one with independent rear suspension?
Yes Mike. It has Independent Rear Suspension, the larger tires (which I learned was stock for the 2017 Drive2 PTV), and even has rear drum brakes. I noticed my steering wheel is turned almost 90 degrees left when the cart is going straight so I'll check with my dealer about having that adjusted. If I stand in front of the cart, it appears the tires are angled a little. I don't know if that's toe-in or toe-out but it just looks different. Since I live 35 miles from the dealer, they get $85 when they come pick it up so I'll wait until I have a list of things for them to do under warranty before I call.

It definitely rides faster than my 2012 Drive, but I always felt safe in the 2012 and I don't feel safe yet in the 2017. It's so quiet, perhaps I'm driving faster than I did in the 2012 and that's why I'm bouncing around in the cart. The roads in my community are very steep, very curvy, and somewhat bumpy. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but it's a very different ride from the 2012 model. In the 2012, the bumps were hard (kidney-jolting hard) but stability was excellent. In the 2017, the bumps are much softer but between the bouncing sideways and up and down, it's a little scary going downhill.

On the 2012 model, the gas pedal would actually control the downhill speed somewhat if you barely had your foot on the gas pedal. With the 2017 and EFI, once I start going down a steep hill, the gas pedal does nothing to slow it down so I either let it roll fast or ride the brakes. I'm sure I'll learn to love the new one once I get used to it. It has a lot of improvements (LED lights with 13X brighter lights, two USB charging ports, Hour meter and gas gauge, modular panels and a bottom plate, lots of foam for quieting, etc). I'm told changing the oil is now a major task (unlike the 2012). My dealer said they plan on using an extraction pump to remove oil from the dipstick. If you want to use the drain plug, you need to remove the bottom and then remove something (air inlet ductwork, I think) and then get to the drain bolt.

Sorry for such a long response but I didn't want people to think I don't like cart. When I test drove it on a flat asphalt road near the dealer, it was an awesome ride (smooth, fast, quiet, and responsive). Here in the mountains, it's more like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney. I guess I'll use my brakes more on the hills. LOL
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Old 10-01-2016, 11:53 PM   #12
Mike Mac
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Default Re: Smoother ride

Ok, the 90* steering wheel is a major issue, and I'd call that dealer and tell them ta come pick this piece of S--- up and bring me one thats put together correctly!! Yamaha's are good with a degree or two of (positive) camber, (tires lean out at the top and curl under just a touch at the bottom)!! But toe-in is paramount for good high speed handling!!

Ya know, I could see the suspension loosening up with a couple hundred miles on it!!

Sorry there is no grade breaking with the new model car, that can't be fun!! Ya know, before my Plowmans install, I had more grade breaking when I kept a small amount of throttle on, while going down a steep grade!! That kept the clutches engaged while transverseing down a hill!! Might try it!!

(And,,, this means nothing to you, but since the plowmans install, I have incredible grade breaking with my car!!)

Now, i need to shut up, cause I don't know a thing about the newer cars!! Smallblock and CG tech are the smart people on the whole line of Yamaha cars!!

But we would all love to see pictures of the undercarriage of that sparkling new car!!
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Old 10-02-2016, 01:55 AM   #13
cgtech
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Default Re: Smoother ride

Lol! Absolutely nothing to see from the bottom. It's All covered up by shields, all of it.
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Old 10-02-2016, 07:01 PM   #14
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Default Re: Smoother ride

Here are some photos but I'm sorry I didn't get to take pictures during daylight hours. I'll take good ones in the next day or two and share them. I created an album but the only upload picture icon I saw wanted a link. Hopefully, the pictures I uploaded to Flickr will work: https://flic.kr/s/aHskKSduGF
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Old 10-02-2016, 09:50 PM   #15
Mike Mac
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Default Re: Smoother ride

Thank you Bob, nice car!!
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Old 10-03-2016, 05:49 AM   #16
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Default Re: Smoother ride

Yes I believe bob was one of the first on the forums with the IRS and I'm jealous. Lol. But anywho to the OP these carts have little wheel travel and originally intended for streets and fairways. We the consumer decided to take them offroad which leads to lifts, bigger tires, etc. you will never get the plush smooth ride and suspension travel as say a Polaris ranger would since they were never intended for that purpose. About your only option is lowering the tire pressure but be careful not to run them to low and get a pinch flat or roll one off the bead on technical terrain.

Some food for thought which is totally off topic so I apologize. But here goes. Local dealer is selling 2016 Polaris ranger 570 models for 7500$ otd. For 7500$ you get 45hp, 4x4, dump bed, seating for 3, headlights, EFI, large aggressive tires, brake lights, speedometer with all functions like engine temp,rpms. High,low reverse transmission. 55mph top speed.

Local yamaha cart dealer has the new drive2 in the ptv version for 7200$.

For a person that will use something for farming and hunting and lots of off-roading I can't see spending 7200$ plus the cost of a lift kit and tires which will be over 8000$ and still not have near the capability of the ranger. The only downside of the ranger is the noise factor. Fast forward here I own a ranger an a yamaha g29. The g29 gets used a lot more than the ranger by te wife and kids around the farm. But the ranger gets used back in the deep woods and for working the fence rows.
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Old 10-03-2016, 07:48 AM   #17
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Default Re: Smoother ride

dbmachine that is a good analogy when comparing the two vehicles. I do believe that golf carts are over priced for what you get, but it is like buying a boat or an RV. You don't really need one but if you want one this is the price people are willing to pay. Two additional things that a golf cart has going for it is it can be driven on a golf course or on public beaches where as Polaris can't. So i guess it depends on how someone wants to use either one.
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Old 10-03-2016, 07:58 AM   #18
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Default Re: Smoother ride

Yes you would think that cart prices would be in the 5,000$ range for what you get. I would guess that thousands more carts are being manufactured than ranger vehicles since golf courses order new fleets all the time. It is a head scratcher for sure. The ranger has more steel,plastic,rubber,electronics,features, power but still in the same ballpark price.
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Old 10-03-2016, 09:10 AM   #19
AFBob
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Default Re: Smoother ride

My wife and I drove the Polaris before purchasing the Yamaha Drive2 but what sold us on the Yamaha was: Better mileage (up to 45MPG for Yamaha versus 18MPG for the Polaris [according to the dealer]), much quieter engine [we couldn't talk without almost yelling on the Polaris, and the concern that maintenance would be more expensive on the Polaris. Also, we were told the price was $9K for the Polaris. I must admit, however, that the Polaris took off like a bat out of hell and the guy told us to just drive over the curb and onto the grassy area near the highway. My wife and I braced ourselves at 15 MPH when we hit the curb, but NEVER felt the bump. That Polaris just flew over the curb and down the grassy area effortlessly. If I was using the vehicle for total off-road riding or using the back dump truck feature, I would have definitely purchased the Polaris. I use the Yamaha to drive throughout our 5,500 acre community with 170 miles of private roads to get the mail, go to the pool or recreation center, the parks, and to enjoy the mountain views and wildlife. We have so many deer in this community, it's like DEER-assic Park! They just stay there on the side of the road munching, while we drive by.
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Old 10-04-2016, 01:52 PM   #20
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Default Re: Smoother ride

We too looked at the Ranger when we were purchasing. My wife liked driving the GC but was totally turned off driving the ranger. I agree the Ranger seems like a much better deal but I think for our purposes the GC was a better purchase.
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