Golf Cart Buying Guide

Much like a car, there are many types of Golf carts on the market. There are both advantages and disadvantages of going New vs Used and Gas vs Electric.Technology has come a long way in recent years with the advancement of battery chemistry and finding what best fits your needs can be a challenge. With a range of carts for all budgets and different battery technology – let’s explore the avenues to go down when purchasing your next cart.

What will you use it for?

Some makes are better suited for indoors - where you are running transport services in airports or stadiums for example. Others are suited best for outdoors for resort hotels and country clubs. Here you may find that long range golf carts are best option, with a high-capacity battery and lots of seating available.

New vs Used

Used

Advantages

· More Affordable – there are plenty of used carts on the market and finding one is easy. The majority of them are cheaper than a new model and can be as low as $2,000.

· Owners Take Care of Them – Some resorts like to maintain their fleet and keeping the exterior clean is their main priority too. Buying used you may get a great refurbished cart with new internal parts, at a lower price.

Disadvantages

· Unknown History – carts that have been around for a while may be inexpensive, but the paperwork has gone missing or never existed during maintenance. When buying used, owners may not be honest, and the cart could be on its last legs.

· Battery Degradation – electric carts have some great advantages, especially new carts. Overtime the chemistry in the battery degrades and the cart will lose its range, power and charging capability if it has had a hard life. Although you could get a deal up front, replacing batteries could be expensive.

New

Advantages

· Warranty – leaving you reassured if anything goes wrong, new carts offer free warranties that protect you and guarantees new cart owners that they are buying a quality product. Plus, the latest technology is available when buying new –especially important in recent years with battery chemistry advancements.

· Personalization – tailored to you and your business. New carts can be customized with accessories, added options and original parts can be fitted right at the factory or dealership.

· Zero history – when buying new, you know it has not been crashed, tampered with, or worked on by a non-professional. You and your business will be the first to drive, with all the pre-sale checks happening in the factory or dealer, you are left with a fully operational shiny new model.

Disadvantages

· Cost More – of course, new carts are more expensive than used, but owners may look for that peace of mind as a price to pay up front.

· Old/Favorite Models Not Available – owners may have a reliable brand and a fleet of identical carts. If you need to replace one cart in your fleet, finding the same model new may be difficult because the manufacturer has discontinued/replaced with a new version.