Top Tips for Buying and Maintaining a Golf Cart
by Robert Borges on July 22, 2019
Buying a brand new or new-to-you golf cart has many benefits that extend beyond the green. Whether you’re looking to buy a golf cart for work, adventure, or as a way to cruise the community for some excitement on a lazy summer day, there are a few tips and tricks to buying and maintaining a golf cart. Should you go with a new or used golf cart? And how easy or hard is it to keep a gas versus electric golf cart in good condition? There are many choices on the new and used golf cart market, and it’s essential to do your research before making a purchase. Below are our top tips for buying and maintaining a golf cart.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a new or used golf cart?
Several factors will determine which golf cart you ultimately purchase. Buying a new or used golf cart comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Your budget, tolerance for risk, and need for certain customizations will factor into your decision.
New Golf Cart Pros:
- Warranty: Most new golf carts come with a warranty, from either the dealer or manufacturer. If anything goes wrong with your new golf cart, you can get it fixed or replaced for free. If you don’t have much risk tolerance, buying a brand new golf cart might be the right choice for you.
- Customization Options: New golf cart buyers get to select different accessories, options, and unique features. Plus, you get the added peace of mind knowing that a team of professionals installed them.
- No Accidents: Because no one has ever used your golf cart, it hasn’t been in an accident and then put back together by a non-professional.
New Golf Cart Cons:
- More Expensive: A new golf cart will, nine times out of ten, be more expensive than a used model. You’ll want to shop around for a reasonable price, so you don’t get ripped off by an unscrupulous, pushy salesperson. Look at online reviews for the dealership you’re planning to visit, and the model you’ve got your eye on. It helps not to be afraid of asking questions.
If you don’t have the room in your budget for a new golf cart, you’ll probably want to go with a used model.
Used Golf Cart Pros:
- Less Expensive: Used golf carts will be much cheaper than buying a brand new model. For a lot of consumers, this is a huge advantage and sometimes the only way they can own a golf cart. Some used golf cart prices can start as low as $1500, while new models often retail at more than twice that price. A used golf cart is will typically be gentler on your pocketbook. Many golf cart owners will take excellent care of their golf carts, and even refurbish them to look completely new, but at half the cost of a brand new model. Used golf carts also come with a range of accessories and features you may want, but without the added price of having them installed brand-new.
- History: Golf carts, when they are well-maintained, can last for decades. Just because a cart is older, doesn’t mean it won’t run. But you’ll need to research the cart’s inspection history before purchasing. This includes inspecting the age of the batteries if your cart is an electric model. Check to see how well the cart was stored, and take it for a test drive, look for leaks, and listen for strange noises that could indicate poor maintenance.
Used Golf Cart Cons:
- No Warranty: Used golf carts don’t come with a warranty in most cases. So, you’re essentially buying the product “as-is.” If you don’t know much about golf carts, you’ll want to bring someone with who does when you go to inspect the cart.
What are the do’s and don’ts of golf cart maintenance?
Golf cart maintenance depends on whether or not you ultimately buy a gas or electric golf cart. When it comes to maintaining an electric golf cart, properly caring for the battery will be your main point of focus. Electric golf carts don’t need quite as much maintenance as a gas model.
For an electric golf cart, corrosion can be an issue. A good way to prevent a corroded battery is to use simple and affordable golf cart battery covers that protect both the battery and the battery cables from damage.
Gas golf carts tend to need a little more care than their electric cousins. For starters, you will need to perform routine maintenance rituals that are similar to those you’d perform on a regular car. A gas golf cart will need frequent oil changes, filter changes, and tune-ups.
Gas and electric golf carts will also require routine tire care. The best way to prevent tire issues is to make sure the tires have proper air pressure at all times. An overinflated tire will wear out faster. Correct, uniform tire pressure is also vital for safety reasons, and it will help extend the life of your tires and ultimately, your golf cart. The tire’s sidewall should indicate the correct psi for your golf cart.
You’ll also need to check your golf cart manual to see what type of lubrication schedule your cart needs. Most golf carts will need the front suspension lubricated every quarter. Also, if you are planning a move, it’s a good idea to have a professional ship your golf cart so you can ensure it will get across state lines without any damage.
Golf carts are a fun way to cruise the neighborhood and a useful tool for helping you reach your ambitious landscaping goals faster. If you’re in the market for a new or new-to-you golf cart, keep these buying and maintenance tips in mind so you can find the model that’s right for you.
