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Invested in your golfing hobby? Hoping to join a few tournaments? If you constantly find yourself navigating the turf, muddy conditions and rolling hills can knock the wind out of you and eat a substantial amount of your time. Golfing ranges can be pretty expansive, so if golf has become more than just a hobby, you might want to consider investing in a golf cart so you don’t end up huffing and puffing before you even swing your iron.
There are two main types of golf carts on the market – gas and electric. In this guide, we’re discussing all the ins and outs of the former, and at the end of it, hope to give you a better idea as to which of your choices proves to be the best gas golf cart on the market. Ready to dive – or in this case, drive into it? Then keep on reading.
Are gas golf carts perfect machines? Far from it. But in the same light, electric golf carts also come with their own downsides. The best way to determine which one will work best for you depends on how well you understand these possible benefits and drawbacks.
First, let’s talk about the pros of a gas golf cart:
Even the best electric golf carts can only operate for a set number of hours on each charge. In some cases, these carts won’t be able to cover the entire distance needed, especially if you’re trying to navigate a large course.
Gas golf carts have different capacities in terms of fuel, but even those with the smallest fuel capacity can last long enough to take you through a whole course and back. That’s why buyers who purchase golf carts to use as transportation around large estates often choose the gas variety because these are much more reliable for long distances.
Steep inclines, rolling hills, and muddy paths? You’ll need power to navigate such challenging terrain. Although they’re designed to drive through uneven golf courses, electric golf carts often struggle to overcome such challenging dips, turns, and terrain.
If you want to drive through a course without having to worry about whether or not your cart will make it out in one piece, a gas gold cart would be the better pick. These carts are designed with powerful fuel-powered motors that are more capable of pushing through the challenges of turf and mud.
In case you were interested in buying a gas golf cart to use around your neighborhood, or even for the purpose of hunting, you’ll be happy to know these models are virtually silent. Generating very little noise if at all, gas golf carts are the more popular choice for buyers who don’t want to cause a disturbance to the people around them.
Now that we’ve gotten a better idea of how you might benefit from a gas golf cart, let’s take some time to learn the reasons why it might not always be the ideal choice:
In terms of both operating one and keeping one in good shape, a golf gas cart is the more expensive choice. What you need to consider here is the fact that you’ll essentially be at the mercy of gas prices. So as fuel becomes more expensive, you might find yourself spending more and more just to keep your cart gassed up.
On top of that, gas golf carts tend to have more moving parts, so they need more maintenance than their electric counterparts. Also, because they’re become much less common in the market, gas golf carts can be harder to find replacement parts for. Even when you do find spare parts for your cart, they might come at a higher cost than most are willing to pay.
When you buy a gas golf cart, you’re essentially paying for the power it offers. What’s more, they’re not as common as they used to be, despite still having a rather large market base. For these reasons, gas carts are now more expensive, costing as much as 15% more than electric carts right off the bat.
The speed of your golf cart depends largely on its engine and motor. Obviously, a faster cart will help you move around in a smaller amount of time, thus letting you cut down transportation time and get to your game sooner. Keep in mind though that golf courses commonly enact specific speed limits to maintain the safety of their space.
A typical max speed on a gas golf court might cap off at around 15 mph. There are some choices out there though that can max out at 22-25 mph.
How customizable is your golf cart? Specific designs have a wider selection of accessories and spare parts, allowing buyers to customize their cart to better meet their standards and preferences. Some of the things you can add to your cart include USB charging ports, upgraded seats, enclosures, and enhanced wheels and tires.
In this respect, we also want to mention that the availability of accessories for your golf cart might also give you a hint as to the accessibility of spare parts for repairs. Be sure to ask whether the cart you’ve chosen still has replacement parts from the same manufacturer circulating the market. This way, you won’t have to scramble to find the right piece if and when you need repairs.
Brand new or used? Golf carts get passed around from owner to owner pretty quickly, because previous owners either fall out of their golfing hobby, or just find the need to liquidate their investment. There are lots of great choices in the used golf cart market, but of course, you need to be careful when making a choice.
Consider the warranty of the cart you’re interested in, and ask if it has had a history or accidents or major repairs. If it has, you should expect to see devaluation at a minimum of 40% from the original price it was purchased.
Of course, with a brand new golf cart, this isn’t something you should have to worry about. The only real trade-off though is the cost. While a new cart guarantees seamless use and better performance, they can be significantly more expensive than second hand choices.
Ask any pro golfer or golf enthusiast, who makes the best golf cart? And it’s likely you might hear one brand over and over again – Yamaha. This company takes pride in its innovative and efficient golf cart models, and they prove just how worthy they can be with their UMAX Rally Gas Powered Golf Cart.
Designed for a better ride, this skilfully engineered cart boasts a lifted suspension that makes bumpy terrain feel smooth under its tires. The cart also comes equipped with burly guards and fender flares that don’t only add to its mean look, but also improve its resistance to damage and minor crashes.
Ultimately, this golf cart was developed to make even the most challenging paths easy and safe to tread, allowing you to navigate precarious conditions with sheer confidence.
Looking for something a little less rugged and a little more sophisticated? The Yamaha The Drive 2 Gas Powered Golf Cart might be right up your alley. Designed for comfort and style, this elegant golf cart is perfect for high-rollers who want to look clean and classy as they make their way around a course.
Coming in a variety of soft neutral colors from beige to chocolate brown, this luxury golf cart promises a smooth and easy ride without sacrificing aesthetic and comfort. Don’t let its clean lines and subtle looks fool you though – this cart still packs a punch with its 357cc engine, promising to take you places that might be a challenge for most electric types.
During your search for the best gas powered golf cart, you might find yourself asking the better pick between EZGO vs Yamaha gas golf carts. Obviously, our list has answered that question. But don’t think we’ve disregarded EZGO all together.
The EZGO brand is almost as good as our top brand pick, and they do offer quite an impressive selection of golf carts in their fleet. Personally, we found their RXV Gas Golf Cart to be particularly impressive, perhaps even the best gas golf cart to modify since EZGO is so easily accessible as a brand.
Performance wise, there’s not a lot we can pick on with the RXV. It’s powerful, it’s durable, and it’s pretty much capable of taking you safely through most types of challenging terrain. The only real reason we had to bump it down a notch is because its suspension works independently for the rear and front wheels, which might feel a little bumpy when taken through uneven terrain.
For those in search of something more suited for urban use, we recommend the ClubCar Onward 4 Passenger Gas Powered Golf Cart. Designed for the family, this cart features comfortable seating, a powerful engine, and spacious interiors you can enjoy for recreational use.
The cart is fun and stylish, taking the form of a lifestyle vehicle rather than a sport automotive. Despite that, the Onward does perform pretty well on a golf course as well. Of course, its suspension might not be adapted for particularly precarious terrain, but it isn’t too shabby on typical course topography.
The last on our list of the best gas powered golf carts comes yet again from ClubCar. Their Tempo gas powered cart is often compared to equally high end models, so it’s not uncommon to stumble upon articles discussing ClubCar vs Yamaha gas golf carts.
Between the two, we’d have to admit that there’s really not a world’s worth of difference. The Tempo performs impressively on challenging terrain, it’s powerful, and it’s equipped with all the features you might want in a top-of-the-line golf cart. The only issue? It’s pretty expensive. Consider the fact that you could get the same performance out of a cheaper choice from a different brand, and you’ll see why the Tempo might seem impractical.
Nonetheless, if you trust in ClubCar’s quality, and you’re a loyalist to the brand, the Tempo can be a solid investment.
A gas golf cart is an investment. So don’t just jump into a purchase without doing your research first! If you’re a little too uninspired to sift through all the options yourself, don’t sweat it – we did all the research for you. And based on our findings, the Yamaha UMAX Rally is nothing short of the best gas golf cart currently available, boasting the perfect marriage of comfort, style, and power to give you one sweet ride.