Wanted Four Wheeled Vehicle for Around Town (Not Valkyrie Related)

[carolinarider09]

Getting older and trying to be more economical I have a question.

We live in a small town.  The town is about one mile from our home down a single two lane paved road into the town's Main Street. No turns required until we get to Main Street.

We have a pharmacy that is very good, small but good, even sells ice cream, like the old days, in the spring summer and fall.  It's on main street.  Just down from there is a very well equipped hardware store.  Just up the other way, not on main street but only a block off Main Street, is a Food Lion.  Also a Dollar General is just down the road from the Food Lion. Speed limits on all the roads are 35 MPH or less.

There are also several good restaurants downtown. 

So, if we drive the one mile in one of our cars to town I feel a little guilty since it's wear and tear on the car (same with the motorcycle).  We cannot walk the distance because the sidewalk from downtown toward our house ends about 1/2 mile from the house.  And the wife is beginning to have some foot/bone problems that might limit her ability to walk in near future.

So, I was thinking (and yes I know it may not make "economic" sense) about getting a small Golf Cart like thing to ride downtown to shop, to visit the Pharmacy, to pick up drugs, to get groceries (you know a loaf of bread or some eggs). 

I would want something that is electric powered (don't want a gas engine to sit for days waiting to being used).

And yes, I know in the over all scheme of things its probably not economical but… as we get older it may give us some more freedom just to travel the short distance to downtown.

I would like something that has a top and a spot for carrying things behind the front seats.  We only need a two seater.  We would also like to be able to carry our dog for walks downtown.  She is getting older but still enjoys walking.  We have woods she can walk in but she likes to interact with others. 

I have no idea what is available nor the actually cost.  That will all be reviewed if we decide to go forward. 

I figured the people on this forum would be a good place to ask the question.  Some of you might have been here before.  Some of you might already have something like this.

Thanks for reading and for any responses.

Note: SC Law regarding use of Golf Carts (or similar "vehicles" in SC)

Golf carts are only permitted on local secondary roads and neighborhood streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less.
Golf cart travel is limited to within 4 miles of the registered address listed on your DMV-issued permit.
Golf carts can only be operated during daylight hours, unless night driving is specifically allowed in your area.

[f6john]

Your situation sounds ideal for a golf cart. My subdivision has only one entrance to the secondary road to town and the subdivision itself has probably 5 miles of paved road surface and both electric and gas cart type vehicles are used regularly but there are no services offered inside the subdivision so it’s either for visiting neighbors, or joy riding. It’s 4-5 miles to town and I wouldn’t dare use a cart for that trek, it could get you killed quick.

The carts Lowes sells are $9-11,000 dollars and they have 2 seater and 4 seater models which seems sort of high to me. Used could be a way to go, it would have to be for me. Good luck in your search

[Jess from VA]

There's probably a lot of good info on line.

You might get good advice at a golf course pro shop.

Then, I'd be looking for the best used one I could find (like cars, the value/price probably drops a lot the minute it's not new).  

Some kind of roof might be good for rain.  Even cloth.

Rechargeable lithium ion batteries start fires, so it wouldn't be in my attached garage.

Road use generally also requires street legal lights (brake lights). 

[bassman]

Do you know anyone who lives in The Villages?  They have every type of golf cart, small vehicle in almost any configuration I've ever seen in one place.  Most of them just ride around the complex but there are some that are considered/equiped "street legal" and can zip  around on many of the local public streets (think these carts can reach 35+MPH). Maybe check the "yellow pages" online for The Villages for golf cart sales and they may be able to offer advise and/or some options.

Good luck!

https://www.thevillagesgolfcars.com

[3fan4life]

I did a Google search for: Electric Cart Street Legal and lots of vehicles came up.


You'd have to do your research about quality but there are a lot of options and prices range from just under $1k to $15k

[carolinarider09]

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.   I had not looked or did not do a search before asking the question.  I was thinking maybe, max of $10,000 for the "vehicle".  Well, that might just be the low end price.

Did a search, as suggested above and found this "vehicle". 

https://electrek.co/2023/06/09/best-street-legal-electric-micro-cars-nevs-and-lsvs-you-can-buy-in-the-us/

Its $20K.   I just paid $28K for a real live 2024 Subaru Outback with 2,600 miles on it. 

Well I will keep looking.  It would seem that my only real choice will be a "used" device.

[Moonshot_1]

Find a good used golf cart. Remove a Valk motor and drive train and put it in the cart. Add a bunch of chrome and some righteous car tires and a lift kit.

Be bad ass.

[carolinarider09]

Find a good used golf cart. Remove a Valk motor and drive train and put it in the cart. Add a bunch of chrome and some righteous car tires and a lift kit.

Be bad ass.

 

[h13man]

Don't know about usage in each locale but:

https://usminitrucksales.com/

[bassman]

M'be something like this?

https://atomiccoolkartz.com

http://villagecartworks.com/index_atomic.html

https://reviews.birdeye.com/atomic-cool-kartz-156065044065541

[carolinarider09]

Don't know about usage in each locale but:

https://usminitrucksales.com/

Thanks.  Had forgotten all about that option.  Just looked at the website, not in my price range, but....

[carolinarider09]

M'be something like this?

https://atomiccoolkartz.com

http://villagecartworks.com/index_atomic.html

https://reviews.birdeye.com/atomic-cool-kartz-156065044065541

Again, I had forgotten about those (well sort of).   Thanks. 

Will start making a list of options soon. 

[scooperhsd]

Not too practical around here. Too much highways required to get anywhere.

[Robert]

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.   I had not looked or did not do a search before asking the question.  I was thinking maybe, max of $10,000 for the "vehicle".  Well, that might just be the low end price.

Did a search, as suggested above and found this "vehicle".  

https://electrek.co/2023/06/09/best-street-legal-electric-micro-cars-nevs-and-lsvs-you-can-buy-in-the-us/

Its $20K.   I just paid $28K for a real live 2024 Subaru Outback with 2,600 miles on it.  

Well I will keep looking.  It would seem that my only real choice will be a "used" device.

The mini Moke that is in the picture was made for the Brits in the war. Many have put electrics into it and taken out the 4 cylinder engine that was actually pretty good. There are no side windows that I have seen, it does have enough space for anything you would want to carry and its pretty cool to see.

If price is in the 10k range then this is not your vehicle since I have seen some go for 3 to 6 times that.

A golf cart in that price range is doable but remember batteries can be 2 to 3k and so make sure you have good batteries. The newer carts are better than the older since the electric motors operate at higher voltages and seem to last longer and charge faster also.

[Rams]

A golf cart in that price range is doable but remember batteries can be 2 to 3k and so make sure you have good batteries. The newer carts are better than the older since the electric motors operate at higher voltages and seem to last longer and charge faster also.

$2 to $3K?   Wow, prices must have really skyrocketed.  A few years ago when I was working, we sold golf cart batteries and although they were more expensive that car/truck batteries, no where near that amount.

Rams