What do you drive... to the course?

[Kenny B]

Have you ever noticed what the pro drives to the course?  It seems to be a status symbol, and how nice the vehicle is depends on how good the pro is.  Well, in my area anyway the pros don't drive new cars, but they usually have something sporty or luxurious; Cadillacs, Lincolns, BMWs, maybe even a not too old Corvette. 

 

Now, my vehicle problem started in July 2013.  I had a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with 150K miles; runs good, but starting to show its age. (Still have it.) If you don't know what that is, it's an Explorer with a very small pickup bed.  It's actually just long enough for golf clubs; I can get 2 bags and 2 Sun Mountain push carts in it.  It has a hard tonneau cover that locks, but anyone that's had one knows it leaks.  Not really a problem here in the desert, but when I travel west of the mountains to Seattle or Portland, the bags get wet.  So, I started a search last year for a new vehicle but it had to meet certain criteria:

1. Not another SUV
2. Has to carry 2 golf bags and luggage for a week
3. Respectible gas mileage
4. Comfortable for long drives
5. Good looks
6. Sporty, not a SPORT Utility Vehicle (oops, already mentioned that)
7. More POWER than my Sport Trac (2nd or 3rd mid-life crisis)

I soon found out that I couldn't get a car that meets all of my criteria without spending a LOT of money, and even then I would have to make a few compromises.  I'm by no means a golf pro, but I do like to arrive at a course in something with attitude.  So this summer I decided on the Dodge Charger R/T, hemi V8 with Road & Track package. (I sometimes get mistaken for an unmarked state cop car.)  It comes close, and the price was right.  Lots of good road trips coming up next year!!

 

 

So what do you drive?

 

 

[silver & black]

I drive an awesome 1997 Dodge Ram 1500. It is complete with bald tires, rust everywhere, a headliner hanging down from every place that isn't a dome light or piece of trim, cloudy headlights, and a front end ready to give up the ghost. Other than those few detractors..... she's a beauty!

 

What can I say..... I got left with all the junk and all the bills after the divorce. 

[Mr_Theoo]

I drive a 09 Subaru Impreza, i got it after a drunk driver rear-ended. I searched for months for a WRX version of this car but none were to be found so i settled on this since it was at least a manual transmission which i wanted.

 

Here it is the day i bought it

 

and after I had some things done to it

 

My next car will be a brand new WRX STI for sure

 

 

[fozcycle]

I used to drive a Miata but it was difficult to get my clubs to the course so I traded it for a 2012 MX3 Hatchback.....I know it's an economy car but it carries my clubs and gives me a back seat for my grandson. And I can leave my clubs in the car for a couple days if I am playing Sat & Sun.

 

I get 32 mpg and at 3 years old, it is almost paid for.

[RookieBlue7]

Currently drive my Scion Xb to work and the course. But come the first of the year I'll pay the Wifey's new car off with my bonus and then I'm looking to buy myself a Raptor.

[Mr_Theoo]

Currently drive my Scion Xb to work and the course. But come the first of the year I'll pay the Wifey's new car off with my bonus and then I'm looking to buy myself a Raptor.

Going to have Hennessy make it a velociraptor?

[hckymeyer]

I drive a 2006 EZGO TXT to the course.

 

 

Everywhere else I drive a 2012 F150

 

[RoverRick]

During the week, I drive a 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel.  I bought it new August 13, 2014, and I turned 10,000 miles on the way home today.  I spend a lot of time in this car. 

 

However, this is not the car I drive to the golf course, unless I am playing during a work trip.  To the golf course, and on weekends generally, I drive my old Range Rover.

 

 

I have had this for a number of years, and rebuilt the engine myself in May.  I guess I will have this until the end of time, because I considered trading it in and they offered me $500.  For that price, I will drive it on weekends and for playing around.forever.  I considered just driving this for work, but even factoring in the payments on a new car and fuel vs just fuel for this I save $250 per month driving the new car. 

[JBones]

I drive my Navi to the course. I wanted to get (and have paid off) a luxury SUV before we had kids. When it dies, I'm sure I'll be moving into a minivan.

 

[Kenny B]

During the week, I drive a 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel.  I bought it new August 13, 2014, and I turned 10,000 miles on the way home today.  I spend a lot of time in this car. 

 

I'm impressed. I bought mine in July and only have 4000 miles on it.

 

Quite a collection so far guys. Thanks for sharing!

 

I would have liked getting a smaller, more economical car, but my wife and her clubs + luggage when we travel have to fit too. We have one trip to Bend/Redmond, OR for a week at the end of April and I am hoping to make a trip to SoCal in the summer.

[kygolfer1980]

Currently drive my Scion Xb to work and the course. But come the first of the year I'll pay the Wifey's new car off with my bonus and then I'm looking to buy myself a Raptor.

Raptors are awesome,  prob what I would buy if money were not a factor.

[kygolfer1980]

I drive a 2006 EZGO TXT to the course.

 

image.jpg

 

Everywhere else I drive a 2012 F150

 

image.jpg

I'm liking all that Wildcat blue. lol

[kygolfer1980]

I have a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder.  90k miles but has been paid off for about 3 years.  Sometimes my wife lets me drive her Honda Odyssey.  It's a sweet ride,  even though it's a mini van.

[Colton]

I drive my Navi to the course. I wanted to get (and have paid off) a luxury SUV before we had kids. When it dies, I'm sure I'll be moving into a minivan.

 

image.jpg

Poor guy. It cost so much you couldn't afford to buy tires to put on the wheels?

 

Just kidding. It almost looks like it's sitting on the rims in the pic.

[MattF]

I drive a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer with 127,XXX miles , purchased it in 2007 with 54,250 miles. It's a great truck (last of the BOF midsize SUV's) for me. I paid it off last year and will keep it till the wheels fall off.

 

In the next year or two I'll be on the hunt for a new "toy". I was looking at a second hand Porsche Boxster, but reality set in and I decided it's too small for the clubs and to take the wife away for the weekend. So, I'll be looking at either an 05 or 06 GTO or an ex-police Chevy Caprice (both Australian made and very similar to the ride I had back home).

[Kenny B]

A guy at my course has an older Mercedes SL.  He can either have his wife along or his clubs, not both.  I think he likes it that way!

[JBones]

Poor guy. It cost so much you couldn't afford to buy tires to put on the wheels?

 

Just kidding. It almost looks like it's sitting on the rims in the pic.

 

Ha, it was, 24s with low profiles.  You DO NOT want to hit a large pot hole with 24s and low profiles, that is the reason I have had the stock wheels back on it for the past 8 years.

 

The reason it's a 2005 with only 70,000 miles on it, is because I can't afford the gas. LOL

[DaveP043]

I drive a 2008 Audi A4 Quatro.  Its a nice ride, holds two sets of clubs and some luggage, and can even fit a couple of humans in the back seat.  The 4-cyl turbo makes it move reasonably good, but its not what I'd call powerful.  My wife just bought a new Hyundai Sonata Limited, and Its just great.  It'll hold our clubs, LOTS of luggage, four full-size humans, and has tons of bells and whistles.  The power is reasonable, but not overwhelming.  Of course, I don't get to drive it much, but I can play with lots of the knobs and buttons when I'm in the passenger seat.  Best thing is, it was pretty reasonably priced!

[Jmikecpa]

Have you ever noticed what the pro drives to the course?  It seems to be a status symbol, and how nice the vehicle is depends on how good the pro is.  Well, in my area anyway the pros don't drive new cars, but they usually have something sporty or luxurious; Cadillacs, Lincolns, BMWs, maybe even a not too old Corvette. 

 

Now, my vehicle problem started in July 2013.  I had a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with 150K miles; runs good, but starting to show its age. (Still have it.) If you don't know what that is, it's an Explorer with a very small pickup bed.  It's actually just long enough for golf clubs; I can get 2 bags and 2 Sun Mountain push carts in it.  It has a hard tonneau cover that locks, but anyone that's had one knows it leaks.  Not really a problem here in the desert, but when I travel west of the mountains to Seattle or Portland, the bags get wet.  So, I started a search last year for a new vehicle but it had to meet certain criteria:

1. Not another SUV
2. Has to carry 2 golf bags and luggage for a week
3. Respectible gas mileage
4. Comfortable for long drives
5. Good looks
6. Sporty, not a SPORT Utility Vehicle (oops, already mentioned that)
7. More POWER than my Sport Trac (2nd or 3rd mid-life crisis)

I soon found out that I couldn't get a car that meets all of my criteria without spending a LOT of money, and even then I would have to make a few compromises.  I'm by no means a golf pro, but I do like to arrive at a course in something with attitude.  So this summer I decided on the Dodge Charger R/T, hemi V8 with Road & Track package. (I sometimes get mistaken for an unmarked state cop car.)  It comes close, and the price was right.  Lots of good road trips coming up next year!!

 

Charger.jpg

 

So what do you drive?

I have your twin....2014 Dodge Charger RT AWD with the winter sport package.  Fits what I need since I can get the whole family into it and with a few tweaks I have it over 400 HP.

[Kenny B]

I have your twin....2014 Dodge Charger RT AWD with the winter sport package.  Fits what I need since I can get the whole family into it and with a few tweaks I have it over 400 HP.

 

Very cool!  This is the first Chrysler product I have ever owned, and to be honest I was a little worried because of the Fiat deal.  But I love the car, nice ride!  I really don't know what I would do with the extra 30-40 HP.  It's got plenty already, and still get 27 hwy.  Even though I live where it can get cold and snowy on occasion, I opted for RWD because I still have the Explorer for the bad days.  

 

The decision was made really because we could get two golf bags and luggage in the trunk for long golf trips.  I wanted a Mercedes but I would've had to get the S-Class to get the trunk room; way too much money!  I got the R/T with all the bells and whistles for under $30K.

[Kanoito]

I just got myself a Mazda CX-5 2013

Great mileage and big enough for 2 golf bags and 2 Clicgears

[The Dansome]

Still driving the '07 Civic EX Coupe

 

Sporty, fun, reliable, good gas mileage and surprisingly really spacious.

 

How spacious? This is the worlds most amazing trunk, 4 bags and I could see a third cart fitting in here

 

That's 3 bags but we've had a 4th

[westy]

I'd love to arrive at the club with something cool....but nevermind.

 

My days of fun cars are on hold for a few years, when they reappear then it'll be large Germanic and convertible or perhaps a jaguar......

 

On the other hand I do enjoy the practicality, economy and reliability of the 4 toyota prius ive had as company cars (2 x mk2, a mk3 and currently a mk3+). Total mileage in them has exceeded 250k miles and not one fault recorded - ok no pulse raised either!

 

Previous to driving the scourge of exciting cars - there was the 1988 BMW 325, the 1989 toyota mr2, the saab 9-3 convertible. Mind you also had some of the worst cars ever made parked in the golf club car park (the fiat uno, rover 200, ford escort mk3, vauxhall vectra - I know they do t mean anything to Americans, but if you want a laugh Google them - that's the type of crap we have to put up with in the UK).

[Kenny B]

I'd love to arrive at the club with something cool....but nevermind.

 

My days of fun cars are on hold for a few years, when they reappear then it'll be large Germanic and convertible or perhaps a jaguar......

 

On the other hand I do enjoy the practicality, economy and reliability of the 4 toyota prius ive had as company cars (2 x mk2, a mk3 and currently a mk3+). Total mileage in them has exceeded 250k miles and not one fault recorded - ok no pulse raised either!

 

Previous to driving the scourge of exciting cars - there was the 1988 BMW 325, the 1989 toyota mr2, the saab 9-3 convertible. Mind you also had some of the worst cars ever made parked in the golf club car park (the fiat uno, rover 200, ford escort mk3, vauxhall vectra - I know they do t mean anything to Americans, but if you want a laugh Google them - that's the type of crap we have to put up with in the UK).

 

The Jaguar XF was on my list, but I could get a new 2014 Charger for the same price as a 2010 XF.  I have always loved Jaguars, but not their reliability.  As for the Prius... well you are right, no pulse there.  Can you verify something for me?  I have heard that if you stick your arm out the window, the Prius turns left. 

 

I did have a rather nice rental car in UK in 1979.  It was a Ford Cortina, I think.  The steering wheel was on the wrong side! lol.  And manual shifting with my left hand took some getting used to.  I managed to only turn into the wrong lane once coming out of a roundabout!

[westy]

Well that's import duty for you! same issue for us, we would have to pay crazy amounts for a Charger or similar US hardware - probably twice as much as you would.

 

The jag xf is a nice car, I'd probably choose a BMW over that (just a taste thing)the jag for me would be an xk8. Reliability from jaguar has, I believe, improved greatly since Jaguar/Land Rover left Ford.

 

as for the 1979 ford cortina - that was a special car.....not a proud era for british cars! Mostly poor designs and frequently poorly built.

 

Must be a surprise for US folk hiring cars in Europe - we really don't do big cars and engines like you do.

[Kenny B]

Must be a surprise for US folk hiring cars in Europe - we really don't do big cars and engines like you do.

 

No, no you don't!  On that same trip I took the ferry to The Hague, on to Amsterdam where I rented a Fiat 850.  Now there's a car!  lol.  All I saw on the German autobahn were headlights flashing from a kilometer behind me!

[BIG STU]

I'd love to arrive at the club with something cool....but nevermind.

 

My days of fun cars are on hold for a few years, when they reappear then it'll be large Germanic and convertible or perhaps a jaguar......

 

On the other hand I do enjoy the practicality, economy and reliability of the 4 toyota prius ive had as company cars (2 x mk2, a mk3 and currently a mk3+). Total mileage in them has exceeded 250k miles and not one fault recorded - ok no pulse raised either!

 

Previous to driving the scourge of exciting cars - there was the 1988 BMW 325, the 1989 toyota mr2, the saab 9-3 convertible. Mind you also had some of the worst cars ever made parked in the golf club car park (the fiat uno, rover 200, ford escort mk3, vauxhall vectra - I know they do t mean anything to Americans, but if you want a laugh Google them - that's the type of crap we have to put up with in the UK).

LOL I am familiar with all of them because I watch Top Gear on BBC America on Direct TV

[BIG STU]

Well here goes. My daily driver is a 96 Dodge Dakota pick up. Red and primer with a genuine Mack Bulldog on the hood. My other two old toys are my 89 Buick Rivieria and my 91 Caddy sedan De Ville (remember a while back that is the one I found all the clubs and balls in) I actually have a Buick Rivieria drive train it that came from another one I had. The better half has a 2012 Chrysler Grand Caravan. Heck I like puttering around in the old pickup with my mess in the back and then I can say "When the tailgate drops the BS stops".

One thing about it I do have the titles free and clear to all 4 vehicles and due to 2 of them being over 20 years old I get insurance discount rates on them

[Jmikecpa]

Very cool!  This is the first Chrysler product I have ever owned, and to be honest I was a little worried because of the Fiat deal.  But I love the car, nice ride!  I really don't know what I would do with the extra 30-40 HP.  It's got plenty already, and still get 27 hwy.  Even though I live where it can get cold and snowy on occasion, I opted for RWD because I still have the Explorer for the bad days.  

 

The decision was made really because we could get two golf bags and luggage in the trunk for long golf trips.  I wanted a Mercedes but I would've had to get the S-Class to get the trunk room; way too much money!  I got the R/T with all the bells and whistles for under $30K.

The 40 HP is just the start.  Before kids I had two Mustang GTs; a 2000 hardtop and a 2003 convertible. The 2000 was done from front to back with a full engine build, blower, custom exhaust and a 150 shot of NOS.  The 2003 had the same treatment just without the NOS.  The hardtop would run mid to high 9's on street tires and the convertible would run low 10's and on a great day high 9's on drag radials.  Once I decide on my new daily driver the Hemi is getting pulled and built with a nice blower addition as well.

[GolfSpy Tim]

My sled:


It's way too fun showing up to courses in the beast.

I'm playing Pebble soon and will be arriving in this with my buddies. Can't wait to valet!