The toxic crap associated with making the battery doesn't require living in coal country. And, yes, at least partially. PGE gets 22% of its power from coal and another 25% from natural gas. https://www.portlandgeneral.com/our-company/energy-strategy/how-we-generate-electricity
I drive the golf cart more miles a week than the GTI. The carts you get at the golf course go maybe 12-18 MPH. Mine goes 26-29MPH. For anyone interested in a golf cart, the faster speed does matter. It saves me 20 minutes a day on my errands, and goes speed of traffic on the 25 MPH streets so cars won't be passing you all the time.
Is it legal on the streets? I saw people riding around in them in Ocean Beach - but never in Pacific Beach.
At 26, the golf cart is a bit on the squirrely side. You don't want to take a speed bump or turn a corner at full speed. Golf cart brakes aren't the greatest, either. At some point, making a cart go faster involves a LOT of related upgrades.
I'm not in Pacific Beach full time anymore, but I have seen a few golf carts there. I live in the Palm Springs area these days, and here there are a lot of golf carts on the roads. To be street legal, a cart needs rear view mirror and seat belts, and a license plate. I think you need some sort of government blessing to have a gas powered cart, too. In most areas where golf carts are common, there are bike lanes on the main roads that are also used for the carts. Or sidewalks are shared between carts and pedestrians. In PB/MB, the carts drive on the street with the cars.
Cool. Thanks. Love Palm Springs. So much fun stuff to do. I try to get to Joshua Tree at least twice a year.
I've spent the past two summers here. It's hit 125 degrees a few days. When it's that hot outside, even the air burns the skin, and the wind is like a blast furnace or opening the oven door (the wind is hot). You're right that there is a lot to do here. I mainly use the cart to get groceries for the day, to the bank, and to ride to the gym to get my walking in (it's indoors, lupus friendly). For most everything else the car is needed and you'll put 20 miles on it to go most anywhere. At least where I live. A friend of mine owns Gerald Ford's old house. I went to visit and got the tour. The grade school near it is named Gerald Ford, too. The house has a huge painting of Betty Ford in the entry way, a bunch of uniquely decorated rooms, a huge kitchen, and a big outdoor area with pool and spa and fire pit. It's got its own gate and a separate house for the secret service to live (obviously not anymore). The Obamas came here 4 times during his presidency on vacation, and it looks like they might buy a home here and maybe even move here for good. In spite of the 125 degree days and 2-3 months of over 110 temps, the other 9 months are just outstanding. I prefer this weather to San Diego's, especially when it's 85 degrees. The 110 feels more comfortable than the 85 due to the humidity, IMO. Even at 125, it's no big deal to go out. Your house is A/C, your car is A/C, you park the car (in a spot with shade!), and only have to walk in the parking lot to where you're going. I had a house in Vegas a few years back and regretted not buying one with a pool. Water is a must (for me) in the desert. The pool here gets to 97 degrees, which is really warm, but refreshing anyway (compared to the 110+ air). Anyhow, those are my tips.
Thanks, we are not ready to go live in the desert at this point, but I have to admit that last time we went (a couple of months ago) the wife and I looked at some restored mid-century modern houses near the the racquet club area - beautiful houses. I think at this point I would be fine with a trip a month, I think - I really enjoy having easy access to the beach on a regular basis.
My current car is still my first car: beige 2002 toyota corolla le aka DA Rollz'. AKA the most boring car in the world Finally clunking out a bit and just had a major overhaul service. Cars die young in the midwest with all the rusting/shit roads we have here. Looking at a new Mazda/Subaru in the next year or so.
It's the most fun car I ever owned. I had an old Porsche 944 that was a lot of fun, but the GTI with the stage 1 tune is moreso. I came close to getting the R. They didn't have them on the lot and couldn't get any from other dealers. Plus they had a $5K markup over sticker price that they wouldn't negotiate.
ABM sounds like my kind of person. Practical care. I have a 2010 Corolla that was my father's. My 2006 Corolla had over 100K miles and was good for another 5 years, but he bought his shortly before turning 90 and then had to stop driving, it had only 14K miles on it. Good at least 10 years.
