TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
 

Club Car unveiled their new model the "Precedent" at the PGA show in Orlando this January. Actually, everyone knew this car was coming. I had seen one on the local golf course last summer, and was under impressed by the prototype. The finished version however, was a completely different story. This car is revolutionary in a lot of respects. It is a well thought out car. From the auto style aluminum tubing "AlumiCore chassis" to the "Dupont surlyn body", the same material used to cover golf balls. It is for the most part completely reengineered. The top has a two downspout drain system that sends the water under the car. The steering is a true auto style rack and pinion that Club Car calls "self-compensating double reduction helical rack & pinion". The Trojan batteries are 4, 12 volts , and are in a "fiber- reinforced polypropylene" box or compartment, leaving no metal or aluminum to corrode.

The feature that I found to be most practical is that there are no flat surfaces on the car. You can hose this baby off, and within five minutes in the sun, it’s dry, completely dry. Even the floor is raised in the center so that water will not collect in puddles on the floorboard. The 5 mph bumper that surrounds the car, or 360 degree bumper" has given the car it’s unique appearance. The oversized seat backs and curves in the seat bottom make for a comfortable ride and also distinguish this car from anything else out there. The pedal group at first glance appears to be the same with, stop, go and park. Upon a closer inspection of the pedal group one notices it is a sealed unit, with nothing to catch on the underside.

These changes alone will get any golf car jockey excited.

The technological advances are many, in design and in the methods used in production. Most impressive to me is the use of "frictionbonded fiber- einforced polypropylene". The hollow rear top supports, and underbody, are made this way. They have a very ridged feel for what most of us would call plastic. The compartmentalized electronics were also impressive. This looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, a board with a handle that just slides out of a box has what was the OBC and other onboard electronics all on one board. The controller and solenoid are still separate parts. For all the hype, Club Car has delivered an impressive new car. The success of which will be tested in the next few years.