10 ms·

These seem like utility (landscaping) grade golf carts that are already a market in the US. Available in mostly gas, but some electric forms. https://www.deere

by dv_dt 8y ago

These seem like utility (landscaping) grade golf carts that are already a market in the US. Available in mostly gas, but some electric forms. https://www.deere.com/en/gator-utility-vehicles/ https://www.deere.com/en/gator-utility-vehicles/ https://www.toro.com/en/sports-fields-municipalities/utility-vehicles https://www.toro.com/en/sports-fields-municipalities/utility... https://www.catresourcecenter.com/machine/landscaping/utility-vehicles/ https://www.catresourcecenter.com/machine/landscaping/utilit...

bluGill 8y ago
Except these are designed to be road legal in the 46 states that allow them. As far as I can tell, the utility vehicles you state are not road legal - the difference is minor though as you can legally drive them on the road in all 50 states for things like agriculture but the limits are stronger.
- blisterpeanuts 8y ago
  28 miles per hour pretty much rules them out except for residential neighborhoods. Most major city streets in the U.S. are at least 30 mph. If the Pickman can be improved to go 40, it might stand a chance. Otherwise, it's just a glorified golf cart as the other poster suggests.
  - thisisweirdok 8y ago
    You could get by with 28 MPH in some cities. Boston for example has a 25 MPH speed limit city-wide, unless posted otherwise. It wouldn't work in some places, but I wouldn't mind using a fancy golf cart there to run errands. That Pickman truck in the article is right up my alley.
    - kevin_thibedeau 8y ago
      NEVs have been available for 20+ years. If you want one you can have one now.
      - bluGill 8y ago
        I just priced one, they are almost double the price of this, so if quality is there this could still be a good deal.
      - thisisweirdok 8y ago
        Most shops I've seen are small boutiques rather than auto manufacturers and they're priced accordingly (no economy of scale). Seems hard to get something that isn't a literal golf cart (i.e., has no cargo space or doors) for under $10k.
ngngngng 8y ago
I just don't get it. a John Deere Gator with two seats and 4 wheels, and not much else costs over $7000 new. No windows, No airbags, pathetic top speed, not road legal. A Lada 4x4 costs less than that brand new in Russia. Road legal, standard car top speed. Known as a very reliable car. Why can't I buy a really cheap car in the United States? edit: also the lada 4x4 is possibly the coolest car i've ever seen, in it's own unique way. I would do anything to import one, but it's not legal.
- VectorLock 8y ago
  Whats the crash testing like on that Lada 4x4?
  - ngngngng 8y ago
    I don't know, I assume it's better than the more expensive open air golf cart that i'm comparing to though. edit: What i'm trying to say is, why is a fully functional car (even with bad crash safety and emissions) cheaper outside the United States than a golf cart is here? The answer seems obvious to me. Making it illegal to import cars has stifled competition and hurt consumers in the US.
    - mason55 8y ago
      But if it's not good enough to pass US crash testing then it's pointless to release here. No one wants a golf cart that looks like a car.
    - winrid 8y ago
      Because the quality is much lower. The tractor is meant to be used near capacity for thousands of hours. Lada not so much. Lada is known to rust easily, John Deer is known for quality... Also, you are comparing two different spectrums. Maybe compare against very good farm equipment in Russia?
      - samplatt 8y ago
        I'm seeing a lot of "John Deer == Quality" comments in this thread. My farming background says "John Deer == artificially (and insanely) expensive maintenance". I've always equated JD with just being one of the biggest players, not necessarily a reflection of good quality.
deleted 8y ago
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by dv_dt 8y ago

bluGill 8y ago

Except these are designed to be road legal in the 46 states that allow them. As far as I can tell, the utility vehicles you state are not road legal - the difference is minor though as you can legally drive them on the road in all 50 states for things like agriculture but the limits are stronger.

blisterpeanuts 8y ago
28 miles per hour pretty much rules them out except for residential neighborhoods. Most major city streets in the U.S. are at least 30 mph. If the Pickman can be improved to go 40, it might stand a chance. Otherwise, it's just a glorified golf cart as the other poster suggests.
- thisisweirdok 8y ago
  You could get by with 28 MPH in some cities. Boston for example has a 25 MPH speed limit city-wide, unless posted otherwise. It wouldn't work in some places, but I wouldn't mind using a fancy golf cart there to run errands. That Pickman truck in the article is right up my alley.
  - kevin_thibedeau 8y ago
    NEVs have been available for 20+ years. If you want one you can have one now.
    - bluGill 8y ago
      I just priced one, they are almost double the price of this, so if quality is there this could still be a good deal.
    - thisisweirdok 8y ago
      Most shops I've seen are small boutiques rather than auto manufacturers and they're priced accordingly (no economy of scale). Seems hard to get something that isn't a literal golf cart (i.e., has no cargo space or doors) for under $10k.

ngngngng 8y ago

I just don't get it. a John Deere Gator with two seats and 4 wheels, and not much else costs over $7000 new. No windows, No airbags, pathetic top speed, not road legal. A Lada 4x4 costs less than that brand new in Russia. Road legal, standard car top speed. Known as a very reliable car. Why can't I buy a really cheap car in the United States? edit: also the lada 4x4 is possibly the coolest car i've ever seen, in it's own unique way. I would do anything to import one, but it's not legal.

VectorLock 8y ago
Whats the crash testing like on that Lada 4x4?
- ngngngng 8y ago
  I don't know, I assume it's better than the more expensive open air golf cart that i'm comparing to though. edit: What i'm trying to say is, why is a fully functional car (even with bad crash safety and emissions) cheaper outside the United States than a golf cart is here? The answer seems obvious to me. Making it illegal to import cars has stifled competition and hurt consumers in the US.
  - mason55 8y ago
    But if it's not good enough to pass US crash testing then it's pointless to release here. No one wants a golf cart that looks like a car.
  - winrid 8y ago
    Because the quality is much lower. The tractor is meant to be used near capacity for thousands of hours. Lada not so much. Lada is known to rust easily, John Deer is known for quality... Also, you are comparing two different spectrums. Maybe compare against very good farm equipment in Russia?
    - samplatt 8y ago
      I'm seeing a lot of "John Deer == Quality" comments in this thread. My farming background says "John Deer == artificially (and insanely) expensive maintenance". I've always equated JD with just being one of the biggest players, not necessarily a reflection of good quality.

deleted 8y ago

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