Newbie here - Buying 1st buggy

Posts: 4 · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Pictures: 0 Location: Katy, TX

Looking at purchasing a used Carter GX 150 R2. Supposedly only 2 yrs old. Asking $1,000 but hoping to neg. that to a lower price. What should I be looking for to avoid buying someone else's problem cart? I'm clueless when it comes to motors. Surprised

Any advice out there? Is the cart over priced? I've attached a pic of the buggy.

Posts: 708

I had the same buggy with a few mods and I sold mine for $1150 about a year ago. If you can negotiate below $1000, you're probably not doing too bad. Has the owner modified it in any way? Exhaust? Intake? What type of riding have they done with it? Carter makes a decent machine and parts are available for them, including all kinds of performance parts. That buggy should go about 35mph stock with an average sized rider in it. It's a good starter buggy.

I sold mine to go to a 250cc with a few more bells and whistles, but I also paid quite a bit more. Let us know how you make out or if we can help any further.

Posts: 708

double post - DOH! Embarassed

Posts: 4307

Welcome to buggynews, I had the same one also, its about an 2005 model, look at the rear swing arm where the motor is, check for cracks ther and look at the rool cage to see if it has been bent.

where the tie rods connect to the front struts look at those, they are the weak point and can bend which will have an effect on the toe out/in.

look at the wiring also. I sold mine for 1800.00. it had a few mods done to it. 1000.00 would be the max I would go.

Posts: 4 · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Pictures: 0 Location: Katy, TX

Thanks for all the advice. Planning to view cart later this week. Will post back later.

Posts: 4 · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Pictures: 0 Location: Katy, TX

Went and took a look at the Carter GX 150 S2 that was for sale. First negative I noticed right from the start was the engine was dripping oil from bottom. Owner indicated it was dripping from the plug. Hard to tell as the bottom of the engine and chain guard was covered with oil and dust. Wiped off oil with a rag. Didn't see any visible cracks, but it was hard to get a good look under the cart. 2nd thing I noticed was that you had to hold the reverse lever all the way back toward the seat beyond its normal resting position to get reverse gear to fullly engage and work properly. Owner thought a simple adjustment of cable could possibly fix this problem. Last thing I noticed while driving the cart was that the cart seemed to jerk into gear once you pressed on the accelerator. This is the first time I've driven a 150cc cart. Is this common? Offered $750 despite these 3 things I noticed, but owner wouldn't budge off $1000 asking price, so I went on down the road. Any thoughts out there regarding these issues that I've mentioned. Are they warning signs telling me to stay away from this cart? My next option is to look at purchasing a GT 150 Hammerhead from a local dealer for $2299.

Posts: 953

I dont know where you are at but there are alot of nice 150 carts out there for a thousand or less. I would just keep looking. Until you find that gem that is out there. Certainly dont pay more than 1500. For even a new 150. Even 250s only go for 13 to 15 hundred here in AZ. Good luck Van

Posts: 1745

yup keep your search up i seached for 6 months looking and looking then the one came and i got it for 1500 a 06 joyner 250 sand viper

Posts: 4307

which plug was oil dripping from? if its the big one it could be broken or missing o-ring, stripped threads.

the reverse could and most likely is the cable housing is broken at the gear box, the chrome part. or the cable is stretched.

the jerk could be worn clutch, rollers, belt.

750.00 was a fair offer and you did good by walking away . the oil drip would scare me

Posts: 1232

If there was a lot of evidence of oii drippng (dirt and oil mentioned) then you did well to walk away.

Keep looking....If you don't find what you want locally, then there are dealers
here on the forum that could send you one.

Glade