Garia Golf Cart, Birth of the Cool

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, U.K. - June 21, 2013 - PRLog -- There is nothing like sitting behind the wheel of a luxury car. And should you wish to have the same experience on a golf course there is only one choice, and that’s a Garia.
         Garia have taken the concept of the golf cart and turned it on its head. As with a car, you can go for the cheap version or you can aspire to the luxury brand, and when it comes to golf a Garia is definitely top-of-the-line. They are street legal with indicators and headlights, giving you the opportunity to drive them to the golf course, or anywhere else that you care to go for that matter.

A cold day in London Town

We had been waiting for better weather, but as the forecaster on the BBC announced that the bitter cold was here to stay, the editor and I decided that with a deadline looming there was nothing for it, this week we would drive a Garia Golf Car down Park Lane in London, and at least hope for a little sunshine.
         I called Dan Zuckerman over at Bob Forstner Park Lane, a luxury car and Garia dealer in London and set the day. For anyone not familiar with Park Lane, you know when you are getting close to Bob Forstner’s by the large collection of petrol heads staring longingly through the showroom window. How can you blame them, for where else can you find a Koenigsegg Agera R next to a Spyker C8 Spyder and a Pagani Huayra! Add to this esteemed collection the Garia, and you are indeed on hallowed ground.
         We are met by Dan and the company’s namesake Bob Forstner who welcomes us into the warm showroom. The Garia that we are going to drive today is the Monaco 2+2 and it has already been moved to the rear doors in preparation for our epic journey. Dan has fixed on the licence plates and all that is required is to drive it down the ramp and out onto the street.  

The Monaco

The Monaco is the regal ride compared to the Roadster which is the sporty version. Our model is the four person option (2+2) with a top speed of 25 mph/40kmh. Along with countless features this model includes leather seats, seat belts, refrigerator, headlights, indicators and mirrors. There is also a sports mode setting for days when you feel the need for a bit of a boost.

From humble beginnings

The company and its Garia Golf Cars are the brainchild of Dane Anders Lynge. The idea began to take shape while he studied at a design school in Denmark, and progressed further when he worked for a Mercedes tuning company. Garia was established in 2005 with the first golf cars and street-legal models being launched in 2010.
         The idea was to create the world’s first luxury golf and leisure car in both design and technology, planned from day one to be street legal.
         The cars feature a double wishbone front suspension in cast aluminium with upright coilovers (just as you would find in a high-end sports car) which provide unparalleled stability and handling. With a longer wheel base than a traditional golf cart to remove any overhanging weight, this also provides for a smoother ride. The Garia has all-round brakes, discs at the front and drum brakes at the rear for maximum stopping power.

Park Lane London

Within minutes we are pulling out into central London traffic, Dan is driving, the editor is riding shotgun and I have the rear two seats to myself. Obviously driving through central London in a Garia Golf Car is not a daily occurrence judging from the looks we receive from passers-by.
         London taxi drivers are particularly keen to wind down their window and give us directions to the nearest golf course. Dan indicates right and we move lanes in preparation for turning into Knightsbridge. I wonder if Harrods would mind if we drove through their store and did a little shopping. We should fit down the aisles nicely.  

Perks of the product

It’s worth pointing out that as this is an electric vehicle there is no congestion charge, no road tax and free parking in central London. This baby could save you a small fortune and turn heads in a way that is usually reserved for Ferrari drivers. .

Hyde Park

We eventually find ourselves in Hyde Park and not far from the Serpentine Lake. A photo shoot is taking place of a soon-to-be-married couple together with the groom’s Aston Martin. They soon find themselves down two cameramen as they catch site of the Garia. One even asks if we would be so kind as to park next to the Aston Martin so that they can include it in their pictures.
         Another quick spin up Park Lane and it’s time to return our chariot to the showroom. The Monaco has handled fantastically well in traffic and several motorists were put to shame when feeling the need to try to overtake. We took it to its maximum speed which it handled superbly and I am keen to take the new Garia Mansory Currus version out in the near future. Unfortunately we would require somewhere out of the mandatory city limit of 30mph as its top speed is 37mph/60kmh.

Mansory

For those who want something really special, Garia have teamed up with luxury car modification firm Mansory to create the ultimate luxury recreation vehicle. Mansory are renowned for their bodywork upgrades of performance supercars. Modifications to the Garia include specially designed carbon fibre body panels and supercar-inspired improvements over the whole vehicle to convey superior quality. The cabin floor can even be lined with teak if you so choose!

The Ambassadors

Paula Creamer, the well-known American golfer, is one of several ambassadors for Garia. As a professional she has eleven tournament wins to her name, including nine LPGA Tour events. She has reached as high as number two in the Women's World Golf Rankings and was the 2010 U.S. Women's Open champion.  
         “The Garia is amazing,” says Paula. “I love its looks and the fact that it has some serious get-up-and-go, it’s also fun to drive.”

Back at the showroom

We leave the Garia back with its illustrious companions which include a Lamborghini and that stunning Koenigsegg. A very important fact has occurred to me. To upgrade from a regular car to a supercar will set you back serious money, but upgrading to a Garia for around £20,000 is within the realms of even the most humble of us. With this thought in mind, I may just have to place that order.

Article by Great Golf Magazine  www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

Contact details

Garia
Head Office - Denmark
info@garia.com
www.garia.com

Bob Forstner
Excalibur Park Lane Ltd
www.bobforstner.co.uk