excellent, clear view all around. (5)
IS: The driving position seemed comfortable with good visibility. (4)
JC: Good driving position, no cab fitted but visibility is good. (4)
KB: Once I became familiar with the left hand driving position I was okay! All round clear view. Slim roll bars do not obstruct view. Do not know what cab looks like so cannot comment. (3)
SJ: No concerns. (5) 6) Control layout -d
does the operator have
easy access to all controls, in terms of throttle, gears, hand brake, switches (indicators/beacon)?
TJ: All the controls were in easy reach for the operator, although some of the switches were on the small side. When first learning to use the vehicle it can take time to locate certain controls on the dash board. The indicator switch, for example, is an important and frequently used switch but is small and insignificant in appearance. Rating: 3
RW: Control layout is user friendly, but switches are quite far away. For instance, leaning forward to look for the indicator switch could be a potential hazard while driving. Throttle and handbrakes are easy to get to. (3)
on parade CADETS
IS: Fuel fill up fine. Starting up was very easy although the engine is a little on the noisy side. (5)
JC: No problem with filling. I don’t know how economical it is as we did not have the machine for a long enough time to evaluate. (3)
KB: Fuel filling no problem. (4)
SJ: The fuel filler was in an easy and accessible location, however I didn’t need to fuel up so I couldn’t comment on how economical it was. (5)
4) Road speed/gear ratios -e changing?
ease of gear
TJ: With a top speed of 25mph it was quick on flat ground. Gear changing was simple; however it must be stationary to do this. When reversing it was either too slow or too fast and there was no gradual increase in speed and therefore no mediocre speed to reverse at. Rating: 3.5
RW: The road speed is excellent and the gear changing is very smooth. (5)
IS: Travelling speed was very good. With a site as big as ours, and with a staff of just six, we have to be productive. We currently run Club Cars and a John Deere 6x4 Gator and the Cub Cadet is significantly quicker than both. At the same time it seems
stable. With the extra speed you need a good braking system which it seems to have. (4)
JC: It is quick, maybe a little too fast for use on a golf course in the wrong hands, but I am sure this could be governed. The gear lever is clunky and not smooth to engage. There is plenty of torque from the Perkins diesel engine. (3.5)
KB: Very quick for type of vehicle. Gear change no problem. (5)
SJ: Basically the machine has forward and reverse operation and no gear change as such; on the road it was quite fast, in my opinion too fast for a golf course application. For that reason I would have to mark it down as a 3.
5) Driving position and operator visibility - subject to there being a cab, how easy does the shape of the UTV allow clear view in all directions?
TJ: Allows good visibility all around and the seating position is relatively high which aids this. However, with the vehicle being quite wide, it can be difficult to judge some manoeuvres. The left hand drive can take some getting used to. Rating: 4
RW: Driving position is ok, little bit awkward to get in for the driver as parts of the metal frame are in the way. Visibility is
IS: Control layout is user friendly. (5)
JC: All controls are close to hand, the control panel did not look too sturdy, in fact the ignition switch was loose. A fuel gauge rather than a low fuel light would be advantageous as would an indication that 4 wheel drive is engaged. (2.5)
KB: Indicator switch would be better as a column change or even the position changed with the light switch. Arm catches on bar at the side of seat when applying the hand brake. (3)
SJ: Everything is good here, all controls are to hand and very easy to use. (5)
7) How noisy is the machine during operation? How much vibration or unnecessary bouncing is there?
TJ: It’s a noisy machine during operation and this can prove a major factor when working round a college environment. The vehicle may have to reside unused during certain times of the year, for example when exams are in progress. There were no problems with excessive vibrations or bouncing. Rating: 3
RW: The first thing you notice when you start the vehicle is that the engine is very noisy - even when the engine has operated for a while, the noise doesn’t quiet down. However, bouncing and vibration are hardly noticeable. (3)
IS: The first thing you notice when you start the vehicle is that the engine is quite noisy. (3)
JC: Very noisy when in use. I would expect to wear ear protection when driving although I am not aware of the decibel level. Vibration and bouncing is minimal, in fact it gives a smooth ride. (3.5)
KB: Machine is very noisy. Not much vibration and no unnecessary bouncing. (2)
SJ: The machine is extremely noisy, my first impression on driving it was, “God! It sounds like a lorry.” There would be no way I could use this machine around golfers, without complaints aplenty and, for this point alone, I think it generally unsuitable for the golf course environment. (1)
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