Good Car Battery Brand

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:58 pm

I need a new battery, any suggestions.

TIA

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:26 pm

Diehards have always done well for me, put one in and never worry about it again.

Optimas seem to be the same way.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:34 pm

Duralast Gold from AutoZone worked well for me when mine died on a busy Cleveland street last summer on my way from a wedding rehearsal to the dinner as a groomsman.

That was fun.

Illini25 · Post by **Illini25** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:50 pm

And I'll give you a third option:

Interstate Batteries.

knightmare · Post by **knightmare** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:22 pm

alot of major brands are manufactured by Johnson Controls..

just get one with the max CCA..etc.

Optima batteries are one of their best lines..

http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/ ... earch.html

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:56 am

From a consumer reports article.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am going down Sat. morning to Advance Auto to get one.

Bastid · Post by **Bastid** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:13 pm

I was going to suggest Die Hard or Interstate... but it seems they are made by the same company...

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:10 pm

Optima yellow top are the best

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:01 pm

Optima!

Screw water and gel batteries..go with dry cell spirals. Enough cold cranking amps and longevity to winch the Titanic up.

And with Optimas..you don't care how cold it gets. No worries about "will my engine turn".

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:09 am

ask a exide sales rep for the truth, he will tell you an optima is a waist of money for all but exteme users who plan on spending time oh their roof,
ie: hillclimbers

We sell Interstate so i get good info on all their product line

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:38 am

Chris wrote:ask a exide sales rep for the truth, he will tell you an optima is a waist of money for all but exteme users who plan on spending time oh their roof,
ie: hillclimbers

We sell Interstate so i get good info on all their product line

When I got my optima it was the same price as an interstate and they were cheaper than the diehard. I should have gotten the low cycle yellow top(not the heavy duty yellow top) or whatever though.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:48 am

Up here optima's are almost twice the price...

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:04 pm

The red top Optima I had in my past Jeeps..lasted for roughly the life of 3x regular batteries. I've not seen them a twice the price..probably 50% more...but I still come out ahead even if it was 2.5x the price.

Could jump start others worry free....could run "stuff" such as radio or plug in accessories for long periods without worrying about having a dead battery when I went to start my Jeep again (a good thing to have for someone who used to camp often, or hit beach campfires)

I know most batteries are maintenance free now (don't have to worry about adding water..most are sealed these days)..but years ago..was nice not to have to worry about that either.

To answer the question "What's a good battery"..I'd hold these right up at top. In reality..if it's for his car...IMO it would be overkill, as Optimas are geared more toward the truck/RV market....for applications that have long draw when engine is powered off..IE winches, running lights, etc.

knightmare · Post by **knightmare** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:17 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:The red top Optima I had in my past Jeeps..lasted for roughly the life of 3x regular batteries. I've not seen them a twice the price..probably 50% more...but I still come out ahead even if it was 2.5x the price.

Could jump start others worry free....could run "stuff" such as radio or plug in accessories for long periods without worrying about having a dead battery when I went to start my Jeep again (a good thing to have for someone who used to camp often, or hit beach campfires)

I know most batteries are maintenance free now (don't have to worry about adding water..most are sealed these days)..but years ago..was nice not to have to worry about that either.

To answer the question "What's a good battery"..I'd hold these right up at top. In reality..if it's for his car...IMO it would be overkill, as Optimas are geared more toward the truck/RV market....for applications that have long draw when engine is powered off..IE winches, running lights, etc.

i'm the same way... but - I want overkill !!!! I still have the factory battery, but when I get a new one, I'll spend $30-$40 bucks more for one that I know will survive a nuclear winter.. power windows & locks, etc.. no chances here.. show me the CCA.....

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:42 pm

I tried to an Optima, but they said it won't fit. I ended up with a Titanium by auto_______ something or other. 3 year warranty.

Free installation but the asshat that did the installation used the wrong tools to get the wedge that holds the battery in place and broke it. I left because I didn't want him to **** anything else up. It took me an hour to drill through and bore it out large enough to shove a longer new bolt to it. I unfastened the box shoved the new bolt in from the underside held it by duck tape

and put it together with a nut and washer from the top.

I will be making a formal complaint come Tuesday.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:47 pm

Lefty wrote:I tried to an Optima, but they said it won't fit. I ended up with a Titanium by auto_______ something or other. 3 year warranty.

Free installation but the asshat that did the installation used the wrong tools to get the wedge that holds the battery in place and broke it. I left because I didn't want him to **** anything else up. It took me an hour to drill through and bore it out large enough to shove a longer new bolt to it. I unfastened the box shoved the new bolt in from the underside held it by duck tape and put it together with a nut and washer from the top.

I will be making a formal complaint come Tuesday.

Include a bill for your time.

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:09 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:Include a bill for your time.

Believe me, I will go off.

jimwesselman · Post by **jimwesselman** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 1:28 pm

Consumer reports rated advanced batteries #1, for what its' worth