Car Battery Recommendation
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 276
From: SF, CA
Car Info: 06 STI
Optima batteries do suck. I've had 2 already that I disliked (red and yellow top).
I would just get the cheapest battery you can find. They are all made at the same factory anyway. Lookup the company Johnson Controls.
I would just get the cheapest battery you can find. They are all made at the same factory anyway. Lookup the company Johnson Controls.
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,312
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2011 WRX hatch gray
best bang for the price?
check out the autozone batts. when the OEM one died in my 04 STi 4 years ago, made a quick purchase of their 2nd most expensive model.
then i thought i killed it when i left it sitting for over 2 weeks... but after a jump start, it's been going strong since. this was like 2 years or so later so it was over the 2 year warranty.
cost me like $80 with a warranty nationwide. the more expensive one was like $100. with a year longer warranty.
best batt, imo, is the sears rebranded odessey batts, labeled as their PLATIMUN line. i have one in my truck.
before, for over 15 years, i had nothing BUT optima batts. i mean i had a red top in there since 1992, before anyone knew what optima was. until like 5 years ago when the last red top finally died. so i went got another red top. but now, optima brand is under a bigger umbrella of a company and QC has gone to hell.
within 6 months, the "new" red top would barely hold a charge. then i heard about sears selling a rebranded oddesey and like $50 less.
spent like $190 for one and it's been great. would not hesistate buying another platinum labeled one. plus you have a nationwide warranty with sears!
check out the autozone batts. when the OEM one died in my 04 STi 4 years ago, made a quick purchase of their 2nd most expensive model.
then i thought i killed it when i left it sitting for over 2 weeks... but after a jump start, it's been going strong since. this was like 2 years or so later so it was over the 2 year warranty.
cost me like $80 with a warranty nationwide. the more expensive one was like $100. with a year longer warranty.
best batt, imo, is the sears rebranded odessey batts, labeled as their PLATIMUN line. i have one in my truck.
before, for over 15 years, i had nothing BUT optima batts. i mean i had a red top in there since 1992, before anyone knew what optima was. until like 5 years ago when the last red top finally died. so i went got another red top. but now, optima brand is under a bigger umbrella of a company and QC has gone to hell.
within 6 months, the "new" red top would barely hold a charge. then i heard about sears selling a rebranded oddesey and like $50 less.
spent like $190 for one and it's been great. would not hesistate buying another platinum labeled one. plus you have a nationwide warranty with sears!
So, you're saying the Platinum is awesome from a "won't leave you stranded, ever" point of view.
What about equivalent to stock, but a little less weight? (But NOT a light weight battery... still need it to be reliable for daily use)
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
I am running the Sears "Platnum" in every car I have. Its made by oddisy(sp) for sears, comes with a unbeatable 56 month warrentee then its prorated after that. Full gel cell sheet NOT cylendars like optima is.
So far I ran one into the ground, and I mean down to 9.1v showing, and it charged right back up and works great. (winch pulls on the truck are MURDER on a battery) previously I have killed 1 yellow top Optima a year, im on year 3 with the sears battery.
So far I ran one into the ground, and I mean down to 9.1v showing, and it charged right back up and works great. (winch pulls on the truck are MURDER on a battery) previously I have killed 1 yellow top Optima a year, im on year 3 with the sears battery.
Registered User
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,325
From: san francisco
Car Info: 2008 Forester XT 5spd
When I bought my car in 2004 it already had an Interstate battery, I still haven't changed it. Not sure when it was put into the car, but I do know that it's been 7 years so far with no probs.
Watch, just for posting this it's gonna crap out on me!
Watch, just for posting this it's gonna crap out on me!
i went to it and wanted to ask their booth person a question. i looked at the name and title on the badge. it was the president/ceo of the company manning their booth!
it was when QC was great and they were a small company.
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,312
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2011 WRX hatch gray
I need a battery that is reliable for a stock car for daily driven use... plus vibration resistance and spill proof because I rallyx.
The Optima Red seemed to be the best choice... except for the recent poor quality record from people on the forums' experience.
What options do I have?
The Optima Red seemed to be the best choice... except for the recent poor quality record from people on the forums' experience.
What options do I have?
I need a battery that is reliable for a stock car for daily driven use... plus vibration resistance and spill proof because I rallyx.
The Optima Red seemed to be the best choice... except for the recent poor quality record from people on the forums' experience.
What options do I have?
The Optima Red seemed to be the best choice... except for the recent poor quality record from people on the forums' experience.
What options do I have?
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,856
From: San Leandro, CA
Car Info: Forester XTi
Modern redtops are not the redtops of 5-6 years ago, the new ones SUCK, let them drop below 10.8v and they are dead, you will never get them to hold a charge.
Don't believe me? I have 2-3 red tops and 3-4 yellow tops sitting in the garage, all toast, from winching.
Don't believe me? I have 2-3 red tops and 3-4 yellow tops sitting in the garage, all toast, from winching.
Registered User
iTrader: (11)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,849
From: Cheesesteakville
Car Info: 05 wrx wagon, 90 celica alltrac, 66 mustang
I have a Stinger bat and its nice, it is small handles my 1k watt sound system the HID's and is the size of a lawn mower bat. i have had optima's and all of the other types from cheap to expensive (tho not for me, pays to have friends who sell parts for a living) and so far this has been the best one with no issues.
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,069
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2006 CGM Impreza WRX/ 1998 RBP Impreza 2.5RS
I might be looking for a new battery too, and I wanted a small lightweight one but still needed it strong enough to push power to my 2000w total amps. and power my accessories and give good cranking. My Redtop I got w/ the car is doing great. Iono how much longer it's gonna last tho.