Car Battery Recommendation
08-31-2011, 12:09 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 276
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.
08-31-2011, 10:51 AM
#18
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,311
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)
08-31-2011, 11:00 AM
#19
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Leandro, CA
Posts: 3,856
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.
08-31-2011, 11:32 AM
#20
Registered User
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: san francisco
Posts: 2,325
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!
08-31-2011, 08:10 PM
#21
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.
08-31-2011, 09:58 PM
#22
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,311
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?
08-31-2011, 10:43 PM
#23
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?
09-01-2011, 07:45 PM
#27
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Leandro, CA
Posts: 3,856
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.
09-02-2011, 09:28 AM
#29
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: The Bay Area
Posts: 2,572
Car Info: 2006 STI
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.
09-02-2011, 09:52 AM
#30
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.