Anyone have any car battery recommendations? I was going to go to Costco b/c I hear that they have Optima's but if they don't, they have a great return policy on everything including their Kirkland batteries. Better yet, if someone has an Optima battery they want to part with, PM me ASAP as I will probably go today to get a new battery for preventative measure.

 

Optima batteries aren't as good as they used to be. I know there was a battery thread not to long ago but I don't know what the conclusion was.

 

...anything about Optimas not being as good as they used to be, but for certain they aren't the last word for everyone's needs, and never really have been.

Having said that, for my needs they have been perfect.

I've run two yellow top deep cycles, first on the Forester I ran in the 2000 Alcan Winter Rally and second the one that went into my WRX when the factory battery started to die at about 50,000 miles, -just over a year in sevice.

Both of those are still going strong 8 and 6 years later respectively- lots of time powering HAM radios and other stuff without the car running- with never an issue of discharge or needing a jump.

But if you want something lightweight, there are better options, if you don't want to spend $150 for a battery- there are lots of other choices too, but I've felt that I've gotten a good return on investment from these

 

I have had a red top in my car for a long time... with 800 watt stereo system.. and it's been good.

But that was pre buy out.

 

When the battery died on my old wagon, I went to AutoZone and got cheap battery with warranty + core exchange discount. Worked fine.

No need for Optima unless you gotta ph4t sytem y0.

 

I just this year changed out my stock subaru battery that I had since I bought the car in '03 (yes, 5 year old battery). Swapped it out for a Optima redtop 34r from Vic Hubbard. Stocker was still working, but I was starting to worry about when it would die.

 

hey since you live in daly city, you could stop by mach III on ocean and miramar right across from city college in sf. they carry the optimas.


talk to henry there

 

optimas are just fine IF you never let it fully discharge. I had one in my 02 and parked the car for a while. After that it would never hold a charge again, and was only 2 years old. I just returned it to costco and they gave me a new one.

 

I prefer that Oddessey PC680 you sold me. Still runnin' strong and no issues plus only 15lbs

 

Just came back from Costco. Their Kirkland brand battery for our Impreza's was $56.99 plus a $5 core charge. They only had one size Optima battery in each of the Blue, Yellow and Red top. None of them fit our Imprezas. I looked closely at the sticker on the Kirkland battery and it has a 100% full refund within 3 years and then prorated up to 100 months.

 

^^Thats a pretty good deal. From my research there are 3 routes for batteries.

1. _____ brand battery with warranty and decent CCA for cold starts (standard reliable/budget route)
2. Optima (audiophile route)
3. Braille (lightweight route)

 

Dammit.. if I saw this thread earlier I could've traded my Optima yellow for your stock battery plus cash. Car's gone now...

 

ive been wanting a Braille for a while.

Why shouldnt i get one?

I dont use my headlights to play Basketball at night likke they show in the commercials, nor do i have a fattttt system.

 

i bought a optima red top at mach 3 henry is da best

 

Optima's are great, but weigh too much - remember this will be mounted on the same side of the car where you sit.
I just bought a Braille that will weigh half as much and compares favorably ( CCA, internal resistance ) with the Optima.