Car Battery: Costco, Walmart, or..?

[clok1966]

there are bout 6 battery manufactures in the US, they make all the batteries. They all make good and cheap batteries and brand them for specific buyers. Most chains (costco, walmart, car parts store of your choice) wont even have the same battery manufacture at all locations. They often wont even use the same one year to year. Depending on location its often cheaper to buy from the manufacture closer to you. So just a "example" Store A in Washington will get its batteries from a California manufacture, while Same Store chain in Texas will get its from a Oklahoma manufacture who is not affiliated with the one in California. They use the same branding, but are made different inside. SO in the end its possible the Walmart battery is the same one Costco sells, or Advanced auto depending on locations. Dont expect the high end Walmart battery to match the low end one someplace else, but its possible the $99 Walmart battery thats 800 CCA is the same as the Advanced auto one that's 800CCA for $120. All this info is out there (google) but is not going to appear on the first page, you do have to dig a little. I have had TERRIBLE luck with walmart batteries, but they have a 5 year warranty , 3 years free replacement (if you buy the best ones they have, and they are generally $30-60 less then the best from others), in the last few years i have had to replace 3-4 of them, but its always been free.. so I cant say I have been screwed, but i have had to take them out and replace them. I used DELCO for years and had good luck but they dont seem to be around anymore. If you read reviews, it seems DIE HARDS from sears are almost always rated high and not horrible priced. I know many guys who swear by Optima's too, but 2X the price of most battires I have never bought one. My truck has a 10 year old Roadrunner in it (fleet farm) that has started the truck in 30 below and such for 10 ND winters.. it was a cheap azz 600 CCA that i payed $49 for. Some mention Interstate, they are one of the manufactures, so they should (you would think) make the best for themselves.. never bought one as they are also about $60 more then walmart (but maybe i should). I think its a bit of crap shoot, you got a good one at STORE X last year doesnt mean it will be the same this year.

 

[Pal67]

I'll vote Interstate. A real battery manufacturer.

Everstart just seems to be some brand they slap on batteries made by who knows who.

Except Interstate is a marketing company, not a manufacturer. Interstate suppliers are mainly ones like Exide, JCI, East Penn, and maybe some foreign manufactures. Everstart are almost certainly made in Korea, Taiwan, China, etc.

 

[blankslate]

I live in the DC area.

What car battery do you recommend?

also, any car batteries with a knob to switch over to reserve capacity so that im guaranteed to have some power to start the car?

It looks like there are some Autozone stores in the D.C. area.

I've had good luck with their Duralast batteries.

they run about $200 and come with a three year warranty.

*edited 2 add*
Duralast are also AMG batteries


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[blankslate]

You should... Our Malibu eats a battery every three years. No matter the brand. Pretty much every mid 2000's Malibu does this. Theory is that it just gets cooked considering it's proximity to the engine.

yeah the newer Malibu's I've looked at have a plastic rather heavy duty cover for the battery which I guess provides some shielding from the engine heat.


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[thecoolnessrune]

It looks like there are some Autozone stores in the D.C. area.

I've had good luck with their Duralast batteries.

they run about $200 and come with a three year warranty.

*edited 2 add*
Duralast are also AMG batteries


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Just noting I think you mean AGM batteries Duralast Platinums are AGM which are rebrands of the East Penn / Deka Intimidator Line.

 

[bryanl]

interestingly, just read that Interstate batteries aren't lead-acid anymore.
they're now Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)

Those AGMs are still lead-acid but not conventional flooded lead-acid. And because the plates have better mechanical support (coiled up or tightly packed between the moist fiberglass mats), they can be made of pure lead instead of from lead alloys that cause water consumption (antimony) or deep discharge problems (calcium).

 

[bradly1101]

I could get busted for this:

 

[eng2d2]

I could get busted for this:

My family thinks I am weird with all my tabs open. LOL

 

[NutBucket]

$280 for a battery? Shit an Odyssey isn't that expensive!

 

[bradly1101]

My family thinks I am weird with all my tabs open. LOL

Middle of renovations, eek!

 

[bradly1101]

$280 for a battery? Shit an Odyssey isn't that expensive!

It's made with unobtainium.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

$280 for a battery? Shit an Odyssey isn't that expensive!

It's made with unobtainium.

Interstate MT Series AGM batteries are made by Enersys, same group that makes Odyssey. I agree of the selections, Odyssey is the better (but lesser known) buy. I also appreciate that you can get an Odyssey in various sub-types (I even saw one with a full metal jacket for an application where the battery was exposed on a buggy).