YACT: Which car battery brands are best?

[Evadman]

Optima redtop.

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: nodoubts2k
Optima Yellowtop

That's a deep cycle unless I'm remembering wrong. You don't want or need a deep cycle battery in a car.

ZV

Why?

It's not necessary, but saying that you don't want it is a little extreme AFAIK. It shouldn't really be any different, but if you happen to leave your lights on a lot, it will last a lot longer than a normal battery.

Actually, the optima yellowtop will not last as long as a redtop. Deepcycles are designed with a different plate structure and material that do not last as long as a regular battery. The trade off is that a regular battery will die very quickly if used as a deep cycle. There is a tradeoff for deep cycle vs. regular cycle. But you are absolutely correct, a deep cycle will last far longer than a red top if you constantly leave your lights on.

All 3 (red, yellow and blue) top optima batteries are vibration resistant, and spill proof. The red top goes for about $100, yellow for $140. I have 3 reds now actually; 2 in my truck (along with another deep cycle that I bought earlier that I will replace with a yellow top when it fails) and 1 in my Zuk.

 

[montanafan]

Panasonic. Had one in my Prelude for about ten years. Best thing about it was that I could go months at a time without driving the car, but whenever I wanted to it would start right up, even in the coldest of weather. The ones I've had since seem to lose their charge easily when the car isn't driven for a while.

 

[John]

As usual it looks like everyone has a different recommendation.

I just bought an Optima red top from Sam's because I don't want to jack with leaking acid. It was $100, has a 6 year warranty, and since it came with the adapters I was able to make it fit properly in my '02 Lightning battery tray. It's secured as good, if not better, than the original Motorcraft battery was. The bling factor is an added bonus.

 

[0roo0roo]

go to library or use online consumer reports.

theres no one brand good across all sizes according to their tests. all the brands are strangely inconsistant

 

[rhino56]

Optima by miles. i have 2 red tops in my truck, they are about 9 years old. i drained them to nothing one time when they were about 2 years old, not on purpose. now the other day they sat dead for about 2 days as i left my interior lights on. i thought well this has to be it for them.
i charged them back with my 10 amp charger they took the charge fine. i have been monitoring the voltage on them over the past week and they seem just fine.
the first day they were 12.38v second day they had dropped to 12.17 third day 12.11 and today which is about a week later 12.10

there is a typical small drain on them ( computer mem, cell phone charger led) but they are maintaining their charge just fine.

they are worth the money in the long run.

 

[rhino56]

also yellow top is a hybrid that can be discharged and recharged but still has a higher CCA than the blue tops which are for marine applications.

the red tops are best for most cars trucks unless you plan on running them down top nothing often camping with lights, whatever.

 

[aphex]

which battery would be best for me. Noticed my car is taking a few extra cranks to turn over lately, and once in a while its much longer (the exception, not the majority)

My car, Mazda3, is ~ 1 year old with 37k miles and a fairly extensive aftermarket audio system.

 

[Pepsi90919]

pretty much anything i buy works fine

 

[I Saw OJ]

I have an Optima red top that the previous owner put in the car before me.

Not really sure what made him replace the battery so soon on the car, since its only 3 years old and I barely hit 30k last week.

Seems to be a good battery, the car starts everytime I turn the key

 

[Pikachu]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Most people buy optimas due to the "rice factor".

I just bought a Wal-Mart battery. It scored well in Consumer Reports and has given me no problems.

You'll get the most CCA/dollar at Walmart, which uses Johnson Controls batteries.

 

[j00fek]

just go to walmart and get one that has a 2yr warr

return it in 2yrs and profit

 

[tfbrown69]

Originally posted by: nodoubts2k
Optima Yellowtop

 

[Pikachu]

Johnson Controls, Inc. makes Optima hype... er, I mean batteries.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Pikachu

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Most people buy optimas due to the "rice factor".

I just bought a Wal-Mart battery. It scored well in Consumer Reports and has given me no problems.

You'll get the most CCA/dollar at Walmart, which uses Johnson Controls batteries.

Not anymore. Not at the stores around me, anyway (in Minnesota and Hudson, Wisc.). I'd buy them when they were Johnson Controls, but now that they're from Exide, I won't touch them.

 

[Pikachu]

Our aftermarket battery customers include AutoZone, Pep Boys, Interstate Battery, Sears, Wal-Mart and Costco.

Johnson Controls, is one of the largest automotive battery makers in the US. Its batteries are sold at retailers such as AutoZone, Pep Boys, and Wal-Mart. - Copyright © 2006, Hoover's, Inc., All Rights Reserved

 

[Christobevii3]

I buy cheap if i have a manual since i can push start it. With an auto i try to buy better batteries.

I have a champion gel cell that is like a higher rated optimate that is on like 5 years or so now. Was like $80 at sams club.