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Posted by: thelogo Aug 3 2014, 04:47 PM

Optima was solid for the most part but now I want something
Cheaper .

The car sometimes sits in garage for 3 weeks at a time .

I have the trickle charger .

But I want to avoid a high dollar batt because I just accept the fact that these cars

That sit a lot

Need more frequent batt replacement then something

New/ modern / not boxer . That's driven daily .

So what is recommended ?

















My father never drank ,smoked gambled or chased women and I wasn't going to either
"Ty Cobb "

Posted by: mgp4591 Aug 3 2014, 04:50 PM

I'd go for another Optima Red Top. Mine's been running (altho in my dd for over 10 years, rated @ 750 cca but never tests less than 920cca. Put a negative quick disconnect on anything you don't drive alot- seconds to turn off and saves batteries!

Posted by: thelogo Aug 3 2014, 05:03 PM

I did recently get the quick disconnect on the negitive post aka( big red key )
But the battery had already deteriorated past the point of no return .

Posted by: tradisrad Aug 3 2014, 05:57 PM

I've not had luck with optima batteries. My first started draining even when it was not hooked up. My current Optima goes dead in a few weeks if I leave it hooked up. on the flip side my friend's optima has been good for year and years.

Posted by: bandjoey Aug 3 2014, 09:28 PM

$89 at Walmart. 3 years and no failure. Texas heat. Daily driver. I'm happy.

Posted by: c12croft Aug 3 2014, 09:49 PM

I'm told these optima batts need and optima charge using trickle setting.
Problem is that these chargers are north of $150.
Expensive to show off those red tops.

Posted by: thelogo Aug 3 2014, 10:16 PM

$89 at Walmart. 3 years and no failure. Texas heat. Daily driver. I'm happy.


Sounds good to me ,but my Walmart has zero customer support in the automotive dept

So I would need to know exactly what battery I need .

Posted by: Java2570 Aug 4 2014, 06:54 AM

I replaced my old battery with an Interstate battery. I was going to look at Optima but my brother (works at an auto shop) says that Optima has gone through a lot of poor quality issues in the last 5+ years. I've heard they have gotten a little better of late but I don't believe the Optima is much better than a regular battery anymore. I'll go for a pricey dry cell battery next time.

Posted by: daraho9146 Aug 4 2014, 09:09 AM

The main advantage of the Optima battery: No battery acid.
I had the Exide version of the Optima in my 914-6 for 10 years.
It went dead. I instinctively replaced it with the Optima.
It went dead. I opened the shroud to replace the alternator.
I found out that the mechanic that replaced the alternator in
the 3.2 did not seat the connections properly.
Who knows? I might still be using the original Exide battery if
not for the alternator glitch.

Posted by: thelogo Aug 4 2014, 03:40 PM

I found a guy selling all remanufactured
Batteries 50 bucks with 1 month guarante

But the batteries have no labels or specs
On them , as in amps ,group nothing.

Posted by: Valy Aug 4 2014, 05:10 PM

Costco battery (re-branded Interstate).
Longest warranty, low price.
Batteries have a lifespan of about 4 years. Anything more than that is just luck. This has nothing to do with the manufacturer, it's just physics and chemistry as there's a limit to the amount of times you can decompose and recompose the lead plates before they brake down or the residue shorts them at the bottom.
I believe the key here is the warranty period you get. Any battery will fail so it's better if you're cover for the longest period of time.

Posted by: Mark Henry Aug 4 2014, 05:22 PM

The optima in my bug is 12 years old, the one thing I've always done is run it...once the summer is over it goes into my winter car.

I was thinking this next... http://www.odysseybatteries.com/applications/auto.htm

Posted by: The Cabinetmaker Aug 4 2014, 05:43 PM

I bought two optimas 12 years ago. One died in about 5 years. The other still powers my daily driver.

Posted by: thelogo Aug 6 2014, 08:40 AM

http://m.harborfreight.com/15-Watt-Solar-Battery-Charger-68692.html


Anybody have one of these , is it a joke or could it actually keep the battery
In good condition .

Price is right .