Optima Battery Selection, Which Model and Size to Buy? Options

[m170seeker]

I finally need a new battery and wanted to get an Optima. Any opinions on Red or Yellow Top and what size do we need?

[aharder]

I've been using a Red Top for years...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ellisor3]

Just bought a red top myself. There are many threads about Optima, but I like mine so far.

[pcar916]

Yellow tops are deep cycle batteries like boats use for their trolling motors. Our cars like big current for shorter periods. That's what the red tops do. I've had my red top for ten years now. It won't last forever but I've never had one go that long.

Good luck

[monkeyboy]

I have had nothing but bad luck with Optima over the last few years QC went downhill.

I recommend Odyssey now.

I am running a PC925 in my car and a couple in my diesel truck. I even put one in my dad's car. Even with 11:1 compression and sitting for weeks on end, it starts without a problem.

Odyssey battery specs

[Mountain914]

I have used the same red top in my 914 for 12+ years now, and it still starts with no issues (turning over a 3.0L).
I only drive the car about once a month in fair weather, not enought time to really charge the battery, but somehow it keeps working (it's really amazing).

You need size 34R, but a 34 will work if you've got a longer cables.

Others have posted that the 35 works also, and is lighter.

See Dave Sprinkle's post here: Here

[broomhandle]

Red is for auto, yellow is deep cycle for trucks/jeeps and crap to run a whinch on and blue is for boats... deep cycle as well.

[seanery]

I'll second the 34 / 34R. I've got a 34 that was in whitey. To tell you how good these cars are, whitey was in the garage for over a year maybe 2. A buddy needed a jump, so I grabbed the 34 and took off to meet him. His battery was totally dead so I mounted my 34 in his 2000 328, this was in 2005 or 2006. Tried the ignition to see if it'd start, and it did! The battery had been sitting in my garage for at least a year, maybe 2 and it started. These really are great batteries.

[underthetire]

Old optimas good
New optimas really bad.

[GeorgeRud]

In short, a 34R has the terminals in the same position as the original battery, but needs to have the small side mounting feet trimmed to fit into the tray. A 34 does fit, but the terminals are harder to access.

My experience is that the old Optimas were great, but the new ones have not had the same reputation. Don't know what changed,mbut my old one lasted for over ten years with a battery maintainer hooked up over the winter. My last Optima (I won't buy another one) was a 34R that only lasted three years.

For the price they want for them these days, I don't think they're worth the money.

[bigkensteele]

I went with a 35 due to weight and price. It barely clears the rain tray, but has worked fine so far. I wanted to buy it locally in case I had any problems, and found that Batteries Plus had the best price - about $165. Not cheap, but not gonna leak either.

[wildman]

I have a friend in the battery business, i told him i wanted an Optima and he asked me "why?" i replied "well my old one lasted for years and years" he told me the new ones are "absolute shit!" as per his recommendation i got an Odyssey PC925, its smaller, lighter, and I love it so far.

I have no personal experience with the new Mexican produced Optimas, Just passing the word along as best i can (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[saigon71]

I tried the Optima red top 34R first...the terminals hit the factory rain tray when I tried to close the engine lid. Plus, I would need to trim some of the battery case itself to fit into the stock battery tray. I exchanged it for the 34 - perfect fit all around.

[windforfun]

The new ones are junk.

[m170seeker]

Thanks. All very helpful.

[willamp]

I have a friend in the battery business, i told him i wanted an Optima and he asked me "why?" i replied "well my old one lasted for years and years" he told me the new ones are "absolute shit!" as per his recommendation i got an Odyssey PC925, its smaller, lighter, and I love it so far.

I have no personal experience with the new Mexican produced Optimas, Just passing the word along as best i can (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Can you tell us exactly which Odyssey 925 you bought and if there were any mounting 'accessories' you had to buy? The PC 925MJT looks like it would be the one but as far as I can tell there is no adapter that would let it mount exactly like the stock battery. Is this the case? Did you have to come up with some alternate method?

thanks in advance

[tod914]

I recently picked up a 35. Killer deal on it. $25 rebate on top of Autozone beating any price on the net. Paid like $90 for it when it was all said and done. Rebate ended, but Autozone should be able to give you a good price if you call up.

[bigkensteele]

I recently picked up a 35. Killer deal on it. $25 rebate on top of Autozone beating any price on the net. Paid like $90 for it when it was all said and done. Rebate ended, but Autozone should be able to give you a good price if you call up.

That was a great deal. When I checked, Autozone wanted crazy money for a 35.

[Rod]

Odyssey here too, but a PC1200 so slightly bigger than the 925 as I run a lot of Soundstream class A Amps so need the current draw.

[tod914]

Ken, I called them up to see if they could beat the best internet price I could find. Their website prices were quite abit more.