What is a good car batter these days?

[moneypit]

x4. I had red tops in both my Buick and my Cobra. I had to replace them every spring. Autozone would only replace them 3 years after I purchased them, NOT 3 years of the battery age. I have 2 of them under 3 years old sitting in my garage that are dead.

I will never buy another Optima again!

can I have them?

 

[moneypit]

Optimas are garbage. Every single one we get in here is dead, they won't take charges. I've cored every one, no matter what color. I don't know why people waste they're money.

I get TONS of batterys in here. I prolly see 45-55 cars per month. Most of the ones we get in here dead or still charged that we resell are Interstate, AC Delco, Motorcraft, Die Hard. Duralasts are 50/50....some are good and we sell, while others won't hold a charge. Many offbrand batteries are junk. They rarely take a charge, let alone hold one.

if an optima is dead as in no voltage it will not charge you need to wire it in parael to another battery to trick it into charging, Ive got alot of free "dead" optimas this way

http://www.optimabatteries.com/product_support/resuscitating_agmbattery.php

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

can I have them?

For $10 a peice. That's what the cores are worth.

 

[Birdie2000]

Buy based on warranty and ease of redeeming that warranty IMO.

Diehard Gold/Everstart Maxx/Duralast Gold are all the same battery with a different label on them, and they all have a pretty long warranty and tons of locations to warranty them if you happen to be out of town when it goes bad. From everything I've heard they're really nice batteries. Make sure it's the "Gold" or "Maxx" series though, the lesser models aren't the same nor are they as good. Interstate is supposed to use this particular battery too IIRC.

I've also had terrible luck with Optimas. If I was going to buy a high-end deep-cycle starting battery it will be a Diehard Platinum. Have one in our work truck for a couple years now and it's been fantastic.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

if an optima is dead as in no voltage it will not charge you need to wire it in parael to another battery to trick it into charging, Ive got alot of free "dead" optimas this way

http://www.optimabatteries.com/product_support/resuscitating_agmbattery.php

I bet 1 out of 10 people can do that. Not everybody is gonna have spare batteries laying around.

 

[moneypit]

but most people have 2 cars try it it works get a good "smart" charger

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

but most people have 2 cars try it it works get a good "smart" charger

For us, it's not worth the hassle spending extra time to save a used battery. We sell good used batteries for $25+tax with a 30 day warrenty. I bet I couldn't get more for an Optima, so it's not worth the extra time. Plus, with their bad rep, people are scared of them now.

 

[moneypit]

how many do you have? I need a few for a "project"

 

[Scooter70]

The Red Top in my Corvette lasted about 4 years but I decided to replace it with a DieHard when it wouldn't hold a charge last spring.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

how many do you have? I need a few for a "project"

None right now. I sold 30 core batteries yesterday...figures. There were two Optimas. If I get a couple next month, or the monrth after if you really want them let me know. I'll just get $10 each for the core, that's all I care about. I obviously don't get as many as I get other brands, but I do get a few.

 

[avbcon12]

Im actually going to get another interstate, they've always done me well. this last one (I just checked) is 8 years old! THe Mega-tron Interstates have a 75mo warranty too.

 

[moneypit]

Thats fine no big hurry

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Im actually going to get another interstate, they've always done me well. this last one (I just checked) is 8 years old! THe Mega-tron Interstates have a 75mo warranty too.

Yeah man, I have a 100% success rate on used Interestates when I sell them. I honestly don't think I've had one of those come back. I get MAYBE 1 out of 20 batteries come back on me...MAYBE. I say go for the Interstate.

 

[loosenut]

can I have them?

Come get them.

 

[avbcon12]

Yeah man, I have a 100% success rate on used Interestates when I sell them. I honestly don't think I've had one of those come back. I get MAYBE 1 out of 20 batteries come back on me...MAYBE. I say go for the Interstate.

Thanks!

Ive had a lot of luck with them in the past with other cars too, I cant believe this one is 8 years old.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Thanks!

Ive had a lot of luck with them in the past with other cars too, I cant believe this one is 8 years old.

It shocks me with how long you can get out of some batteries. My Grandma bought a 2001 Montana van new in 2001. I changed her factory AC Delco battery out with a replacment AC Delco battery last winter, 2009. But only because she was "worried" about it. Her van had only 21,000 miles and it's garaged kept. I told her don't worry about it, it's fine, but she wanted a new one. I ended up using her old battery in one of my cars cause it was so damn good. But you know how Grandma's are....you gotta do what they say.

My 91 notch I had from 2006-2008 had the original 1991 Motorcraft battery in it. It started right up after two winters without a jump. Weird, cause my Dad's 2007 Shelby battery was dead after the same first two winters. :lol:

 

[moneypit]

Come get them.

send me an address Ill come grab them tonight

 

[SuperStang90]

I hava a buddy with an old 900CCA Rockford Fosgate battery made by Exide. I swear hes had the battery for 10 years and had it in 10 cars with absolutely no problems. It can sit in his Mustang all winter and fire up every time. Dont know if they still make them but damn is it a good battery

 

[robvas]

Another Interstate?

Aren't all batteries made by one of 3 companies anyway?

 

[avbcon12]

Another Interstate?

Aren't all batteries made by one of 3 companies anyway?

yep, but just because they are made by the 3 largest companies doesnt mean there arent variations in quality with each line.

The majority of car batteries are created by 3 manufacturers - JCI, East Penn, Exide and Johnson Controls Industries (they bought out Delphi). Delphi makes some EverStart models sold in Walmart and ACDelco. Johnson Control Industries makes Duralast seen in Autozone stores, Diehard - sold in Sears, Kirkland - the Costco brand, Motorcraft - which Ford sells, some of the EverStarts, and Interstate.

the new interstate is in and running strong.