| Author |
Message |
Paul (Pcelenta)
Junior Member
Username: Pcelenta
Post Number: 124
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 9:57 pm: | |
went with the red top Optima....$119 at Pepboys...started right up! |
david handa (Davehanda)
Junior Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 219
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 3:12 pm: | |
Actually Hans it is NOT gel, but a saturated spiral cell. It has the same advantages as a gel cell, in that if the case is cracked, it will not leak electrolyte....their website explains it better than me, I'm not much of a techie... :-) |
Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member
Username: Parkerfe
Post Number: 1359
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 3:06 pm: | |
I use Optima batteries in all my vehicles and have had no problems whatsoever. |
Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member
Username: 4re_gt4
Post Number: 186
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 2:45 pm: | |
Also forgot to mention: Optima uses some sort of gel technology. That's another reason why racers like it - it's safer than liquid sulfuric acid in a crash.
Besides that, how can you resist having a battery that looks like a 6-pack? |
david handa (Davehanda)
Junior Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 217
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 2:21 pm: | |
Optima licenses the design now, so if you see similar case designed battery (looks like a six-pack with a cover on top) then it is one in the same. I forget what the other brands are, but I recently saw one at a Schuck's/Kragen store....It was about 10 to 15% less costly than the Optima product. |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 361
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 1:46 pm: | |
I run a Sears deep-cycle/RV battery in several of my cars & my camper. It has plenty of cranking power, & tolerates deep discharges better than a std. car battery. It also seems to have a much slower 'self-discharge' rate than they do.
Yes, a deepcycle batt. doesn't have the max cold cranking current of a high-end auto battery. However, it's more than adequate. Also, a deep cycle retains it's spec'd cranking capacity for almost all of it's life whereas the auto battery's capacity seems to steadily degrade over time.
I try to remember to disconnect my battery when a car is sitting up for more than a week or so.
This May, my camper's 4 year old battery still had about a 2/3 charge after sitting disconnected since last September.
I took my Rx7 winter driver off of the road in early May, & forgot to disconnect the battery.
It started right up the last week of Jy.
I can buy 3-4 deepcycle/RV batteries for what I'd pay for 1 Optima.
My 308 QV still has the high-end AutoZone (don't remember the lable) battery that the dealer put in just before I bought it in Feb. of '00. At times during the winter when I've forgotton to pull the disconnect, the car has still started right up after 5-6 weeks. When this battery dies, I'll replace it w/a deepcycle one. |
TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 1339
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 7:29 am: | |
I think interstate makes optima? anyway go to optimas website and they list the dealers - I know pep boys carries them
www.optimabatteries.com |
Paul (Pcelenta)
Junior Member
Username: Pcelenta
Post Number: 120
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 7:25 am: | |
thanks guys...like dr. tommy asked...where do you find Optima? I have had nothing but problems with this interstate batter...it crapped out after not driving the car for 2 weeks @ about 1 year old...then it happend again 6 months ago and now is completly shot...the last interstate I had in the car lasted 6 years with no problems. |
Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member
Username: Vwalfa4re
Post Number: 290
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 7:15 am: | |
Where do you get the Optima?
I have always used Sears in all my (6) cars with no trouble. The only battery I have had problems with and will never buy again is Interstate. |
Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member
Username: 4re_gt4
Post Number: 182
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 11:59 pm: | |
Optima. No other choice. Race car guys use them because race cars are notorious for not charging properly, alternator failures causing them to run the race on battery alone, etc.
Optima. |
david handa (Davehanda)
Junior Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 216
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 11:04 pm: | |
Optima, without a doubt. Rated highly by Consumers Reports recently too.
The cheaper alternative is the Costco Kirkland Signature batteries, which are made by the same company (Johnson Controls?) that makes the Sears Diehard. |
Scott Grossman (Sngsmgaolcom)
Junior Member
Username: Sngsmgaolcom
Post Number: 84
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 9:11 pm: | |
Paul,
Second the Optima. Best battery out there bar none. It amazes me how many electrical gremlins went away when I replaced my Diehard with the Optima. I also got the Red top.
HTH
Scott |
Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member
Username: Owens84qv
Post Number: 526
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 9:01 pm: | |
Paul, a great many members on this site go with Optima batteries. They are great and seem to be one of the only batteries that (A) won't drain in two weeks and (B) will start a car on the first crank if the car hasn't been started in four weeks. I've had my Optima (Red) in my 308QV since October 2001. The car has started on the first try every single time. They are a little more expensive (~$130) than your average battery, but well worth IMHO. |
Paul (Pcelenta)
Junior Member
Username: Pcelenta
Post Number: 119
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 5:53 pm: | |
what brand has everyone been going with? I was running an Interstate which did not last the 60 months...anyone have luck with Sears? |