What brand of battery do you use in your 308/328? | FerrariChat

What brand of battery do you use in your 308/328?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Mike328, Jan 22, 2004.

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What brand of battery do you use in your 308/328?

  1. Optima Red Top

  2. Interstate

  3. Sears / Die Hard

  4. Other Optima

  5. Other Type (Specify Below)

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. Mike328

    Mike328 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 19, 2002
    2,655
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Just trying to see how popular the Optima Red Tops really are!
     
  2. Prugna 328

    Prugna 328 Formula 3

    Sep 10, 2003
    1,233
    L.I.N.Y.
    Full Name:
    Gregory
    The one that will start it. Sorry, not trying to be smart but just wanted to let you know I tried the Optimas a couple of times and did not have good luck with them. I see no reason to go out and spend tons of $$ just because its a F. I know I will catch grief about this but I did a little research and Kirkland batt. rated really high in consum. reports. I picked one up recently for 39.95 for another car of mine, and if it starts it thats fine with me.
     
  3. Dom

    Dom F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 5, 2002
    8,475
    I've got an optima. No problems. I like the fact that it is a sealed battery.

    Dom
     
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Mine's actually a Bosch, in an uneasy truce with the Magnetti Marelli components of the rest of the electrical system.

    The tough part is throwing an extension cord from the third floor for the trickle charger!
     
  5. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    I use Optimas in all of my cars and my golf cart and have never had a problem. I too like the sealed unit as I never had to worry about acid damaging the area around my battery.
     
  6. ChrisfromRI

    ChrisfromRI Karting

    Jan 28, 2003
    230
    Foster, RI
    Full Name:
    Chris F
    Champion Sealed Spiral Cell Battery from Sams Club, made by Exide -- but with the Champion (as in spark plugs) logo.

    It's the same 6-pack looking type of sealed battery as the Optima. I use the blue top in my 308 since this is a better battery choice than a red top for applications where a low rate charger is frequently used because the car is driven infrequently. I use the very same brand from Sam's Club in the red top in one of my cars that is driven more often, and not charged. Both work fine, both crank fine, no complaints.

    Kind Regards, Chris
     
  7. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    17,913
    USA
    Optima is licensing their "spiral cell" technology to Exide, so there are a couple alternate brands available like the Exide and Champion.
     
  8. Dave328

    Dave328 Formula 3

    Nov 24, 2002
    2,133
    Katy
    Full Name:
    Dave
    1100 CA AC Delco. That GM dealership employee discount does come in handy! ;)
    Dave
     
  9. BigAl

    BigAl F1 Veteran

    Mar 17, 2002
    6,146
    TX
    Full Name:
    GSgt Hartman
    LOVE, the Optimas. I have them in all three cars. You can't beat gell batts.
     
  10. Mike328

    Mike328 F1 Rookie
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    Oct 19, 2002
    2,655
    Boulder, CO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I'm really surprised to see no "Interstate" batteries. That's what was in my car when I got it--that's what Ferrari of Central Florida had put in when they had the car... I thought it was like the brand that Ferrari officially used or something...

    --Mike
     
  11. WaltP

    WaltP Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,505
    Cape Canaveral/Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Walt P
    Hey Mike, F of Atlanta put an InterState in my car when it was being servoced.
     
  12. jimangle

    jimangle F1 Rookie

    Nov 5, 2003
    2,501
    Haverford
    Full Name:
    James
    There are only two companies that make batteries. There's nothing wrong with the Energizer car batteries that you can get at Pep Boys.
    I've put them in my jag and ferrari and no problems, and you save about 20-30 dollars.
     
  13. rudy

    rudy Formula Junior

    Jan 13, 2004
    363
    Los Angeles California
    Full Name:
    Rudy Hassen
    Ferrari of Beverly Hills put Interstate batteries in my cars. I have a Diehard in my 330.
     
  14. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,017
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    Ditto, I tend to buy deep cycle/RV batteries for my cars that spend several months in storage, both my winter & summer drivers. Otherwise I look for a 48 mo battery.

    I solve the trickle charging power problem by buying $20 solar battery maintainers & stick them outside somewhere. I use a cigarette lighter extension cord to bring them into the car.
     
  15. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 21, 2000
    6,430
    B.C., Canada
    "Other Type:" Costco - Kirkland brand...
     
  16. bergxu

    bergxu Formula 3

    Aug 16, 2005
    1,305
    OnTheSerpentMound
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    VARTA in my GT4

    Good German power.
     
  17. matteo

    matteo F1 World Champ

    Aug 1, 2002
    13,748
    On a plane somewhere
    Full Name:
    Heir Butt
    Red top got rid of all the little weird electrical things in my car
     
  18. Pizzaman Chris

    Pizzaman Chris F1 Rookie

    Mar 13, 2005
    3,919
    New Hampshire
    Full Name:
    Pizzaman Chris
    I use Duracell Gold from Autozone with 6 year warranty. It has the side connections too which i use for my Chevy Blazer in the winter for plowing.
     
  19. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,278
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    optima

    But I cannot remember which. It is the one with the longest warranty whichever one that is
     
  20. carlrose

    carlrose Formula Junior

    Nov 25, 2003
    321
    Guys, if anyone's interested I have a fledgling "How-To" article on battery replacement & trickle charge installation for the 328. With a bit of lead time, can probably make up a harness to plug into the Sears chargers too.

    :) Carl
    [email protected]
     
  21. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,350
    Indian Wells, California
    Full Name:
    Jon
    I'm interested. Email sent, though maybe Tillman! wants to post it in his 328! primer!
     
  22. ProCoach

    ProCoach F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Sep 15, 2004
    5,464
    VIR Raceway
    Full Name:
    Peter Krause
    The Interstates work as well as anything, use the grey-top instead of the standard green... We've had good experience with them for fifteen years. Most all the dealers use them.

    -Peter
     
  23. jwise

    jwise Formula Junior

    Apr 2, 2003
    781
    Portland Maine
    Grey topped Interstate in mine. Came with the car and seems to work fine. I just disconnect in the winter when the car sits and still fires up in the spring.
     
  24. FasterIsBetter

    FasterIsBetter F1 Veteran

    Jul 22, 2004
    5,844
    NoNJ/Jupiter FL
    Full Name:
    Steve W.
    I put a Sears Diehard in my Mondial. It solved the hard starting problem that I had with the old battery. I've had good success in many different cars with the Diehards. Plus, Sears is pretty easy to deal with in my experience if you ever have a warranty problem with one of these.

    As an aside, I know a few people who have had problems with the Optima Red Tops. If you let the battery discharge completely, it may not fully recover. Several guys I know let them leak down over the winter and had to trash almost new Red Tops when they wouldn't hold a charge after a complete discharge. If you have one, my suggestion is to use a trickle charger if you're letting the car sit for any length of time with a Red Top.
     
  25. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Update:

    The Bosch now sits quietly beneath the flop eared rabbit cages.....replaced both cars ('77 308GTB) with locally obtained (Waller, TX) NAPA units......#6026. Standard lead/acid units.

    Went right in, fired up, car ran great....peeled out and scared all the cows.

    I see I paid the disposal fee, I guess I'll take the dead one back to them.

    I have had conflicts with Sears over tires/batteries years ago, and my electrical guy doesn't have many good things to say about Interstate anymore. He does carry Optima.....but.....it's just a 308...ya know?
     

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