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I'm in the market for a new battery for my car. I see that Sears sells Optima batteries in addition to their usual DieHard ones. What's the scoop on the Optimas?

If the car is a keeper, then I always go Optima. If you're not going to keep it more than a year or two, get the cheapest thing that will work and don't leave the lights on by accident.

Optimas will deep cycle better, they seem to work better in deep cold, and they generally seem to last forever. Worth the premium in my book, but prices can vary. Autozone used to sell the same battery with a different label for a few bucks less...don't know if they still do.


--Donnie

Donnie, what is the conventional wisdom on the weight of an Optima? do they compare to common batteries. the one in the bmw is on its way out.

Optimas are the heaviest battery that money can buy; therefore, they work the best for DD. Light batteries just can't work as well due to chemistry.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

and without chemicals, life itself would be impossible. thanks for the tip Wes. i guess i am off to carquest. (current battery brand) seems light and it is 5 years old.

The last time Consumer Reports did a review on batteries they rated the optima sub-par at best.

Scott

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

hell, i was quoting a TV commercial from them late 70's or early 80's i believe. back in the day when chemicals were fun and drug testing did not exist. i think it was for a windshield if memory serves me. of course, memory capabilty is a terrible thing to waste. or at least i think it was. seems kinda foggy now that i think about it. maybe it was an ad for agriculture. yes, that's it. grow your mind. cool, is it time for saturday night live yet? quit bogarting that *********. wait, what were we talking about? dude, i gotta get me a knew battery. damn, that sucks.

Interesting. How were they lacking?

I've never *killed* one, but it may be dumb luck that my vehicles with Optimas haven't got lights accidentally left on and such. *shrug*


--Donnie

i heard the redtops were 11lbs lighter than stock... for BMWs at least

Been very pleased with mine in a Triumph TR-8 that doesn't get driven much. NAPA has black ones if you don't like the red color. If you have a AAA card you get a 10-12% discount which at least covers the sales tax and then some.

Tom Herbert

Well, since I didn't see an Optima in my car's group on the Sears website, and I had a $10 coupon burning a hole in my pocket, I went back with the same DieHard model that I last bought in 1999. If I'm still autocrossing this car in 2113 and ask about batteries again, feel free to whack me upside the head.

Art,

I suggest you clean the connection between the main battery ground cable and the block at the block end. As I recall from my 88 5.0 the connection is "near" the water pump and fairly easy to access. Doing so solved a "premature battery failure" problem for my 88.

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

From Consumer Reports Website (available if you are a member)
CAR BATTERIES

GROUP SIZE 65

1 NAPA 84 Select 8465 $80 750 24/84
2 Duralast (Auto Zone) 65-DL CR Best Buy $60 750 24/84
3 EverStart (Wal-Mart) MAXX- 65N (North) $60 1000 36/108
4 ACDelco Professional 65-7YR $90 850 24/84
5 Nascar (Sam's Club) XLT N65-S (South) $45 750 36/108
6 Nascar (Sam's Club) XLT N65-N (North) $55 850 36/108
7 NAPA Legend 7565 $70 880 18/75
8 Autocraft (Advance Auto) Silver 65-1 $55 675 24/72
9 DieHard (Sears) WeatherHandler 30365 (South) $65 540 18/72
10 Interstate Mega-Tron MT-65 $90 675 18/75
11 DieHard (Sears) WeatherHandler 30065 (North) $65 650 18/72

GROUP SIZE 75

12 Nascar (Sam's Club) Select 75-84N (North) $80 630 24/84
13 ACDelco Professional 75-7YR $90 735 24/84
14 EverStart (Wal-Mart) MAXX- 75N (North) $60 690 36/108
15 NAPA 84 Select 8475 $70 630 24/84
16 Nascar (Sam's Club) XLT N75-S (South) $40 630 36/108
17 Autocraft (Advance Auto) Silver 75-2 $55 575 24/72
18 Nascar (Sam's Club) XLT N75-N (North) $45 730 36/108
19 DieHard (Sears) WeatherHandler 30375 (South) $65 525 18/72
20 Interstate Mega-Tron MT-75 $80 650 18/75
21 DieHard (Sears) WeatherHandler 30075 (North) $65 625 18/72
24 EverStart (Walmart) CR Best Buy $34 Autocraft


GROUP SIZE 24/24F

22 EverStart (Wal-Mart) High Power 24-3N (North) CR Best Buy $40 600 24/72
23 NAPA Legend 7524 $60 675 18/75

GROUP SIZE 34/78

24 EverStart (Wal-Mart) MAXX- 1N (North) CR Best Buy $60 875 36/108
25 Nascar (Sam's Club) XLT Performance Series NXDT34 $100 770 36/108
26 ACDelco Professional 78DT-6YR $90 730 18/72
27 NAPA 84 Select 8434/78 $70 770 24/84
28 DieHard (Sears) SUV 39990 (South) $90 725 36/100
29 Kirkland (Costco) Signature 12860 (North) $60 900 36/100
30 Kirkland (Costco) Signature 12837 (South) $60 725 36/100
31 Nascar (Sam's Club) Select 78DT-84N (North) $80 770 24/84

GROUP SIZE 35

32 Napa Legend 7535 $60 600 18/75
33 EverStart (Wal-Mart) 35-3N (North) $40 525 24/72
34 Autocraft (Advance Auto) Silver 35-1 $50 500 24/72
35 EverStart (Wal-Mart) 35-3S (South) $40 450 24/72
36 Duralast (Auto Zone) 35-DL $60 550 24/84
37 DieHard (Sears) WeatherHandler 30335 (South) $60 480 18/72
38 Interstate Mega-Tron MT-35 $70 550 18/75
39 DieHard (Sears) WeatherHandler 30035 (North) $60 490 18/72
Sealed, maintenance-free. Lacks handle for lifting.

Let's all go to the WalMart Store!!!! Right, Bill Gratton??

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Brad

Battery brands made by Johnson Controls:

• Everready
• Energizer
• Power Connection
• DieHard
• Equalizer
• Kirkland Signature
• EverStart
• Motorcraft
• Optima
• TrueStart
• Duralast
• Mitsubishi
• Mazda
• Honda
• Autocraft

While Optima is different, it is likely that the majority of the other brands have little difference beside the label. If you think a JCI battery is for you, just see who is running a special.

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Rich
http://www.v8mongrel.com/