saopm

Time for a new Battery. Considering an Optima Battery.

Are they worth the extra cost?

plaidside

I don't think they are worth the extra $. I have a Douglas group 24 in my 61 since 2000 and keep a battery tender on it when not in use for extended periods. It started right up this year.
I have a Delco in my 65 Olds since 1998 and haven't had a once of trouble.

GCD1962

I've bought 5 over the past six or seven years and have yet to have one meet its end

7vettes

The Red Top in my '64 is about 5yrs old and still like new. This A.C. car used to eat Diehards for some reason.

We've also got a Red Top in our Van, the exact same model as in the Vette.

KyleDallas

I used to sell them when they were first introduced and I have never
used them..even when they were offered to me at a discount...I can buy 2 House Brand batteries for $40ea- 80 bucks...buying them back to back I'll normally get 4 years each out of them
or 8 years of use for 2 batteries... add half again in price and years and you get $100 bucks in batteries spent over 10 years....

$100/10 years = $10 per year for battery cost

If you get the Optima at a discount at Sam's or Costco you'll
spend about $100 bucks on it... are you going to get 10 years out of it???
What if the alternator goes out 3 years from now and the Optima
gives up the ghost? Going to replace it with another one??

Optimas are great batteries... reliable and clean...but I'd buy a
sealed battery if I was ultra concered about cleanliness... I keep my
engine compartment very clean naturally and I just buy normal batteries.... Auto Zone no labels.

JohnFromVentura

I use Optima's in everything from my C5 to my Envoy and 57. I had two "Champion" (or was it Autolite?) crap out back to back within a year and said never again!

Kensmith

I like the yellow tops. Had the red top and it won't hold a charge as long or nearly as long as the yellow top.

Trophy Blue

I always use Interstate Batteries.

ctjackster

I DESPISE dead batteries - you know, turn the key, rrr rrr r click click nada. Have had Dead Battery SYndrome with all manner of brands, but never the Otpima (btw, back when I was up on such things Optima was made by Johnson Controls, you could do similar buying a sealed house battery if it too was made by Johnson Controls, but I don't have current info on which house batteries they make). Dead batteries suck even more in a boat, where begging for jump isn't even a possibility.

I run Optimas everywhere: two blue tops in the boat (dual battery setup, because I despise dead battery syndrome in a boat especially), two in the Avalanche (dual battery kit there too, to power all my fun stuff like the 3 vid screens, the huge 110 AC inverter, etc.) and a red top in the 65. When the pos oem battery in the Envoy starts giving my trouble (wife's car) I will drop an Optima in there too.

63C2splitter

Never have used them in my cars, but I do use the "Blue" Top deep cycles in my boat for my trolling motors. I used standard deep cycles in the boat in the past, but because of the bouncing and vibration, they rarely lasted 2 years (usually 1). The performance is about the same as the traditional as far as drain from continuous trolling motor use.

Dave

JohnFromVentura

If you own a C5 you probably know this but there was a very bad run of side terminal Delco batteries produced over about a 3 year period. They leaked acid out of the side terminals after a while. In a normal car this would not be a big deal but in a C5 guess where the main CPU, wiring harness interconnect and ABS modules are ... directly underneath the battery. About $15K to fix plus running down all of the related electronic gremlins. Optima's use a gel technology rather than battery acid and don't leak regardless how much Bubba at your dealer tries.

Trophy Blue

IMHO the Delco Voyager deep cycle are the best batteries to have in a boat.

SPLITRAY

I just went to Sears last night to find out what size Optima battery would fit, but they didn't go back as far as 63-67. I'm guessing it's a group 24???

What size red top Optima should I ask for?

saopm

I knew this would be the best place for info.

Actually, the battery I have to replace is in my boat. I have two in there and one just flat-lined. I have no problem spending the money for an Optima as long as they are what they say they are and not just marketing hype.

Corbrastang

Overrated-i've had 3 die in the last 2 years

Pop Chevy

I put a red top in my C-5. Had a hard winter in Pa this year, car sat for months (neglected) outside in an unheated garage. Went to start it one day and the batt was stone FLAT ! Nothing ! Brought it inside, warmed it up and trickle charged it for a day at 2 amps. I have been using it ever since, works great. Convinced me!
Pops

KyleDallas

Found this old press release on the Auto Channel:


Wal-Mart and Exide Initiate Orbital Select Battery Sales

2 November 1999
Wal-Mart and Exide Initiate Orbital Select Battery Sales

READING, Pa., Nov. 1 --- Wal-Mart Stores ,
America's largest retailer, and Exide Corporation , the global
leader in the lead-acid battery business, announced today that they have
reached an agreement to test market the Orbital Select automotive battery at
selected Wal-Mart locations.
The first delivery of 12,000 Orbital Select batteries, which will be
private labeled "EverStart Ultra," will be made to Wal-Mart in early November.
It is the first entry by Exide into Wal-Mart stores.
Nick Stratigeas, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales at
Exide, said, "We are certain that our Orbital Select battery will enjoy the
same positive response from Wal-Mart customers as it has all across the
country."
The Orbital Select was introduced by Exide earlier this year. It is a
cyclindrically wrapped gel technology battery that is virtually leakproof and
is the first mass-marketed battery safe enough to be mailed, or installed in
the passenger compartments of vehicles, as well as holding its charge
substantially longer than conventional lead-acid batteries.
Exide Corporation, with annual revenues of approximately $2.4 billion and
operations in 19 countries, is the world's largest manufacturer of automotive
and industrial lead-acid batteries. Further information about Exide's
businesses and products is available at http://www.exideworld.com.


** This press release was from 1999..and there's no telling
if the program continued with Exide supplying Gel Batteries to
WalMart under Walmart's "Everstart Ultra" label...

When I worked for Exide in the early 90's we were the
Manufacturer of NAPA's private label batteries.... if that
relationship is still in tact the NAPA Orbital Gel Battery
I've seen other members mention here on CF
is an Exide Orbital with a different label.

here's the article above:
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/p...ess002328.html


Exide Orbital (Walmart/Napa?) Gel Battery

o2bnkc

I use the orbital 6 from Napa. It has more cold cranking amps than the redtop, is also a gel battery, and is about $60 cheaper. I put one in my c5 and put on in my 62 last month. I really like these batteries.

Randy Emery

I don't know enough to compare gel batteries to each other. I have Red Tops in three of our antiques. Here is enough information for me to never have lead acid again: Corrosion.

7vettes

The model and specs on mine are:

Red34/78
Model 9083547
CA 980
CCA 800
RC 104

I'm not sure which "Group" that is. Also, the model # may no longer be valid because, like I said, it's almost 5yrs old and numbers change.

The CA and CCA ratings on this battery may be more than I actually needed, but the car is AC with an electric fan, fog lamps,etc and was being driven daily in the Florida heat until not too long ago, so I wanted the most I could get.