babbah

I had 2 Optima Red Tops and they both gave up the ghost early on.
I the purchased a Odyssey Battery and it's been flawless now for years. Well worth every Penney IMO.
They are made in the USA and are standard issue on all of the Space Shuttles! It spins my 11:1 BB over like a top!

http://www.odysseybattery.com

Steve59

I put an Interstate battery in my 59. They have two that will fit, ones about an inch smaller in height but has slightly more CCA's. You'd be amazed how much easier it is to install that battery in the original position on a 59.

GTOguy

X4 on Optimas being over-rated. We had a bunch of them in our fleet and none of them lasted over 6 years. They need to be charged at a super slow rate, too, to avoid bubbling the gel. Have had MUCH better service from Walmart batteries...they last twice as long, literally. And at much less cost. But will be looking into Rural King for sure!

Yellow6t7

Had the AC/Delco service replacement battery for about 12 months and it suddenly failed. Ran down to local NAPA picked up one off their batteries just to get home and it is still working just fine. That was 7 years ago

MikeM

Something about Rural King. I have about 5 years experience with their batteries so I know at least some of them will last that long. I guarantee nothing but look at it this way.

You're paying $45-$50 for the battery and if it lasts only half as long as a $100 battery, you still came out okay. I've had a number of WalMart batteries last 11-12 years but they all were in daily drivers. Cars that sit idle a lot may not do as well. I've also had some of the cheap WM batteries that didn't last much longer than the warranty. That was ten years or so ago when you could still buy a battery from them for $39.95.

Just don't expect miracles out of the RK batteries but they're my choice now unless they prove me differently.

babbah

The Odyssey Batteries last 10 years or more!
So you pay more initially but never have to replace it as much as the cheap ones you are all speaking of.
The one I have now is 11 years old and is at 12.85v sitting for the past month.

GUSTO14

Just an FYI, the Optima is not a Gel cell battery, it is an AGM and there is a difference.

From atbatt.com, a great info resource on the various types of batteries and specifications. It can certainly make choosing the best battery for your particular use easier
http://www.atbatt.com/sealed-lead-acid-batteries/faq

AGM and Gel Cell Batteries Difference?

Both types of batteries are sealed, valve regulated batteries allowing them to be used in any position. The difference lies in the way the electrolyte is immobilized. In case of AGM (absorbed glass mat), the newer of the two technologies, the electrolyte is absorbed by the glass fiber separator who acts like a sponge. In a gel-type battery the liquid electrolyte turns into a gel right after the battery is filled. Gel batteries use a different type of separators which are not absorbent. Because of the design, gel cell batteries don't offer the same power capacity as do the same physical size AGM battery. For example, an AGM battery that is 12V 100AH, whereas, for example, a gel cell battery in the same size case would only be rated at 84AH.However, the Gel Cell excels in slow discharge rates and slightly higher operating temperatures. The internal design is otherwise similar.

I have had great service from AGM batteries for the past 20 years, so I tend to use them when I can. I've used Exide, Interstate and most recently ODYSSEY.

If you want to see who makes the battery you're considering, check out this site. http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/batbrand.htm
Keep in mind that many batteries built by one company are made to specification. Just because Johnson Controls for instance, makes batteries for two brands, it doesn't mean they are necessarily equal.

Good luck... GUSTO

warrenmj

I've bought several of these from Walmart (I have 4 vehicles) and in my opinion, are the best buy for the money. Always lasted several years beyond warranty.

the aeronut

What's the smallest battery anyone has used that's given good dependable service. I'm going to have to cut the wheel well and install an access panel to accommodate the battery relocation due to new AC/heat system. The smaller the better for this 70 year old to wrestle with.

jimh_1962

randy ransome

Have to say the same thing about Optima...way over rated.

Mine lasted about 3 years.




Merry Christmas everyone

Bill Pilon

Wal-mart has group 24 batteries for $48.97, so my local O'reillys will price match them, best deal I've found. I had a total of 9 optimas in my vehicles and boat, however I replaced the last two of them last month, so far none of my "cheap" batteries have failed so I'm already ahead of where I was with the optimas.

Bill

Frankie the Fink

NAPA Legend 75 month is a good battery; if your car is going to be judged then an AC-Delco equivalent - you should only lose about 8 points with one of those versus the way over-priced "authentic" repros...

GTOguy

Try Odyssey or Anti Gravity. They make small, powerful sealed batteries for off road racing, motorcycles, ATV;s, etc. I have an Odyssey battery in my motorcycle and it mops the floor with every other battery I have ever had in it.

MikeM

Buy the right size battery. Set it on a floor jack and hoist it into place. The right size battery wasn't very heavy as far as batteries go if I remember right.

Sky65

Same here. I use the car for trips and I like being able to get a replacement battery easily. Only ever had one fail and it was out of state on a trip. I hit the local Walmart, they had it in stock and replaced it under warranty. And to be fair it really wasn't a battery failure. The regulator went bad and cooked the battery.

Tom

covette coupe

One word.......Deka.

daz_au

I just had a 10 year old red top optima die, was in a car when I bought it in 2007. The car was stored for years in the middle of that time also, started infrequently but never had to charge the battery to get it going.

Apparently discharging the red tops completely really hurts them, I did it accidentally to that battery last year and this year it died.

I have a 2 year old yellow top in the vette, guess I will eventually find out how good they are.... the jury is still out for me. I know the red one went for at least 10 years so I figured I would give them another go !

Roger Walling

I buy all my batteries at the big box store.
The prices are always competitive and there are no questions when you bring one back under warranty.
I buy the biggest and most powerfull 6 year batt. that will fit in the car.

If the car fails to start after 5 years, I buy a new one. (there is only about $10 or $15.00 left in it and a new one makes me very happy)

dennis6605

I replaced the battery [Wally World] in my '32 last year. When the clerk read the bar code he said the battery was 10 yrs. and 3 months old. I knew right then I wouldn't get any warranty credit. I've never used a battery tender on it.