Optima RedTop
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Seekonk MA / RI border
IMO you should've bought the Yellow Top.
I bought a Red Top in April '05...it was dead by July '05. I took it back to PepBoys and the guy told me that I should've bought the Yellow Top for the Vette. He said that's what he uses without problems. He took my Red Top back and gave me a new Yellow Top and said 'Have a nice day.'.
Since then I've lived happily ever after. (knocking on my wooden desk)
I bought a Red Top in April '05...it was dead by July '05. I took it back to PepBoys and the guy told me that I should've bought the Yellow Top for the Vette. He said that's what he uses without problems. He took my Red Top back and gave me a new Yellow Top and said 'Have a nice day.'.
Since then I've lived happily ever after. (knocking on my wooden desk)
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Originally Posted by JameyTurner
This guy is FULL of crap!!! Ignore this post...you will LOVE your Optima Red Top. ESPECIALLY if you have any kind of aftermarket stereo with amps. Now I have had an Optima Yellow Top in the past and prefer it, but my 02 had a red top in it when I purchased car and I have had NO PROBLEMS with it (knock on wood )
Enjoy your red top---NO waste of money!!!
)Enjoy your red top---NO waste of money!!!
I don't think he is full of crap.. plenty of threads here about Red Top's dying after the car sits for as little as 1 week. I'll do a search to back it up, if I can find the threads. I almost bought the Red Top but did not because of info I read on the forum.Not saying the Red Top is bad...just my research made me decide not to buy one.
I have the original Delco Gelmat in my 01 still running strong no issues.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Mtns of north Georgia - Hey Kids, I'm spending your inheritance!
Never owned a Red Top but I've used Optima Yellow Top batteries in streetrods for years with no problems. Yellow Top in my C5 vert for almost three years - no problems. Planning on a Yellow Top in the C6 real soon.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 962
Likes: 6
From: Jackson MI
I put in a red top 3 months after I bought my 00 vert brand new. It has never gone dead. Never charged it, even in the winter. It has been a totally maintance free battery. I am thinking about buying a new one as I have never had a battery in any of my cars this long (5 years). Anyone want a used but working well red top?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
IMHO a good move
I had a leaking AC Delco in the Camaro and a 6 month old battery that just died with no warning in the Vert.
Both now have Optima Red Tops and have been trouble free.
There's no perfect battery and some of the issues you read about could be related to specific cars. But I'm happy with mine.
I had a leaking AC Delco in the Camaro and a 6 month old battery that just died with no warning in the Vert.
Both now have Optima Red Tops and have been trouble free.
There's no perfect battery and some of the issues you read about could be related to specific cars. But I'm happy with mine.
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Too Much Fun
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 205
From: Florence, AL
Originally Posted by FrankTank
I don't think he is full of crap.. plenty of threads here about Red Top's dying after the car sits for as little as 1 week. I'll do a search to back it up, if I can find the threads. I almost bought the Red Top but did not because of info I read on the forum.Not saying the Red Top is bad...just my research made me decide not to buy one.
I have the original Delco Gelmat in my 01 still running strong no issues.
seems to be a lot more
than 
.......and I am simply speaking from PERSONAL experience....never any trouble with yellow or red top. So the negative comments could be CAR related and NOT battery related.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 0
From: Machine Silver Z06 The Golden State......... Bay Area
St. Jude Donor '05
Still have the Delco battery, no problems so far (knock on wood). But will be getting a new battery in the near future. I hope the latest Red Tops are still as good as the batteries manufactured in the past that they made their name on.
I had a Red Top in my '77 Bronco (last of the Early style) and it would sit for months at a time between romps and it would fire up every time after sitting for as long as four months or more. Very impressive, hope the current RT's are of the same quality.
I had a Red Top in my '77 Bronco (last of the Early style) and it would sit for months at a time between romps and it would fire up every time after sitting for as long as four months or more. Very impressive, hope the current RT's are of the same quality.