What is your Battery Recommendation ?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 568
Likes: 1
From: Fresno California
Kirkland Signature: This range of car batteries is perhaps one of the most affordable batteries. You sacrifice nothing with this battery, as it has excellent cold amp rankings and great performance. The battery is offered through Costco and the specs match Optima batteries. This is one of your best choices, as the performance and quality is that of a high performance battery, but the price is much less.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
While I do (presently) have a Kirkland (Costco) battery in my C5, Kirkland batteries' "Life" rating is rated just average (top and side terminal type batteries in groups 75 and 35), whereas the Walmart Everstart batteries were tested to have much better than average "Life" ratings.
Life is tested by repeated cycles of draining and discharging while immersed in water that is heated to 167 degrees F.
Life is tested by repeated cycles of draining and discharging while immersed in water that is heated to 167 degrees F.
This simulates the typical conditions a battery is exposed to under the hood of your car.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Red tops for me
First one lasted me 7 years, and never gave me a problem, I just replaced it because it was 7 years old. I have a ten year old Red top in my garage that I use as a 12 V power supply. Its still working and I have a red top in my other car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 48
From: Yuma CO
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
I was a factory trained Harley mechanic for a number of years and we always used Interstate batteries with extreme success. They make an extremely good product. With bikes, we needed lots of amps from a small battery and the Interstates were always up to the task. They also easily handled long periods of sitting without losing charge or malfunctioning.
That being said, my current C5 had an Optima Yellow Top in it when I bought it two years ago and the battery has performed flawlessly (sub-zero winters and 100*+ summers). I could not find an installed-date sticker on it, but I do drive it every day so even though I have no idea how old it is, that will go a long way to keeping it healthy.
DSTURBD
That being said, my current C5 had an Optima Yellow Top in it when I bought it two years ago and the battery has performed flawlessly (sub-zero winters and 100*+ summers). I could not find an installed-date sticker on it, but I do drive it every day so even though I have no idea how old it is, that will go a long way to keeping it healthy.
DSTURBD
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 553
Likes: 97
My brand new stock 2000 Vette battery leaked everywhere in less than 2 years. I had gone through a few AC Delco Batteries as well as Sears Die Hards over the years. Almost all lead acid batteries are the same design regardless of who makes them, some better than others of course. I came to the conclusion that lead acid sucks and is supposed to die so the vendors selling them can stay in business replacing them every 4-7 years.
I have not had to buy another battery since I switched to AGM.
All of my cars not driven daily have a cheap $10 float charger attached.
C3 red top is over 15 years old and still starts that old beast no problem.
C5 red top is at least 10 years old now and driven almost daily.
Wife's red top in the Honda minivan is 6 years old and was a huge improvement over the stock lead acid, it spins that tiny starter like there's no tomorrow and keeps the DVD running for days rather than hours.
Dads yellow top in the C6zo6 is 5 years old and he lets that thing die all the time, lol it's spends more time dead then alive. It was too big to fit in the compartment fully but it's not going anywhere. A trickle the night before starts that thing right up.
AGM is the way to go for me, I'll never use a lead acid again if I can avoid it.
I have not had to buy another battery since I switched to AGM.
All of my cars not driven daily have a cheap $10 float charger attached.
C3 red top is over 15 years old and still starts that old beast no problem.
C5 red top is at least 10 years old now and driven almost daily.
Wife's red top in the Honda minivan is 6 years old and was a huge improvement over the stock lead acid, it spins that tiny starter like there's no tomorrow and keeps the DVD running for days rather than hours.
Dads yellow top in the C6zo6 is 5 years old and he lets that thing die all the time, lol it's spends more time dead then alive. It was too big to fit in the compartment fully but it's not going anywhere. A trickle the night before starts that thing right up.
AGM is the way to go for me, I'll never use a lead acid again if I can avoid it.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
My brand new stock 2000 Vette battery leaked everywhere in less than 2 years. I had gone through a few AC Delco Batteries as well as Sears Die Hards over the years. Almost all lead acid batteries are the same design regardless of who makes them, some better than others of course. I came to the conclusion that lead acid sucks and is supposed to die so the vendors selling them can stay in business replacing them every 4-7 years.
I have not had to buy another battery since I switched to AGM.
All of my cars not driven daily have a cheap $10 float charger attached.
C3 red top is over 15 years old and still starts that old beast no problem.
C5 red top is at least 10 years old now and driven almost daily.
Wife's red top in the Honda minivan is 6 years old and was a huge improvement over the stock lead acid, it spins that tiny starter like there's no tomorrow and keeps the DVD running for days rather than hours.
Dads yellow top in the C6zo6 is 5 years old and he lets that thing die all the time, lol it's spends more time dead then alive. It was too big to fit in the compartment fully but it's not going anywhere. A trickle the night before starts that thing right up.
AGM is the way to go for me, I'll never use a lead acid again if I can avoid it.
I have not had to buy another battery since I switched to AGM.
All of my cars not driven daily have a cheap $10 float charger attached.
C3 red top is over 15 years old and still starts that old beast no problem.
C5 red top is at least 10 years old now and driven almost daily.
Wife's red top in the Honda minivan is 6 years old and was a huge improvement over the stock lead acid, it spins that tiny starter like there's no tomorrow and keeps the DVD running for days rather than hours.
Dads yellow top in the C6zo6 is 5 years old and he lets that thing die all the time, lol it's spends more time dead then alive. It was too big to fit in the compartment fully but it's not going anywhere. A trickle the night before starts that thing right up.
AGM is the way to go for me, I'll never use a lead acid again if I can avoid it.