Optima Redtop
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 300
Likes: 34
From: Bella Vista, AR
I purchased my Optima redtop from Amazon back in Sept of last year. Great price, fast shipping and the battery was about a month old. I keep a tender on it to keep it fresh since I may drive it 2-4 times a week (California).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 556
From: Tallahassee fl
considering these things are total turds and you will need a replacement at some point... buy it local. Optima doesn't allow cross returns, i.e. you can't take an optima back to a different place from where you bought it to get it replaced. This means if you buy it online then you have to return it online for warranty. I can't imagine that hassle.
They used to be good, now they suck. The one in my car I couldn't get replaced under warranty even though it was causing all kinds of issues through start (big voltage drop)
They used to be good, now they suck. The one in my car I couldn't get replaced under warranty even though it was causing all kinds of issues through start (big voltage drop)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
YELLOWTOP®: Use this when electrical loads are higher than average, or when the discharge cycle is more than typical engine starting, such as vehicles without alternators. This also includes vehicles with significant electrical loads that may exceed the average alternator output (for example, aftermarket audio systems, GPS, chargers, winches, snowplows, inverters, drag cars). This can also include vehicles that have a lot of electronics from the factory, such as a minivan with power sliding doors and a DVD player, especially if the DVD player is used when the engine isn’t running.
Racing vehicles without a charging system (alternator or generator)
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I bought a red top for my daily and yellow top for my z at the same time from amazon... I went with the yellow top for the z since it doesn't get driven as much and that battery has been great so far... the red top on the other hand sucks, after about a year and a half if I don't drive the car every day it would be slow to start and sometimes be so dead I would have to put a charger on it... I brought this up to amazon and they just gave me a refund, they have really good customer service so I would not hesitate to buy anything from them
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 197
Likes: 21
I have 4 red tops. (Three in cars and a spare) they were all bought about two years ago and I have no issues with them. But I have done some unsettling research. Apparently, optima has been sold several years back to a Mexican company. The quality has reportabily gone down.
Be cause of our EPA, virtually all batteries are made out of the country. The only battery I could confirm is made here is the Odessea. I had one before in my truck. It was the best battery I've ever had. (Lasted ten years) I would have bought another two years ago when I went on the battery replacement rampage, but there wasn't a local dealer.
The Odessea story is not all roses either. It was originally manufactured by the designers and was top quality. But it was sold a few years back. So I don't know if the quality suffered. Odessea also makes a battery under another name. I think it was Northstar, but I'm not sure.
In any case, I'm crossing my fingers concerning my heavy investment in Optima.
Be cause of our EPA, virtually all batteries are made out of the country. The only battery I could confirm is made here is the Odessea. I had one before in my truck. It was the best battery I've ever had. (Lasted ten years) I would have bought another two years ago when I went on the battery replacement rampage, but there wasn't a local dealer.
The Odessea story is not all roses either. It was originally manufactured by the designers and was top quality. But it was sold a few years back. So I don't know if the quality suffered. Odessea also makes a battery under another name. I think it was Northstar, but I'm not sure.
In any case, I'm crossing my fingers concerning my heavy investment in Optima.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 418
Likes: 26
From: Hilton Head, South Carolina
Also working in an auto parts store I find that Optima batteries fail often and are not of the same quality they were, say, 10 years ago. I do not use them no do I recommend them anymore.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Reporting back!
Well, I just ordered one from Amazon and it arrived today. So far everything checks! 
It arrived double-boxed: a factory-sealed, heavy cardboard factory box, with substantial foam end caps protecting the battery, within an Amazon box and more protecting filler. Although the outside box showed signs of some beating (the package was heavy: 38lb according to UPS) the inside box was perfect, as well as its content
The battery is fresh (manufactured in December) and fully charged (12.72v). Just to be on the safe side, I have it connected to my battery tender before installing it in the car.
I hope it lasts as long as the one it is going to replace (10+ years)
It arrived double-boxed: a factory-sealed, heavy cardboard factory box, with substantial foam end caps protecting the battery, within an Amazon box and more protecting filler. Although the outside box showed signs of some beating (the package was heavy: 38lb according to UPS) the inside box was perfect, as well as its content
The battery is fresh (manufactured in December) and fully charged (12.72v). Just to be on the safe side, I have it connected to my battery tender before installing it in the car.
I hope it lasts as long as the one it is going to replace (10+ years)
Last edited by GCG; Feb 24, 2016 at 09:29 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
I have 4 red tops. (Three in cars and a spare) they were all bought about two years ago and I have no issues with them. But I have done some unsettling research. Apparently, optima has been sold several years back to a Mexican company. The quality has reportabily gone down.
Be cause of our EPA, virtually all batteries are made out of the country. The only battery I could confirm is made here is the Odessea. I had one before in my truck. It was the best battery I've ever had. (Lasted ten years) I would have bought another two years ago when I went on the battery replacement rampage, but there wasn't a local dealer.
The Odessea story is not all roses either. It was originally manufactured by the designers and was top quality. But it was sold a few years back. So I don't know if the quality suffered. Odessea also makes a battery under another name. I think it was Northstar, but I'm not sure.
In any case, I'm crossing my fingers concerning my heavy investment in Optima.
Be cause of our EPA, virtually all batteries are made out of the country. The only battery I could confirm is made here is the Odessea. I had one before in my truck. It was the best battery I've ever had. (Lasted ten years) I would have bought another two years ago when I went on the battery replacement rampage, but there wasn't a local dealer.
The Odessea story is not all roses either. It was originally manufactured by the designers and was top quality. But it was sold a few years back. So I don't know if the quality suffered. Odessea also makes a battery under another name. I think it was Northstar, but I'm not sure.
In any case, I'm crossing my fingers concerning my heavy investment in Optima.