Group 78 or better 
Which battery is best?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
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From: Here
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Tampa Regional Coordinator
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most everyone here bought an Optima Redtop....about $120....Sears sells them
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: baton rouge la
interstate: best battery on the market........75 month warantee as opposed to optimas 36 month warantee......oops ...pro rated replacement.
75 bucks.........cheaper than the red top........as good if not better.
75 bucks.........cheaper than the red top........as good if not better.
Last edited by I X L R 8; Dec 14, 2004 at 02:07 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: baton rouge la
I really dont understand all this love for the optima red top.
I researched batteries before i recently replaced mine.
I found that the optima red top is a really nice looking battery.....a new look as opposed to the average battery.
I noted it was the most expensive of all the batteries.
I also noted that the Interstate batteries delivered the same performance.
red top : (price 125.00) 75/35 725U (650 cold cranking amps) (90 reserve minutes) warantee 36 months
Interstate : (price 78.00) MT-75 (650 cold cranking amps) (75 reserve minutes) warantee 75 months
Reserve minutes mean jack to me since im not going to be sitting in the car with the key on and everything running....EXCEPT THE ENGINE.
The big stat that I see is the warantee.......vs.....price.........vs.. ....cranking amps.
Based on the above and interstates reputation.........my vote goes to interstate on this one.
Not to say its a better battery..........but to say it would seem to be the better choice considering it seems to deliver the same basic performance, at nearly half the cost........with over twice the warantee.
I researched batteries before i recently replaced mine.
I found that the optima red top is a really nice looking battery.....a new look as opposed to the average battery.
I noted it was the most expensive of all the batteries.
I also noted that the Interstate batteries delivered the same performance.
red top : (price 125.00) 75/35 725U (650 cold cranking amps) (90 reserve minutes) warantee 36 months
Interstate : (price 78.00) MT-75 (650 cold cranking amps) (75 reserve minutes) warantee 75 months
Reserve minutes mean jack to me since im not going to be sitting in the car with the key on and everything running....EXCEPT THE ENGINE.
The big stat that I see is the warantee.......vs.....price.........vs.. ....cranking amps.
Based on the above and interstates reputation.........my vote goes to interstate on this one.
Not to say its a better battery..........but to say it would seem to be the better choice considering it seems to deliver the same basic performance, at nearly half the cost........with over twice the warantee.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Originally Posted by I X L R 8
I really dont understand all this love for the optima red top.
I researched batteries before i recently replaced mine.
I found that the optima red top is a really nice looking battery.....a new look as opposed to the average battery.
I noted it was the most expensive of all the batteries.
I also noted that the Interstate batteries delivered the same performance.
red top : (price 125.00) 75/35 725U (650 cold cranking amps) (90 reserve minutes) warantee 36 months
Interstate : (price 78.00) MT-75 (650 cold cranking amps) (75 reserve minutes) warantee 75 months
Reserve minutes mean jack to me since im not going to be sitting in the car with the key on and everything running....EXCEPT THE ENGINE.
The big stat that I see is the warantee.......vs.....price.........vs.. ....cranking amps.
Based on the above and interstates reputation.........my vote goes to interstate on this one.
Not to say its a better battery..........but to say it would seem to be the better choice considering it seems to deliver the same basic performance, at nearly half the cost........with over twice the warantee.
I researched batteries before i recently replaced mine.
I found that the optima red top is a really nice looking battery.....a new look as opposed to the average battery.
I noted it was the most expensive of all the batteries.
I also noted that the Interstate batteries delivered the same performance.
red top : (price 125.00) 75/35 725U (650 cold cranking amps) (90 reserve minutes) warantee 36 months
Interstate : (price 78.00) MT-75 (650 cold cranking amps) (75 reserve minutes) warantee 75 months
Reserve minutes mean jack to me since im not going to be sitting in the car with the key on and everything running....EXCEPT THE ENGINE.
The big stat that I see is the warantee.......vs.....price.........vs.. ....cranking amps.
Based on the above and interstates reputation.........my vote goes to interstate on this one.
Not to say its a better battery..........but to say it would seem to be the better choice considering it seems to deliver the same basic performance, at nearly half the cost........with over twice the warantee.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 6
From: Lake Oswego, Near Portland Oregon
Optima has gelled acid and is VERY leak resistant. The plate structure also has very high stability when discharged and recharged over many cycles, no warping and also has lower sulphate production. Optima also stands up to vibration and Gs better than flat-plate fluid filled batteries. All, and I mean ALL, my racer buddies use them cause the never fail, even in off road ralley vibrations. Optima is a bit spendy, but if a regular battery ever leaked, the $$$$$ damamge to whats under it [on a C5, big electronics center] would be huge, My pre-owned C5 came with a 'regular' battery in it thats still very good. At the first sign of aging, its gonna get replaced with an Optima. Just a few cents worth of what I know about Optimas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,118
Likes: 122
From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Considering how much we paid for our cars, will pay for tires, oil changes with synthetic, expensive mods, wax, and all we 'babying' we give them, an extra twenty-five or thirty dollars for a battery is a non-issue over three or four years, especially if it gives a little extra protection against leaks ... and even if the 'protection' is just a perception, it's worth the peace of mind.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Park Ridge NJ
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by I X L R 8
interstate: best battery on the market........75 month warantee as opposed to optimas 36 month warantee......oops ...pro rated replacement.
75 bucks.........cheaper than the red top........as good if not better.
75 bucks.........cheaper than the red top........as good if not better.
Optima is a gel cell the interstate is a wet cell, right?
That right there makes the Optima, lighter and more leak resistant.... means... better....
Interstate is an excellent wet cell battery but it is old tech.,....
Last edited by WaWaTuSi; Dec 14, 2004 at 09:21 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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Maybe I'm the stupid one....I spent a lot of money on my car (at least it was a lot of money to me), and now I should try to save $20 on something as critical as a battery?
The Optima is the battery of choice for the simple reason that it works! They don't leak, and as a result, don't cause collateral damage like a traditional lead acid battery with flat plates.
When the Optima dies in two years or three years - or whatever, I'll just buy another. $100 is not that big of a deal.
Oh, and Fiberglass Fan - when I bought my car it had what looked like a brand new Delco in it. I got it out of there as soon as I could (about 1 week!) when I discovered what was underneath the battery tray!
The Optima is the battery of choice for the simple reason that it works! They don't leak, and as a result, don't cause collateral damage like a traditional lead acid battery with flat plates.
When the Optima dies in two years or three years - or whatever, I'll just buy another. $100 is not that big of a deal.
Oh, and Fiberglass Fan - when I bought my car it had what looked like a brand new Delco in it. I got it out of there as soon as I could (about 1 week!) when I discovered what was underneath the battery tray!
