Purchased a red top optima in 09/03 with a 3 year free replacement and 3 year pro rated replacement. It failed stone dead on the 37th month. Paid $99, pro rated replacement only $91. Indeed 90% of the initial cost for the replacement. Further, the replacement must be with your receipt at the place where you bought it or another store from that chain. How many of us carry the battery receipt in the car while on a trip? Since I have had Wal-Mart 3 year yellow batteries last for 8years, I did not take the Optima pro rated offer. Bottom line: if you buy an Optima, be ready to have it socked to you when it quits. Beware!

 

the battery has a place for the receipt.plastic pkg slp,so you don't recomment optima? Nelson

 

I think the receipt requirement could be said about just about anything on a car...tires, prior repair work, etc.
I don't understand the issue that a few have with OPTIMA batteries. I mentioned before, I've been using them prior to the product being available to the public. Our fleet of approx. 1,000 cars used them, some operational 24/7 and some sitting for weeks at a time without being used. All of that public safety fleet had more electrical requirements than any Corvette. None of them failed to any significant % of the entire fleet.
I've been using OPTIMA in my personal cars since the late '80s. The longest lasting OPTIMA was seven years and it's still being used by the new owner of that car. Now, I'll admit that that particular car didn't have the electrical requirements of a Corvette. I also routinely use a float maintenance charger in our personal vehicles that sit for extended periods like during the winter months of non use.
I still believe that the leak free design of an OPTIMA is a better choice than the potential of a lead acid battery leaking down into the sensitive electronics beneath the battery on a C5 Corvette. Until something better comes along...

 

No issues with Optima here my car sits for weeks @ a time with out a battery tender and always fires up first crank

 

For replacement of an Optima all you require is your telephone #. That is what I was told at Auto Zone. You can get it replaced at ANY Auto Zone store anywhere. You do not need a receipt. My optima is 4 years old and in the winter it sets for as long as 6 weeks and it fires up, no problem. If it sets longer, I usually put a trickle charge ( 2 amp ) on to make sure it is up to snuff. I too, hear some bad things about Optima, but I personally have had exceptionally fine service from the Optima. When It is required to replace the batteries in my other 2 vehicles I will select Optima.

 

My Optima was purchased by the previous owner in Feb 06. Recently I noticed it had difficulty starting the car, so I sat it on the charger. It only would charge to 12.5. I took it to AutoZone, gave the previous owners phone number, and they gave me a replacement. They even transferred the ownership to my phone number. No problem here.

I called Optima just in case his phone number wasn't in the system. They told me that they would send one from their warehouse if AutoZone called them and told them it was bad.

I would imagine a retailer, like WalMart, who doesn't track sales by telephone number would probably require a sales receipt for a replacement.

 

I purchased my Redtop 28mo. ago. While starting the car it didn't sound as lively as it used to.
I went on Optimas web site and it directed me to an Interstate batt. dealer. Ft Myers Fl.
I called them and they said to bring the car up. They would take my batt. and give me a loaner batt. They would fully charge mine and then run some test on it. This was on a friday. They told me to come back monday. Went back on monday they said the charge was right on but the cold cranking amps would not hold. Took out the loaner and put in a new Redtop. No charge.:

 

Something better has been available for a while now.......

http://www.exideworld.com/products/a...t_orbital.html


By the way, for those who are not scared silly about leaks, the ACDelco Professional series batteries carry a 50-month free replacement warranty - best in the industry.

 

It just happened to me last week.
The battery was 48 months old when it died.
I took it in along with the receipt and was given a replacement free !

 

So is the Exide a better choice than the Optima? My battery is fine right now, but for future reference. Where can the Exide be purchased?

Rob

 

My local auto parts store carries them (Kragen), but you may want to give Exide them a call to find out who sells them near you.

Check out the Orbital's construction - beefier case than that of the Optimas and even though I have heard of many Optima failures, I have yet to see anything about Orbital failures. Of course, that could just signify more Optima sales. Peace-of-mind will cost you, no matter wich AGM battery you buy. The AC Delco Professional battery runs $90, compared to as much as $160 for AGM batteries.

 

I got lucky, mine died 1 month before my replacement warranty was up, talk about luck Got a new Red Top with a new 3yr warranty.

 

My last red top lasted about 6-7 years...it's sometimes luck of the draw.

 

I went through several red and one yellow top Otimas...... if you let them go to a complete discharge...they sulphate and loose some of their previous capacity....even if you do a long trickle charge, the original capacity never returns. I won't use them again.

I've been using the ACDelco for about 4 months...solid performance.

 

Optima Batteries SUCK.

 

I'm on my third OPTIMA battery for my vette, and my second for my Astro Van.

All died after about 30 - 40 months of use.

 

In the case of car batteries I stay with ACDelco because (1) the warranty, (2) the color, it blends in with the engine compartment and (3) it's made for my car (2 side posts) as opposed to say an optima battery that is bright red or yellow ( if you open your hood at cruise-ins the bright color jumps out at people looking at your car) and the fact it has 4 battery posts! To me that takes away from the car because it looks like a generic/universal battery and not the one for the car. And they're more expensive.

 

Optma (red top) in my race car has lasted over 4 years.

Optima (yellow top) after running down one time stopped working or taking a charge (approx 3 years old)

Optima (red top) to replace yellow top never took a charge and I have to send it back. Was new.

Will probably not buy another Optima.

 

The Exide Orbital has an 84-month, 2-year free replacement warranty. The Orbital is sold at Wal-Mart as the Everstart Select. The Optima has a 3-year free replacement warranty. I have bought two Optimas, one failed in two weeks, one didn't. Off-setting penalties--replay the down. The Optima can be replaced at any Auto Zone throughout the Untied States. Correct--just give them your phone number. Bulletin: Try the Exide Marathon--it's a 9-year battery with a 40-month free replacement warranty. It's available at TSC--Tractor Supply Company.

Randy

 

The Marathon looks like a nice battery (for a non-AGM). I'll bet it costs a pretty penny, however.