Battery died and I finally got in the trunk since my tumbler is loose. Any particular suggestions as to what to replace it with? Advance Auto shows a Die Hard Gold or an Optima 800cca which costs about 50% more. Does it really matter? Input welcome.

 

Check out the Walmart AGM.

EverStart Platinum AGM Automotive Battery, Group H6 / LN3 / 48 12 Volt, 760 CCA

Lots of Walmart stores around if you ever need warranty coverage.

 

If you do a search, you'll find this has been discussed probably a dozen times in the last couple of months (and hundreds of times over the last 10 years), you can get any answer you want, and it always turns into a religious discussion.

 

Check out the Walmart AGM.

EverStart Platinum AGM Automotive Battery, Group H6 / LN3 / 48 12 Volt, 760 CCA

Lots of Walmart stores around if you ever need warranty coverage.


Thanks, appreciate it.

 

P.S. looks like a much better deal than Advance Auto, thanks for the tip.

 

Go with the correct AC Delco. I found better prices at the Chevy dealer than auto parts stores as well as a better warranty. Another thing to think about when you hear the ditty about batterys being made by the same manufacturer. It's not about who makes it, it's all about who it's made for.

 

People like to think that they can get a product that is sold at $100 for $50 with a different sticker. Sometimes, it works out but not always. Maybe I'm just unlucky and most of the hacks I use go south.

 

I use walmarts on my cars. However nothing wrong with he stock AC Delco gold one. And most dealers run specials on them. Stay away from optima.

 

Don't know about Optima but I have used Odyssey on my F250 and it seems OK so far. So far, I have little faith in the quality of anything branded for WalMart. Maybe batteries are the exception but while I shop at WalMart, I only buy branded stuff that isn't WalMart.

 

Did the dealer charge you for the install and if so, how much?

 

I'm sure they will. Probably an hour?

 

Off brand from OEM is always manufactured to a certain 'price point'.

Build integrity and quality follows.

 

I purchased it from them, but installed it myself.

 

I tend to believe that. OTOH, it flies in the face of the concept of the hack where you can get $100 items for the price of $50.

 

I remember when I could get a car battery for $30 and they lasted three or four years. I bought a battery for my wife’s car a few weeks ago and it was $234 for a three-year Diehard at Advance Auto.

 

I also remember when the minimum wage was way lower. $3, IIRC in the 80s.

 

Last time I changed the battery in mine I went with an AC Delco available at my dealer. Has worked just fine for five years so far.

 

I used an Interstate from Costco. It had the vent tube port and came with the plug in a plastic bag also.

There are only a few companies who actually make batteries anymore.

The Costco Interstate is made in Mexico.
The Walmarts and Autozone are made in China.
I really don't know who makes the AC-Delco ones for Chevy.

East Penn (Deka, Yuasa NA) is one of the few battery plants left in the US.

 

Can I not make a product to different price points? I have done it before. You tell me you are willing to pay $200 a ton. I tell the factory to make it 50% active ingredient, 50% filler. You want to pay $250 a ton, I make it 75% active ingredient and 25% filler. All of them will be in whatever bag you want from the same location.

 

Lighten up Francis

It’s an open forum. My opinion is COO and quality of construction has some bearing here and you aren’t just paying “by the pound” for a battery.

With that said, there are very few real choices for conventional batteries regardless of the sticker on the side.