BigMonkey73

Car wouldn't start this Saturday, dead battery it appears. Best option for replacement seems to be Optima RedTop...please provide alternatives if you believe this isn't necessarily true.

2012 C6 Base model

Amazon has it cheapest at less than $180 to my door, but I've read so many on there regarding crap packaging. Then Amazon is not an authorized Optima dealer so no warranty help..and even Optima doesn't honor warranty when purchased on Amazon. I decided to purchase locally.

So far best price is O'Reilly at around $230ish with a core exchange.

Any alternate suggestions before I pull the trigger?

Don-Vette

I bought a interstate battery at Firestone. Why can't you just go to your local auto parts store?

car2fast4you

I'm still running the original battery that came with the car, bought new in 2007. I'll be replacing mine at the dealer.

BigMonkey73

O'Reilly is a local auto parts store. I price checked Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Amazon, and O'Reilly.

All similar, but I wanted to ask opinions in case I missed an obvious choice or perhaps there is something better than Optima altogether.

Gearhead Jim

Optimas get very mixed reviews- some folks love them, others have endless problems.

We've had good service from our Delcos over the last 20 years, so I just replace the factory with a similar Delco. Only problem is that if a Delco dies under warranty, you may need to wait until after a weekend to find a dealer or Delco store to replace it.

Scuba Ghost

A Delco at the dealer?

MarkB3

The only battery that forum users don't seem to complain about is the AC Delco OEM replacement battery. I replaced my '05 original battery this summer with the identical Delco battery bought from a Chevy dealership for $105 with a 4 year warranty. That price included a military discount. The original battery was always on a BT Junior battery tender and the car was a total garage queen.

I figured if the first one lasted 10 years, they must be pretty good.

BigMonkey73

Yep, I think AC Delco is my new choice given the recent change in manufacturing in Mexico with Optima.

There's an auto parts store down the road that carries them. I always buy American when given the choice

99Z51

I put an Optima RedTop in my 08 as a precautionary step. With the Delco, I never once had a dead battery from it bring lightly driven. Now with the Optima, I have to put it on the charger after a week of garage time. I will not go back to Optima.

myfunz

Just put a new battery in my Vette. I put in a DieHard Gold $146.00. Installed myself.

cclive

To me, a battery is just a very simple thing. My original Delco was replaced at 6 1/2 years as a precaution before it even died. I don't see any reason to pay twice the price for a battery of a different construction when a regular one does so well. I got my new battery at WalMart because if I have a problem with it, there's a WalMart just about anywhere that I might be at the time.

tloon

I did a search on here and someone recommended the Duralast Platinum from Autozone. It is an AGM type battery. I got it and put it in. Not inexpensive, but they had my size in stock. All good so far.

Sunset-C6

Kroger

BalloFruit

I recently bought a Yellow Top from Amazon. The packaging was fine. $170 was far better than the $240 at local stores.

Also, wrt the warranty, you just need to read the fine print:

Warranty, Parts: Optima warrants to the original purchaser that this battery is free of defects in material and workmanship for a 36 month replacement period when shipped and sold by Amazon.com. If a replacement is necessary due to a defect in materials and/or workmanship the battery will be replaced free of charge, within the free replacement period from date of original purchase. Please contact Amazon Customer Service with your warranty claim. For purchases from Amazon Merchant sellers please contact the seller directly for warranty support.

RocketDawg

I think Costco sells Optima batteries.

I bought my replacement at AutoZone summer 2014, Platinum AGM for about $180 including tax. They installed it for me free, which of course you can easily do yourself, but I just didn't want to fool with it in July and near 100 degrees. I've had no issues with it at all.

For my C5 I bought an Optima Red Top at AutoZone for about $125, but batteries have gone up a lot, maybe double, since then (2004). It was a great battery, but American-made at the time.

Jim2003

On my 03 C5 I had to replace the battery I went with the Delco original replacement bought at my dealer. I had zero problems with the new one.

I still have the original battery in my 13 C6, but I will replace it with the original Delco battery.

Rebel Yell

Delco's have always served me well. The last one worked for 7 years. However, if you want an Optima I would pay a little more at a local shop to have the warranty coverage.

RocketDawg

I would have gotten a Delco too instead of the AutoZone, but my dealer wanted some ridiculous price ... seems like it was >$200. I just didn't like the crazy markup so bought one from AutoZone instead.

Just about anything you buy will be serviceable. Just make sure to get one with adequate CCA.

jrose7004

I'll bet that there's a Interstate Battery or Continental Battery store near you.

easyrider13

When my battery died three years ago I replaced it with a "gold" battery from Advance Auto Parts. So far it starts easily every time.

Discount codes are frequently available on their web site.