Please dont turn this into a "this company ****s ****" thread, just looking for a recomendation. After 15 years in this blistering AZ sun, my red top optima finally gave up the ghost. I'd say I got my money out of that ****er, and some. Whats a good, maintainince free battery that will last more than a couple years (no, I don't expect 15 again,lol).
Why not just buy another optima? Sounds like you got your $$ worth out of the last one. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
From what I've read, the "new" Optima isnt the same as the "old" Optima. Otherwise I would in a New York second
The new Optima's are no where as good as your old one was. Go to a Gl*** Matt battery and you just might get another 15 years again. Odyssey sells a grate one. The Wizzard
Thank you. I do't expect 15 out of any battery (of course, it would be nice), but I also dont want it to die after a few hot AZ summers either.
dunno about AZ, but here in Las Vegas, a battery in your DD is good for about 3 years, and even most replacements don't last much longer, no matter how much you spend.
I generally toss my batteries after 4-5 years regardless of how they're acting. Either I trade it in or keep the old one around.. or give it away. I always go with the best deal I can get at the time on a name-brand. Bob
The new batteries are made in mexico, the old batteries 15 years ago were still made in the good ol USA. had a red top optima last from 1995 till 2009 in a dirt track car with no alternator and we recharged it every night before we raced again. New optimas have been good about 5 years before they die now. We have run multiple red tops in different cars at the same usage rate.
I figure I dont have issues jump starting it ONE TIME. Past that, I wont fight them. I bought that last battery when I was 30 and I'm 45, just kept swapping it from jet boat to car, to hot rod,,,, as I sold them. I figure it paid its dues a few times over.
You definatelly got your use out of that one! I'de go buy some lottery tickets.I've had luck with some interstate stuff= sealed like an optima. Oddysey's are expensive,and they weigh a ton=like 70lbs.....use them at work for PD,and although warranted for ten years,we get about two out of them.They get swapped,but ......You might get lucky again.....It's a **** shoot anymore.
I guess I just have luck with batteries. My wifes 64 Merc has had a $40 cheapo Walmart battery in it about 4 years now, still going strong turning over that 390.
My friend was talking about a new style battery that has fibergl*** in it around the gel so the fibergl*** absorbs the gel and does not die as fast. Similar to an optima but can last longer. I think he was saying they are used in european and german cars. He is getting 2 and mounting them sideways under hos driver seat in his frame. I switched to a red top optima after swapping out autozone duralast 2 times in a year. It took almost a month for them to get a 6 volt in stock though.
I routinely get several more years on just plain old Walmart batteries. And, on the rare occasion I didn't, they replaced it without h***le. Cars,truck, tractor, generator, lawn mower. Unlike most Walmart things, the batteries seem to worth their cost
just bought a new red top day before yesterday for my OT. bought my last one in 2004 when I bought the truck. I will stick with optima.
Napa brand usually did me good in my Peterbilt. I pulled the deka's I had after 2 months because of hard starts Chrome 'n' Flake
I have a Die Hard in our Mustang that I got from my Dad seven years, but I think it was a few years old when he past away.
got 5 and a half years on my red top that i had when living in phoenix. have another red top that is 10 years old now.
Been an Interstate dealer for years , I use them , never had a problem . Even the late Paul Harvey thought they were good ........... scrubba
No argument there. Unfortunately, the non-vehicle batteries I have usually fail when I need them but it's an odd hour of the day. Guess who's the only folks open?
I heard that there where alot of changes that happened at Optima, most of the guys that where doing the R and D left and started Odyssey, Dont take my word for it thats just what i heard. I also heard that Odyssey batteries are pretty good. Matt
An Optima is an AGM (absorbed gl*** mat) battery. There is a huge thread on here including some Optima rep comments. Interstate has a new AGM battery called MT7. I have not tried it yet.
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