Optima, but you should get the correct drip charger to keep it up if your inactive over the winter. They don't like to die and be recharged much!
If you can afford it do NOT get a wet battery. Every Napa wet battery I have ever had weeped through the posts. Nothing pisses me off worse than a drooling junk ***ed wet battery. Same with Interstates, they are nothing special IMO. I have had good luck with the Duralast Gold, I have a couple rigs with those in them, no problems or acid seepage. If you can afford it I would reccomend the Optima Yellow...I have a couple rigs with those as well. They are a deep cycle starting battery , just a little more more money than the Red Top and 7 pounds heavier, heavier is a good thing with batteries...431/2 lbs for your standard group 34..Heavy sum*****! great batteries, and no drooling or corrosion.
You never really said what use to which you are putting the battery. I've got a gel-cell battery (sealed) 400 amp cranking for my aerobatic aircraft, a light weight Genesis 200 amp for my race car (a 400 amp Geni for my blower motored coupe); and two sets of batteries for the motor coach. For an RV, for example, you need Deep Cycle (high amp/hrs.) for house current; and high cranking amps for starting (particularly for a big motor). So, forget price. Figure out what your need is; and fill it with the right application. Most folks that "bad mouth" a particular battery, do so because they have the wrong one for the application. Do some study
Odyssey, nothing else. Going on 8 years old in an OT car with no issues. Performance and longevity has been top notch, plus the benefit of lower weight and smaller size is a bonus.
I have had a yellow top Optima in my 55 Chevy big block since 2001 and still going strong. Florida heat kills batteries and I have not had any last in my daily drivers more that 3 years, usually 2. Use a battery disconnect and it will last a long time.
My Duralast Gold finally gave out in October 2011. Bought it September 1, 2000, so 11 years plus is more than I expected. Haven't replaced it yet with a new battery. Just using the NAPA battery out of my tractor, and that's about as old, so high confidence in both.
Walmart and Costco in my modern cars. They go at least 5 years. First time a battery cranks slow or even hints it's going to let me down, I replace it. My 6-volt batteries all come from Tractor Supply.
interstate. mega-tron plus are heaviest and best warrantied. they sell a "quick start" i think its called too, but they're junk. u can also get reconditioned interstates for $30. if they take 'em in as a warranty and everything tested OK they resell as used.
My 2000 daily driver still has its original Delco battery. I keep thinking its on its last leg and plan on replacing it, but at this point I'm curious about how long it will last. If they were easier to come by, I would use delco batteries more often. I've had a few optima batteries, one is about seven years old and still works great, but I've had others that didn't make 3 years. They are also kind of ugly so I only like to use them if they are out of sight. Dave
I have some off topic vehicles and have played with quite a few different batteries in them. I have a C5 Corvette that sometimes sits for weeks at a time. C5 Vettes draw a bit of standby current and are known to eat batteries. I have had other batteries that cranked slow, or not at all in just a couple weeks of sitting. After switching to the AGM DieHard Platinum battery I was sold. Car could sit over a month and no problem. I have 2 of the Platinums in my boat after trying some other brands. Sometimes the boat sits for weeks and no problem. At first they seemed pretty expensive but after being stranded 25 miles off shore due to dead Optimas they were the way to go for peace of mind. I have drift fished for 10-12 hours without running the motor. The marine radio, FM radio, depth finder, and GPS were going all day and the boat fires up every time. Couldn't say the same for the other brands I have had on board.
Always an Interstate. Just recently went to replace my interstate in my ot truck and the guy said wow! thats an old one I wonder what year its from. Hey looked and said it was new in 1998. 13 years old. My new one cost me $130.00 that's $10 a year. I know where I'm going from now on.
Have used Optima in past with good results. The latest battery I purchased is an Odyssey. My friend at the battery shop sells all the major brands but in his opinion he thinks Odyssey is the best. He stated Odyssey is the only battery company using pure lead all the rest are using recycled lead that is not as pure and will not perform as well.
The older optima were great,the new ones dont p*** muster.the deka and odyssey are great but expensive,they do require special chargers. Have a die hard gold in the pickup,wanted a die hard platium but it wont fit newer cheves. Heat is the killer of batteries. Deucemanab
You get what you pay for. Interstate is my first choice. Got 7 years out of their 5 year group 27 workaholic model in my Dodge/***mins diesel.Used mostly in the hot Fla. sun drawing extra amps. At one time it was limited at where you could find a Interstate dealer. Better now. For budget day to day use, price wise, dependability, ease of warranty, I go with Walmart. Tractor Supply was mentioned in a thread. They are Exide. (original oldy) for you youngsters. Who knows who makes them now.Had a issue with a Sears Diehard years ago. Went bad in 12 mo and 2 weeks. They wanted to pro rate it. I told them if I wanted a 12 month battery, I would have bought a $29.95 battery instead of a $85.00 Diehard at the time. Give me what's coming to me and you'll never see me again!!!
Costco rated number one for quality and price by Consumer reports!! They are great batteries and have awesome return policies. The brand they go by ar Kirkland batteries.
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