Please dont turn this into a "this company sucks butt" 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 sucker, 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 Glass 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 crap 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 fiberglass in it around the gel so the fiberglass 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 hassle. 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 glass 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.
The Jalopy Journal
