Searched around on here for what battery everyone likes to run, and outside of it being obvious that nobody likes optima anymore I couldn't find a clear HAMB favorite. So, what's the HAMB's choice for a 12V battery?
I really like Interstate batteries. Also, ( I know this may be frowned upon) I have had very good luck with the ones from Walmart. I think you will get a more useful response if you let us know what your using it in. If you need something with alot of cranking amps or not. ect. Todd
All of the batterys are made by just a few mfg's Interstate is good. You might look a wal-mart, I understand that they do not prorate their batterys ???
Since there are so few, about 3 maybe, manufacturers of batteries, any given battery you choose may be the same as the favorites. I think shopping by price is the biggest sin these days in batteries. Make sure the CCA are adequate and go for it. In reality, any well maintained battery will last to its limit. That may or may not the guaranteed life, 65 or 72 or months but it might.
Love my OPTIMA!!!---The sealed feature is a must in my trunk!---Used to have Sears diehards, but switched to Optima in 2000!
Get the highest CCA and biggest battery you can fit. If the car sits for long periods of time, either disconnect the battery or better to put it on a battery tender or hook up a trickle charger to a timer for couple hours a day. I have had good lluck with Wal-Mart batteries, and if you are awya form home, you can always find a Wal-Mart to take in for exchange or warranty. As stated, there are only about 3 battery mfrs, all the different brands are just different labels for the most part.
I have an Optima red in my street rod. Its been great. Reason I bought it....the guy who runs a salvage yard here in town uses an Optima to carry from car to car to start them for people who want to hear the engines run. He told me the Optima lasts 3-4 times longer between charges than conventional batteries.
I'm a fan (performance wise) of AC-Delco sealed batteries personally. There are def. some design differences when it comes to battery construction, despite a few manufacturers builds other brands like mentioned above. When I was in school. I messed with many cut away batteries and any battery that can possibly catch the active material from falling off and possibly shorting out the other plate (+ to -) regardless of the insulator plate for each cell is a good selling point in my opinion. Die-Hard are good batteries, but they have ALOT of $$$ invested in advertisement to get the brand name out. Do not get me wrong, I just bought a GOLD Die-Hard for my pos Cavalier, but that was because 5 stores near me no longer carried AC-Delco... And I'm a Mopar guy, so I'm not being brand biased...
So far: DieHard: 3 Interstate: 2 Optima: 3 Autozone Gold: 1 Walmart: 3 Delco:1 Wonder who manufacturers the batteries for wally? It's worth noting the number of Walmarts around...a warranty is only as good as the ability to cash in on it if needed.
I've learned from my mistakes. I used Interstate batteries for years but tried others due to cost. I tried batteries like Exide, DuraLast (Neverlast), whatever the hell junk Advance Auto Parts sells and WalMart NeverStart batteries just plain SUCK! Sure places like WalMart warranty them with absolutely no problem at all. But constantly taking back a battery gets old.... real fuckin' old! The bottom line is that I went back to Interstate batteries and I'm not looking back! Fuck it! And here's a little F.Y.I.: Interstate and Sears are the same battery made by the same company.
The best battery is the heaviest. The thicker the lead plates the longer they last, the more they weigh. Stay away from Duralast, and wally worlds and other off brands. Stick with Interstate or My choice NAPA gold, I always buy the one for the 1997 Ford F350 with the 7.3 PSD it has the longest reserve.
FYI, NEW CASTLE BATTERY ,New Castle,Pa. Don't Say It ! Take a look ! Made in AMERICA http://shop.turbostart.com/Collector-Car-Series_c2.htm I worked for a emergency generator company for 11 years, we never had one defective battery and i shipped or installed hundreds.
I'm voting Interstate- and I'm extra thrifty so I go to the dealer and buy one that has a case blemish, new 30 or 35 bucks depending on the size. I cut out the tray lip on my forklift so I could use the bigger (and for some reason cheaper) size too.
Check out the Odysey Batteries. Small, powerful and sealed. I use one in my 32 Tudor under the rear seat. Weighs about 11 lbs, is about 6 X 7 X 3". US military now uses them
I have been running a Die Hart Batt for the last 20 years in 3 different Cars my Link, Van & Merc Never had a Problem when I lived in AZ. I would use Recondition Bats they lasted quite a long time for 20 bucks you could not go wrong just my 3.5 cents