Need to purchase a new battery
 

Any tips on what or where to purchase. The local Subaru dealer quoted me a price of $89.99. Is an Optima battery worth the extra $ ? Any advice is appreciated.

Just bought one at Auto Zone for $79.00. Same size and fit as the old one.

My son bought a Optima Red Top 75 [the base model?] battery rated at I think 900 amps about four years ago for his Turbo Supra. He has had zero problems with his starting and charging systems in that time and his engine has been mortified to about 430 hp. Several advantages of the Optima besides being heat and vibration resistant; are the cells are individual so if one burns out it supposedly that will not effect the others I believe its called a Spiralcell battery. Supposedly it will last twice as long as any other battery. But they are not cheap at approximately $120.00 + depending on the model.

It's about that time for me too...

I think I'm just gonna go with a Wal-Mart Everstart Maxx, it's $60 and had something like 875 cca. It has a 36 mo free-replacement, and 72 mo pro-rate.

I heard that Optima batteries are heavier than stock ones. Is that true?

Odyssey supposedly makes some lighter, smaller, and (much) more expensive batteries.

My last optima red top lasted 5 trouble free years. Just replaced it this month with another one. I didn't weight it but I'd estimate it weighs less than a standard battery.

I have had a totol of 4 Red Tops and had problems with every one of them. I hope my luck changes on the next one - if I ever give one another try. :rolleyes:

I have to say I like Interstate Batteries. I run them in all my cars. I once got 9 years out of one on a summer only driven car.

I've got Optima reds in both my SVXes and I've not been disappointed.

Optima Red Tops in every vehichle at home and all friends vehichles... No failures for any... And Texas weather is hard on batteries too.

Does anyone use an "Optima style" battery? (a clone?)

Mine started to get weak enough where if I left the alarm on all night it would be dead in the morning, but alarm off it would crank slowly but enough to start it. It did it for a couple weeks before I took it in and had it checked .They confirmed it wouldn't hold a charge after a half hour long test.

Of course I didn't have the receipt for the 8 year warranty :mad:

In 30+ years of driving I don't think I've ever bought a premium-brand battery, and the only one I've ever had suddenly and completely lay down is the one that came in my SVX.

dcb

I also use Intersate and have had no issues...

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...etkd/23839.jpg

-Chike

Interstate carries an "optima" clone..but if you pull off their sticker... its says optima underneath... or so I have read.