Best brand battery?

[Ricochet]

I'm pretty sure they're mostly the same but it's worth asking I guess..

[RSVX]

Red Top.

[dcarrb]

You're gonna get as many answers as there are members of this forum.

In 30+ years I don't believe I've ever bought a name-brand battery. Both of my cars now have a mid-priced Brand-X Supervolt Dee-Luxe Specials from off the rack at O'Reilly's. After four years or so, they'll be replaced by same.

dcb

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by RSVX

Red Top.

Nope never going with one of those ever again. I had one die after 6 months in my last car.

[kwren]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

I'm pretty sure they're mostly the same but it's worth asking I guess..

Costco batteries are great and virtually guaranteed forever if you play your cards right!

[AlcyoneDaze]

consumer reports just did a study. the best battery depends on your needs really. cold cranking amps, hot/cold weather durability, longest life... etc

if you want me to scan the review I will, just say the word

[PaulDexler]

Batteries are critical on my cars, as they usually do not get driven on a day-to-day basis, as I have company cars to drive. The criticallity showed up on a club run last year with my Capri, as 100 miles from home, 9,000 feet up in the mountains and at 45f ambient, it died. Completely. Not a click or a wheeze. Started with a jump, and with a couple more jumps, completed the run. Drove home, my lady offloaded her stuff, and without shutting it off, drove to Sears and had them put in the Optima. Expensive? yes. $139 for the one in the Capri. But since, it has sat for two months at a time without cranking, and leaps to life when I get into it. The Alfa has a Sears Die-Hard in it, but when it goes, it's getting an Optima. The SVX has something branded "Honda" in it, with no installation date crossed off, but it too, will get an Optima. Just makes for one less thing to think about. As for the added expense, they last about two or three times as long as a standard battery, so it really isn't that much more. Optimas use a gel electrolyte and spiral plates. Supposedly, they can be dropped out of an airplane and still will start a car.
Just my 2c worth.
Paul

[processengr]

The top of the line Sears diehard (also sold at Kmart) has the same internal construction as the famed Optima (fiberglas mat) along with a higher price...
My next battery will be an Optima, my cars get intermittant use...

[Ricochet]

To clarify my car is daily driven and I've got a somewhat hefty stereo system.. my headlights flicker when I turn the volume up a bit. When I had HID's installed and the radio on (or a/c, heater, etc), one of the headlights would die out. For all I know my battery could be 15 years old. I've had the car 2 years and haven't changed it yet. So, what would be the best for year round heavy energy consumption?

[subarufamily]

optima batteries are the best with a drain of 2 sets of hid's and a large amp the red top is the middle of the gel batteries line there is a version below the red top
and i think that the yellow is the top is the top of the line but dont quote me on that. but optima battery's are in my opinion the best you can buy

[etz bseder]

I love my red tops, they have been the best I have owned yet, but i have just gone with red tops and die hard golds.

I wouldn't buy another red top though, because interstates are the exact same in a different plastic box, so because they are cheaper for the same thing you should just go with interstates.

[UPnorth362]

Interstate batteries are the way to go

[ridered777]

Originally Posted by Ricochet

To clarify my car is daily driven and I've got a somewhat hefty stereo system.. my headlights flicker when I turn the volume up a bit. When I had HID's installed and the radio on (or a/c, heater, etc), one of the headlights would die out. For all I know my battery could be 15 years old. I've had the car 2 years and haven't changed it yet. So, what would be the best for year round heavy energy consumption?

That sounds like you need a bigger alternator, not battery...

Generally the rule of thumb is an electrical problem when the car ISN'T running is battery related or at least includes a bad battery, sometimes among other things, and issues relating to when the car IS running are somehow related to the alternator.

I had a crazy system in my last car, killed the alternator, then upgraded it and never had an issue. The other thing to consider is a capacitor, generally 1 farad for every 1,000 Watts.

Just my $.02

Craig

[AFBeefcake]

I just got a Interstate DCS-75BT AGM Deep-cycle batter its nice. Supposed to be better then the Gel batteries to.

[svxual]

yep me to iv replaced mine wth the biggest plate deepcell i could get, car starts the instant you turn the key.. oh yeah dont know if you can do it but i went straight to the distributer directly and saved mega $$ i got the same battery that cost $205 at the battery shop for $86 !! now thats a bargin.. i just walked in to the warehouse and askd for the best battery they had for a svx.. i got a german made ( HELLA endurant startmaster ) big thumbs up