I think my battery is toast - one too many full discharges for a multitude of reasons over the last three years or so.  I've been thinking I'd go Optima when it finally went, but after reading some online reviews, now I'm not so sure.  Many of the reviews said they went belly up right after the 3 year warranty expired.  Many others just said the extra cost simply wasn't worth it - might as well get a regular battery.  Any experience out there?  If I don't go Optima is there any reason to go with one brand over another?  I'm partial to Die Hards, but not for any particular reason other than Sears is close to my office.  Aren't they all pretty much made by the same one or two manufacturers?  

Optimas are excellent batteries, but I don't believe they're cost effective...at least in my experience.  

 

Well, being an employee at an Interstate Battery distributorship(franchised), i would not overyly recommend the Optima, not to say it is a bad battery, it really isn't, but in my experience in the last 10 or so years of dealing with them, they don't seem to be all they are 'cracked up' to be. At least not for the cost.   As Gunslinger mentioned, they don't always hold up when just left alone for periods of time.  Nor would any battery for that matter... unless you take a little time to 'care' for them when they are not in use.  Battery tenders are very beneficial in these matters, along with a decent battery charger.  If you do plan on leaving your car in storage, i would highly recommend disconnecting the battery, and fully charging it before storing your vehicle(taking it out of the car if possible might not be a bad idea either).  Batteries do have a finite shelf life, car batteries, flashlight batteries, etc... automotive batteries do self discharge even if they are not hooked up. We recharge our stock about every 5-6 months... especially in the summer months... heat tends to accellerate the self discharge just a little... A fully charged battery is between 12.6 to 12.8 volts, depending on the acid blend in the battery.  Strange as it sounds, if it falls to 12.3 volts, its nearly half discharged(i know, one would think 6 volts, but....not so...) Anyhow, make a long story longer... i can't knock our batteries, Interstate Megatron is a good all around battery, middle of the road type of amperage, which is what you should look for,  not one toooo big in amps, nor one tooo small.... mostly ones that are in the 600 to 750 CCA range. They tend to hold up better, in moderate climates.... if you live in the great white north, then you would want a heavier CCA battery, 850 on up,   if in the deep deep south, i probably would still stick with the 500-750 CCA range. Reason being is that wet batteries are basically cooled by the acid/water mix.  Think of it like a glass of iced water.. the more ice you have the less water you actually have in the glass... same is true for batteries... the heavier(more CCA) battery you have, the more plates in the battery, the less electrolyte there is in the battery to help cool it.  However, Optima's don't have this problem, they are AGM (absorbed glass matte), which means instead of liquid in the cells, its basically a  sponge inbetween the plates, so it can't leak if cracked... Optima's do have  a great purpose, they are highly vibration resistant, so, we do see a lot of them in race cars(dirt track mainly around here), rock crawlers(cause they tend to turn over a lot), and road machinery(lot of vibration)....Unless you just come across a good price on an Optima, i'd just stick with a lead/acid battery. If taken care of, will last just as long, for 1/3 to 1/2 price usually...

|UPDATED|2/12/2013 9:33:08 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

great write up...thanks

Yes, thanks much for the info, everyone.  I'm going with a good ol' lead acid  - either Interstate or Costco.  (I hope the Costco ones aren't anything like their AA's.  I'll never buy the mega pack of Kirkland AA's again, they leak over everything).

I've had nothing but the BEST results from Odyssey batteries. Optima.......stinks! Here is a link for more info. I have them in all my cars. Click here...

http://www.odysseybattery.com/ I buy them heavily discounted out from a place in Florida. 

I should get one for my wife's Odyssey! (as in the minivan)

I just want to add a thought.. A new car no matter which era ... You buy it and if you notice batteries , wipers , alt , starter and a lot of other oem parts last for years and years ...

Just for my two cents worth....I have used Sears and Walmart Maxx brands. I have found Maxx to be the best. I use Maxx for the Boat and Vette. Both have had long periods of time...charged and not charged. I normally buy a new one when they become out of date! On the water it's cheaper to be safe than to be TOWED. (G) The on in the the 76 is nearly 4 years old and still starting the sitting best...as it goes though it's transformation!