Good Battery replacement for the Stock one?
01-06-2010, 07:35 PM
#26
Thanks. All the JC batteries like Walmart Everstart Maxx, Costco Kirkland, Autozone Duralast Gold, Interstate Mega-Tron Plus have identical 640CCA and 800CC. To me that says same battery, different labels.
The only mainstream batteries with better specs are Diehard Platinum and Optima Red Top (JC-made).
Here are ratings from Nov. 09 Consumers Report battery test. Too bad it didn't include the numerical scores. My parents have mag but too far to go look. I read the article a month ago and it seemed all the batteries scored roughly the same. If I recall, all the batteries at the top provided good cranking but the Bosch had a better life than the others.
From my research online, the Bosch batteries are now made by Exide. My friend just put one of the Bosch Premium Powers in his GTI. I've read mixed opinions about Exides.
1. Bosch Premium Power 35-640B $90 - sold at Pep Boys
2. Duralast Gold 35-DLG $90 - AutoZone
3. EverStart Maxx-35N (North) $75 - Walmart ** Consumer Reports Recommended
4. DieHard Gold 33035 (North) $105 - Sears and K-Mart
5. Kirkland Signature 12865 $65 - Costco **Consumer Reports Best Buy
6. NAPA Legend Premium 8435 - NAPA
7. EverStart Maxx-35S (South) $75 - Walmart
8. Autocraft Titanium 35-2 $95 Advance Auto Parts
9. Interstate Mega-Tron Plus MTP-35 $100
10. Duralast 35-DL $80 - AutoZone
11. DieHard Gold 33135 (South) $105 - Sears and K-Mart
The only mainstream batteries with better specs are Diehard Platinum and Optima Red Top (JC-made).
Here are ratings from Nov. 09 Consumers Report battery test. Too bad it didn't include the numerical scores. My parents have mag but too far to go look. I read the article a month ago and it seemed all the batteries scored roughly the same. If I recall, all the batteries at the top provided good cranking but the Bosch had a better life than the others.
From my research online, the Bosch batteries are now made by Exide. My friend just put one of the Bosch Premium Powers in his GTI. I've read mixed opinions about Exides.
1. Bosch Premium Power 35-640B $90 - sold at Pep Boys
2. Duralast Gold 35-DLG $90 - AutoZone
3. EverStart Maxx-35N (North) $75 - Walmart ** Consumer Reports Recommended
4. DieHard Gold 33035 (North) $105 - Sears and K-Mart
5. Kirkland Signature 12865 $65 - Costco **Consumer Reports Best Buy
6. NAPA Legend Premium 8435 - NAPA
7. EverStart Maxx-35S (South) $75 - Walmart
8. Autocraft Titanium 35-2 $95 Advance Auto Parts
9. Interstate Mega-Tron Plus MTP-35 $100
10. Duralast 35-DL $80 - AutoZone
11. DieHard Gold 33135 (South) $105 - Sears and K-Mart
if the warranty is the same, then sure get the cheapest.
but expensive battery has its value.
I have an Optima Yellow Top,been siting in my basement after my bro's car got totaled a year something ago. Its discharged down to like 7 V or something. but after 3 days of constant charging, its back to life with 12.9 V steady. cant say the same to regular Acid-base battery.
01-06-2010, 07:54 PM
#27
2005 Black RX-8 GT 6M
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I know they rebrand battery, its probably from the same production line
if the warranty is the same, then sure get the cheapest.
but expensive battery has its value.
I have an Optima Yellow Top,been siting in my basement after my bro's car got totaled a year something ago. Its discharged down to like 7 V or something. but after 3 days of constant charging, its back to life with 12.9 V steady. cant say the same to regular Acid-base battery.
if the warranty is the same, then sure get the cheapest.
but expensive battery has its value.
I have an Optima Yellow Top,been siting in my basement after my bro's car got totaled a year something ago. Its discharged down to like 7 V or something. but after 3 days of constant charging, its back to life with 12.9 V steady. cant say the same to regular Acid-base battery.
Last edited by CarAndDriver; 01-06-2010 at 07:57 PM.
01-06-2010, 09:59 PM
#28
then I guess you're good 
I somewhat agreed to the price thing, I mean it cost about 90 bux to get a Duralast Battery from Autozone, same 3 Yr Free-Replacement-No-Questions-Asked Warranty. if the battery is dead 3 years later, I still can use it as "prorate" to a new battery.
But I dont know, Optima Failed once on me but it was my fault, left the trunk opened for 2 weeks, Battery was deeply drain down to 2.0 V ... well, free replacement. Im happy for now.
I somewhat agreed to the price thing, I mean it cost about 90 bux to get a Duralast Battery from Autozone, same 3 Yr Free-Replacement-No-Questions-Asked Warranty. if the battery is dead 3 years later, I still can use it as "prorate" to a new battery.
But I dont know, Optima Failed once on me but it was my fault, left the trunk opened for 2 weeks, Battery was deeply drain down to 2.0 V ... well, free replacement.
Im happy for now.
01-06-2010, 10:06 PM
#29
Not gonna lie, if you put 2 identical batteries side by side and the plastic shell on one looked cooler and cost $20 more, I'd buy it. I've never had a battery fail on me (not that they don't), but I have blown up all sorts of other things. Once a battery passes a certain level of reliability, the last 2% of reliability just doesn't matter to me. I wish Optima made a bronze top. I'd buy that.
01-07-2010, 06:31 AM
#30
I think I'm slowly but surely coming over to the side of just getting a reasonably priced battery with a 3-year warranty. I too don't really need the huge cold cranking amps since my '8 hybernates all winter on a Battery Tender. I also don't have any aftermarket audio, so no need for deep cycle. I may just go with another Interstate, which is still serving me very well since OEM. Heck, my daughter's 2003 Mazda6 still has its OEM battery, lives outside, and does run all winter.
01-07-2010, 11:45 AM
#31
Good post NYCGPS, I recommend...
3. EverStart Maxx-35N (North) $75 - Walmart ** Consumer Reports Recommended
It's cheap and it has a 3 year warranty. I used it on my old 8 and it worked just fine, never had a problem starting up.
I used it on my Prelude as well and it's still in there now, no problems at all. I guess there's a reason CR recommends it.
3. EverStart Maxx-35N (North) $75 - Walmart ** Consumer Reports Recommended
It's cheap and it has a 3 year warranty. I used it on my old 8 and it worked just fine, never had a problem starting up.
I used it on my Prelude as well and it's still in there now, no problems at all. I guess there's a reason CR recommends it.
01-09-2010, 03:48 AM
#33
Not gonna lie, if you put 2 identical batteries side by side and the plastic shell on one looked cooler and cost $20 more, I'd buy it. I've never had a battery fail on me (not that they don't), but I have blown up all sorts of other things. Once a battery passes a certain level of reliability, the last 2% of reliability just doesn't matter to me. I wish Optima made a bronze top. I'd buy that.
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