OldDude

Greetings: Help. I'm getting old and senile. I bought an 05 Blue MT in July of 2005 when I could still spell my last name without a stencil. I live in the North East and know that it will soon be getting colder than my wife after the third time I forgot our anniversary.
New battery time. After several forum and website searches I'm thoroughly confused. I'd like to get an optima red or yellow top but which one is the best fit? Which if any of the various models will install using the OEM cables, have correct terminal orientation, and still permit air circulation in the box. Group 34,
34R , D35, D51R, D35 etc.
Each seems to be a trade off of either, power, proper fit, ease of installation or air duct clearance. I don't have any aftermarket high power accessories. I still believe FM radio is just a passing fad. Thanks. OldDude.

Nubo

I like the yellow-top for various reasons, including the possibility that you may need to do lot of cranking during a flood-recovery, and also if you often let the vehicle sit for more than a couple of days. The yellow-top D35 fits without modification, just make sure you get the spacer that should be included with the battery. The battery itself is a bit shorter than OEM and putting the spacer beneath the battery makes up the difference.

That being said, I live in a temperate climate. If you live where it gets really cold, the red-top could possibly be a better choice because hit provides more cold cranking amps. I'm not sure about the location of the terminals on the red top. Check the DIY section for a thread on Optimas.

If you open your battery box you will see a white mark painted on the side. This indicates how much open-space is required at the front of the box to allow airflow through the box to keep the battery cooled. Don't be temped to shoehorn a huge battery into the box. 35-series is the correct size.

Another AGM battery that I've read good things about is Odyssey.

Spin9k

I'm up here too OldDude. The bat Mazda stuck in mine as part of the TSB for the tiny bats they originally gave us was a MTP-35 Interstate Mega-tron plus 640cca 800ca

This one http://www.interstatebatteries.com/e...CRank%7C1&js=1

Seems to work fine or something like it.

Phish806

iTrader: (4)

got the yellow top myself in my 05... i live in iowa and it gets quite cold here also in the winter... so far all is good and could not complain one bit... but like said before.. make sure you put the spacer under the battery cuz its a lil shoter then stock

OldDude

Thank you one and all. D35 yellow top it is. I'll order one today. Now if I can only remember where I left my car. Old Dude

savedsol

I got one of these
http://www.batteriesplus.com/p-23892...g-battery.aspx

Fits great but I left out the included tray and just trimmed two notches in the battery box plastic with a utility knife where the metal bar crosses (it's quite soft). Now my battery center of gravity is lower!