What is everyone's choice for a car battery...

[urS4]

I have a remote mount in the spare wheel well with an Optima Red Top and it has lasted about 3 years. What are you guys using?

Hap wit dakine shocking question from Leaboost, Maguire

[m47thew]

I'm using an optima yellow top. No problems at all. Car just sat for over 4 weeks without charging and started right up no issues at 0 deg C


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[bw86]

A $30 interstate that's going on 4 years now.

[james 408]

was running the oddessey 680 or something like that for about 10 years, gotta replace em every couple of years. this is the 15lb dry cell style.

recently threw in a stock-style one due to the car being down for maintenence a lot and the mounting I had made it a pain to remove to charge (couldn't trickle charge at apartment).

any of the stock style batteries are fine/overkill in my experience. as long as you have sufficient cranking amps while including the temperatures and amount of time sitting, you're good. Battery companies have charts and technical data that's usually available, I'd be looking at those as most of what you'll get on a forum is stating what they're currently using and saying it's great and the best one ever.

as with anything, the best value is usually the cheapest one (luckily we don't have to pull the motor to swap the battery). the optima stuff is better, but you're typically paying a substantial multiple for a fractional increase in performance. And with batteries, it just needs to start the thing. weight is the only other thing that really matters.

[julex]

always pick AGM, forget about FLA cheap batteries, they don't last more than couple of seasons at best. AGMs can easily last 10y+ and tolerate deep discharge which FLA can't handle. You can get AGM battery (this is what S4 came with originally) for reasonable price if you search around. I believe optimas are AGM or their variation on the theme anyways.

[james 408]

not to contradict you on that, but do you have a source? in my experience there's very little difference between the technologies. And if you read from battery experts, i've certainly never seen that stated as universally true. The reason the stock battery lasts so long is it's friggen ginormous. Super overkill so even though it's capacity is diminished it's got excess. But the thing weighs 2x a normal battery (think there was a couple options).

i'll agree they're better in terms of vibration resistance and recharge numbers (albeit a slower rate of recharge required), but 2 years vs 10 years is pretty out there relative to my experience and understanding. And depending on the charging rate (voltage) and frequency, it's possible the SLA can last longer than an AGM.

[Kruat]

Red top for about the last 6 years.

[axnjaksn]

I have a remote mount in the spare wheel well with an Optima Red Top and it has lasted about 3 years. What are you guys using?

Hap wit dakine shocking question from Leaboost, Maguire

I had oem battery in there from who knows when...recently replaced with another oem - I get employee discount at the audi dealer so as to my reason for doing so.

Ive had the small odyssey style ones in previous cars that have lasted forever...

ive also recently replaced my dads agm oem Mercedes battery in his E55 from 2005.....made it about 10 years and I can vouch that sometimes those agm batteries just last forever.....idk why as to the long lasting agm's....some ive seen not last anywhere near as long......still 5 years or so...then there are the odd ones just hang in there for longer

[james 408]

my understanding is it's due to the recharge capacity. Dual stage agms are even better. Basically FLA/SLA can be discharged and recharged fewer times, but can accept higher voltage on recharge. AGMs can be discharged in recharged more times, but cannot handle above 15 volts (quick charges) without damaging the battery. Dual stage agms are the same as agms, but can be recharged even more times.

So yes, agms generally last longer, but not if you let it sit over a winter/repair project and then quick charge it.

http://www.vehicleservicepros.com/ar...ur-application

I think AGMs do recharge faster though for any given voltage because of the lower resistances. They also discharge at a significantly slower rate when just sitting.


So on a car application, yeah AGM is the way to go. But I know i've gone through them in as short as 2-3 years because i've just thrown the thing on a quick charge (high voltage) when i've needed to get somewhere and my jump box wasn't charged - which is about the same life as an SLA.

[JordanBetch]

Red top for me. My buddy had a blue top in his mustang that was in a boat for 10 years and had 0 problems for the 2 years he had the car.


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[Drehmoment]

My original OEM lasted almost a decade......so I got another one from the dealer for about $ 120 after discounts with no core charge or core required.

No need to re invent the wheel, stick with OEM.

[christianb5s4]

My car came with a Duralast AGM battery, so I ended up replacing it with the Duralast Gold AGM ($120) and have had no issues. Plus an awesome warranty.

[ildottore46]

My car came with a Duralast AGM battery, so I ended up replacing it with the Duralast Gold AGM ($120) and have had no issues. Plus lifetime warranty.

Howd u get a lifetime warranty? Mine has a 5 yr warranty. 3 free replacement and 2 year prorate.

Im working at Autozone while im going to college. Ive never seen a lifetime warranty on any of our batteries.


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[a4kamila6]

I have that new bosch gel battery in my c5 and the standard bosch in my b5. My last bosch lasted me 5 years but I hear good stuff about these Optima batteries. My father on the other hand likes DieHard, seem to do the job for him.

[christianb5s4]

Changed my post, you're right I just double checked. Not sure why I thought lifetime warranty on a battery made any sense lol.

[ildottore46]

🏻️i wish they were lifetime warranties, that would be unbeatable for the price

I used bosch batteries in my c5 a6 (3.0). My s4 has h7-dlg and My mk5 has an oem battery


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[a4kamila6]

I didnt know about AGM batteries till now, didnt know the difference. Next battery I buy will be AGM, im curious to see if it can last a decade.

[ildottore46]

I didnt know about AGM batteries till now, didnt know the difference. Next battery I buy will be AGM, im curious to see if it can last a decade.

If u want an agm, id look into odyssey. The optima batteries arent as good as they were.


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[audacity]

walmart batteries...same price as everywhere else 2 year replacement, forever as long as you have the reciept. buy them once and never buy them again they just take them back.

[a4kamila6]

walmart batteries...same price as everywhere else 2 year replacement, forever as long as you have the reciept. buy them once and never buy them again they just take them back.

Smart man