Optima Battery

[RenegadeQ]

Ok guys, thinking about going with an Optima battery. Thoughts and Comments? I have a stock FJ-60. How about this vendor for a source?

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com

Anyone have any vendors that treated them well and would recommend?

 

[D'Animal]

I buy my Red top optimas from costco for $99.00.

 

[High Desert]

I just bought a DEKA battery It's called the intimatator, or escalator, or escaperator or some such bull****. Bought it Just for kicks, same technology as the Optima the "dry" cell deal, except the DEKA is in a case exactly like a standard battery, rectangle same size as a stock battery. the Optima is $150 + here in Central Oregon at Costco, higher everywhere else (here in central Oregon..like $190 at "JOE'S"). The DEKA was $100...same CCA as one of the red top Optima models, 850cca, but it tested out to 950CCA.

The DEKA "marine" is the same battery as the Deka "starting" battery...same specs, they are both capable of deep discharge and re-charge aka, "deep cycle", except the Marine has the regular terminals and also wing nut terminals..hooked the winch to the wing nuts, will also hook up the other extra electronics that need direct battery connection to the wing nuts..

I have only had it for two weeks, I read good reviews on it but don't know anyone who has one...like I say I just bought it to see how it would do..so if it is a bad deal I'll post as soon as it fails in any way..

The Battery that was in it was a Wal-Mart battery 525 cca. It was five years old still worked fine I just replaced it cause I figured it was "time" figured if I did use the winch in this hot weather...it'd go bottoms up..

 

[Tofudebeest]

I purchased an Orbital, blue top. $179 Napa. Over paid, but LOVE IT.

 

[mtb_rider]

The Optima battery's, and similar, are great battery's. Just don't let them go dead. If they go dead, they are hard to get to come back, and you have to charge them at low amperage. 2 amps or less, if it comes back. So if your cruiser will be sitting for any length of time, you should keep it on a Battery Tender or some other float charger. Otherwise, like I said, great batterys. I just put a blue top in mine, and have a second awaiting my dual install. The only other issue is they are about an inch shorter than a standard battery, so you have to do some shimming of sorts to raise it up enough for the hold down bar to secure it. I didn't realize this at first, so for the very short term, I just cut a couple little pieces of 2x4 to put between the battery and hold down bar to keep it secure, until I decide how to more permanently fix it.

 

[Dave-T]

Optimas are great, and if I were you I'd get one locally.

 

[CruisinFJ60]

i have an optima yellow top.

 

[brokenparts]

I have the red and yellow... great combo.

 

[takeitforgranite]

red top in my subaru.... LOVE it.

and x2 on Costco - maybe even less than 99 bucks at Costco in Reno... can't remember.

 

[tlcruzr]

Try an on-line search for "free shipping on optima batteries", or something to that effect. I bought mine via the internet for a very reasonable price. The best part was that it was delivered within two days, with no shipping fees. I forget the exact name of the on-line vendor, but it was something similar to "battery barn"... I bought the optima red top, which has served me well. Good luck!
-l

 

[Man Jerk]

Optimas are garbage. Don't buy one.

 

[samba]

Optimas are garbage. Don't buy one.

how do you figure? please tell.

 

[Man Jerk]

Do a search. Optimas quality has seriously gone downhill. Used to be they were reliable as hell.

Not anymore.

I'll never waste my money again.

 

[lowtideride]

I agree, I have a red top in my 60 for about 6 years and put a new red top in the 80 that just kept dying.

I really did like optimas but am unsure if I would buy a newer one agian.

I really dont know what other battery to get?

Maybe an orbital..??..

 

[Zack1978]

I have a red top in my 72 Karmann Ghia, and it has been fine, but I can't see it being any better than an Interstate?

With respect to Costco the red tops were $99.00, however as of recent they have gone way up in price at Costco. They are well over $100.00 at my local Costco.

With that said IMHO I think Interstate is the best battery made. In my Pathfinder the Interstate went 8 full years and was still fine when I got a new one. The only reason I purchased a new battery was that I was headed to upstate NY with very cold temps, and I didn't want any issues at -30F.

 

[CruisinFJ60]

im told that odyssey batteries are verry good as well. and are a deep cycle battery.

that is what our troops humvees have in them as well..

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/specs.htm
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/documents/US-ODY-1500-002_1206.pdf

batery FAQ website i found.....
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm#Major Battery Types

 

[Tinker]

Optima was developed by the Gates Rubber Co. in Denver in the early 1970s. I've been using them ever since. Can't really tell if they've gone downhill since Interstate bought them. They did "warranty" the red-top in my Quattro last year so it only cost me $50-70.

When you buy a new red-top it has a case on the top that becomes a stand so it fits just like a standard-sized battery.

Batteries Plus gave me a smokin' deal on the red-top 4-5 years ago for my '84 60 & my Quattro before that. It's a franchise & there may be one in your neck of the woods. They delivered the one for my 60 along with a yellow-top & let me try-fit both & pay for the one I chose.

 

[batman]

I have had a Blue top for the last 2 years. I have never had a problem with it. IMHO I would not buy anything else.

 

[elkiny]

Red top from Costco, $99

 

[Zack1978]

Red top from Costco, $99

Where? What year? When? They were $99.00 at Costco?


Zack