[SandyC]

Okay, here's what I did. I needed a #34 Optima Red Top battery. The best price I found was on Amazon (I didn't hyperlink "Amazon", evidently that happens automatically on this forum for some reason, sorry) for $165 with free shipping and no taxes. The next best price I found was at Pep Boys locally for $185 (plus tax). I couldn't find an Interstate outlet store, however I did find an Interstate store on Alma School and Broadway in Mesa and they wanted $213 (plus tax). Ah but then I found a $20 web coupon for Pep Boys which brought their price down to $165 (plus tax). I figured it was worth paying the tax in order to be able to easily return the battery if defective, so I bought the battery at Pep Boys and am good to go for another few years.

Thanks everybody for your input!

BTW, my previous Optima battery was about 4 years old and going strong when I replaced it. Every other brand battery I've had here in Phoenix gets cooked and dies after 2 years. I replaced the Optima just because I was getting nervous not believing it could possibly last much longer and didn't want to get stuck. Who knows how long it would have lasted? Optima is an excellent battery in my opinion.

On a completely unrelated note, I got a pleasant surprise when for absolutely no apparent reason after three years the inductive fuel quantity sensor in my racing cell started working and the fuel gauge is actually accurate. Been that way for three tanks now, but I'm not holding my breath...