Local Optima battery dealer

[SandyC]

Anybody recommend a place locally that carries Optima [Red Top] batteries at a decent price? I think it's about time...

[James Stern]

Try Autozone.

[Car Nut]

The cheapest I've found Costco and Sam's Club. They require you're battery core or they charge you for it.

[Scotchman]

I got mine from Costco several years ago. I'm not sure they carry the red tops anymore.

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

I got mine at Pep Boys. Watched for a sale. They even replaced it free once within warantee.

AZ Bob

[FUNFER2]

I recall a thread here that these batteries were a big problem. Charging, not charging properly, have to have a special charger, etc...... Any personal credit to these and more issues ?

Other than various mounting options, what are the pro's & con's ?
There more expensive as well, compared to say, the Interstate which I've had for 9 years in my trunk, standing upright, and still going with no issues, so why pay more ?

[vettestr]

In the Pros/Cons of a gel cell from my experience anyway. The gel cells do seem to live longer where they get bounced around like 4 wheelers, track cars, drag cars and boats. They also seem to produce less corrosion from vapors and no acid to spill. They can be mounted in any position and never need water but no sealed battery needs water.

CONS - Price range is a little higher than some options. They do not like chargers with a high amp setting. Don't like being left discharged so they need a Battery Tender or a trickle charger. just my 2 cents

[fordracing65]

Interstate bought optima, they have an outlet sore in mesa on southern and alma school, they have refubished batteries also.

[FUNFER2]

They bought them out. Interesting.

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

Actually it appears Optima is owned by Johnson Controls Co. and Interstate is a privately owned company that sells batteries made by Johnson Controls.
Interstate Batteries - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and
Johnson Controls - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AZ Bob

[badrich]

I know there has been a lot written about Optima batteries, pro and con, lately, but since I have had such positive results, I feel I owe them my commentary. I purchased my Cobra about nine years ago and my battery has been one of the best components on my machine. I have replaced the original FE engine (blew up), installed a Shelby 427, and then had to rebuild the Shelby, which has been running fine for ~3 years now. I've done nothing special for the battery other than move it to behind the passenger's seat, still in the boot. And place it on a trickle charger when the car was not running. Oh, I recently installed one of their cool billet aluminium hold-downs. When this battery finally croaks, I plan on ordering another Optima, in spite of the grief some of you have had.

Jim McIlvaine (OptimaJim) is their eCare Manager and he has written well on the subject. You may want to send him a private message. Rich

[Fitz]

I have replaced my battery 1 time since the car was built. I didn't wait until it quit charging. I remember Mike laying on his back during Route 66 replacing his. Too much to worry about so I just replaced it after 4-5 years.

I got two small Optima gel otor cycle batteries that are mounted down in the noise side by side long ways. less space. This way when you go head on into someone or thing the batteries will finish you off?/@!

[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...

[Karl Bebout]

Sandy, see if you can find a camera, or borrow one, to take a picture of your working fuel gauge. (for you that don't know, Sandy is the "photographer to the stars" when he goes along on any of the AZ Cobra Club runs. Truly outstanding talent!)

[Joey.S]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

I recall a thread here that these batteries were a big problem. Charging, not charging properly, have to have a special charger, etc...... Any personal credit to these and more issues ?

Other than various mounting options, what are the pro's & con's ?
There more expensive as well, compared to say, the Interstate which I've had for 9 years in my trunk, standing upright, and still going with no issues, so why pay more ?

My red top lasted 2 1/2 years and I found it didn't hold the charge as long as my regular batteries, I just use regular batteries now.

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

You have a point there. My original battery was an Interstate. Lasted a long time, like 7 years (that's like 10 years outside of AZ.) Replaced it with an Optima Red Top about 4 years ago from Pep Boys. At 23 months it died and was replace no charge. Current Red Top is now 2 years old and I am watching.........

AZ Bob

[RedSnake351]

My Red Top died last year, 3 months out of warranty and I was not going to buy another one. Then my buddy gave me his 5 year old Red Top which I've used until last May. I left it sitting in my 150? degree garage in AZ, forgetting to put it on a battery tender over the summer.
When I get back at the end of next month and it starts the Cobra after sitting 6 months (which I really doubt), then I will definitely buy another Red Top.

Ralph

[FUNFER2]

I may try one someday, but my Interstate is 8 years old with no issues, and I don't even use my tender all the time.