optima battery

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
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gainesville
anyone here running an optima battery? which is the best one to use? I have been looking at the red and the yellow top. they both cost about the same and I cant tell what the difference is between the two.:shrug:
 
Cost the same? I don't recall the price right off but my Yellow was a lot more than the Red. I got the Yellow because supposedly you can drain it stone dead and it'll take a charge.


Do a search, there were 2 huge threads on this when i bought mine, lots of good info and part numbers for the ones that will fit in a Fox.
 
Yeah you really can't go wrong with either one....but i wouldn't run a Yellow top without at least a 3G alt.



Well...i dunno. I can't really think of any reason to back that up really. It's supposed to take a charge really fast....i don't know any technical reasons but i just wouldn't.
 
I think the yellow tops are more for stereo systems. Had a guy bring in a yellow top into work few days ago to charge it up, wouldnt take a charge :shrug: He told me he used it for a stereo system though.

I got a red top in my car, got it about a few days ago, I've had someone come in and say their optima lasted them for 7 years. They are very good batteries, I love the fact that their dry.
 
at the stores here they are within 15 dollars of each other. the blue one is the one that costs some serious bank, but that is a marine battery.
I already have a 3g. I have drained my current battery so many times even the 3g is having a hard time keeping it going. :(
 
I am really wanting it b/c you can mount it in any postition and that will come in handy when it gets relocated the trunk in my vert.
 
The Yellow is more for high voltage demand cars, like if you've got a stereo, efan, powerful ignition etc. I got it because if it can handle all that then i shouldn't have any problems.
 
I have had a few red tops and none of them have been good.

I would let my car sit for a week or so at a time and go to get in it and the battery would be dead so I would charge it and drive it for a few day, and park it again for a week or so same thing would happen. So after a few time of this I unhooked the battery and let the car sit a week and hooked it back up and dead again. Did this with 3 of the optima's. So i went back to an everstart.
 
I have been considering an Odyssey Battery or the Yellow Top Optima for the Stang, my Generic Autozone Battery has been in the Stang for 9 Years now and it is going to need to be replaced in the next year.
 
I have a red top in my hatch and it's been great. I had the "dead battery" syndrome described by 88mouse with my first one but only when it was really cold outside(I live in Canada). They exchanged it and this ones been great so far for the last 2 years.
 
Interstate bought out Optima a few years ago, so the quality control improved drastically.

I had one that was made in 02, and the thing **** the bed late last year after about 6 months of use. But from what im hearing, the newer batteries are leaps and bounds better than the originals
 
Interstate bought out Optima a few years ago, so the quality control improved drastically.

I had one that was made in 02, and the thing **** the bed late last year after about 6 months of use. But from what im hearing, the newer batteries are leaps and bounds better than the originals

They were actually bought out by JCI (Johnson Controls) back around 2000. A friend worked there (JCI) up until a year ago (layoff's) and he got me the factory discount. I was able to pick up what was then a $250 yellow top battery (they have since gone up) for $90 shipped! :nice: