Battery Question

[Bosrudorfer]

Ok, I am come to the conclusion that I need a new battery and through searching found that redtop and yellowtop are the best. I checked the local prices here and they are near $150 without the 8.8% tax. Now I can't spend that much, and am looking at speading half of that (somewhere near $75).

My question is what is the best battery I could get for that price? Is there another battery which is good which sells around that price?

I do have an aftermarket sound system with no subwoofer and a car alarm. Or am I just being cheap, go buy the best and stop with it already?

[EW]

You should be able to find a SC34U red top for around $120. $99 at costco. The red top has a better warranty than the yellow top. Interstate megatron should be around $75.

[Bosrudorfer]

You should be able to find a SC34U red top for around $120. $99 at costco. The red top has a better warranty than the yellow top. Interstate megatron should be around $75.

Let me call the local Costco and check their prices however I was unable to find it on costco.com

Also I noticed there are several models of red top, which should I get? #25 , #75/35 , #34, # 34/78, #34R ?

Thanks for the info!!!

[Rex]

I'd vote for the redtop as well. Optima has a great history.

[Chezedik]

I think you may just have too much money. Why do you need an optima? The fact is, you are not drifting, rallying, or the like, you do not need a battery designed for heavy vibration. A good high end normal battery will have 60 cycles in it or so, so you don't need a battery that will need more cycles than that. If you perform proper maintainence then you will get 3-5yrs out of that one. For half the price. Also, good luck on charging an AGM, no, I mean it. Research that one. But if you are insistant on getting that damn redtop you will want a 34 or 35 group, but that may give you a problem fitting it for top height. I would be surprised to find out that they do not make a 24F(R) group, which is what you will need. Don't waste your money on a difficult to deal with AGM, unless you are getting it to clear your intercooler piping.

[Jookmasta]

well if he is in fl like me, u wont' get 3-5 yrs worth out of a battery. i am also in the same boat as him but i do have a subwooofer along with a bunch of electronic gadgets monitoring my vitals on the engine. yes, ur alternator won't charge back up the yellow top. im looking at the redtop. i just need it to be the same size as a stock sized battery............is 24 what im looking for?

[Bosrudorfer]

LOL nope don't have too much money thus is why I am asking what I need instead of running to the store and instantly buying And like I said (does anyone read the posts?) I don't really want to spent the $120+ for red top (unless its well well well worth it) and asked what would be the best battery I could get for say $75 or less.

Can you recommend any 'good high end normal batteries with 60 cycles in it or so'?

And I am in Washington where it's always cold and rains most of time.

Thanks!

[574-240sx]

I had a red top in my KA-T and it worked well and I had it mounted in the rear. I would check your local advanced auto because I got mine cheaper than $120 from what I can remember.

[Nismofreek823]

if you have a mercedes dealer near by, go there and talk to the techs and see if any of them have black gel battery they would be willing to get rid of for 75. That battery is awesome. retails for around 300. the big ones require relocation but give you 950-1000 cca, the small one are the size of the stock 240 battery and put out around 750-800, and they never go bad, but i do believe thats all gel batterys. If your in maryland or close to and want to make a trip I got one. I wont ship it though.

[naed240sx]

I think you may just have too much money. Why do you need an optima? The fact is, you are not drifting, rallying, or the like, you do not need a battery designed for heavy vibration. A good high end normal battery will have 60 cycles in it or so, so you don't need a battery that will need more cycles than that. If you perform proper maintainence then you will get 3-5yrs out of that one. For half the price. Also, good luck on charging an AGM, no, I mean it. Research that one. But if you are insistant on getting that damn redtop you will want a 34 or 35 group, but that may give you a problem fitting it for top height. I would be surprised to find out that they do not make a 24F(R) group, which is what you will need. Don't waste your money on a difficult to deal with AGM, unless you are getting it to clear your intercooler piping.

]

Wait? Why does anyone need an optima battery for racing? I thought they only helped with sound systems and electronics and the like? I drive my car very hard on the streets and have drifted at one event, and never had issues? I also have a coilover setup. Are you saying that vibrations and quick driving will ruin the battery quicker than an optima? If so, why?

[574-240sx]

for the record gel batteries do go bad. Happened to my friends TA he would leave the battery in the car while it was instorage for 5 months at a time and after 4 years the battery was toast.

[EW]

Picture is SC34U in 95 S14.Some people are not cheap and they want a better battery. The Optima SC34U fits fine in an S14. You want the 34 or 34/78DT series because it is larger than the 75/35 series. We sell the SC34U which is the 34/78DT (DT=dual terminal) because it has top and side post connections so I can put it in anything. Some models have the positive and negative reversed (34R) because of how the cables are laid out under the hood. You can not store cars for any length of time and expect the battery to last. IF you unhook ALL connections to an Optima, it will last 1 year without a charge. However, modern cars have computers, radios, etc that pull power all the time. If your car sits for more than a day or two and you want the battery to last, buy a Battery Tender Plus $59 and plug the car in as soon as you park it. It will maintain the battery and keep it fully charged without overcharging it. Some people get as much as 10 years out of a battery like this.

[Chezedik]

24 group is what the Nissan and most foriegn cars run. I have an Advance Autocraft titanium in mine, it's pretty powerful. The only reason you would use it for racing is that AGM batteries have a higher tolerance to high vibration that a lead plate battery.

[skillet]

i use an odessey(sp) battery. its about half the size of stock, and you can get them on ebay for around 80 bux with terminals. i also have an alarm, and a decent sound system. even left my dome light on all night last week and had no problems. check them out.

[Nismofreek823]

actually gel batts dont go bad. if they go dead, they will show as being bad. when they get like that they need is to be charged at 24 volts in series with another battery to give it a "kick" per say, and make it hold a charge again.