Anyone use an Optima battery? Looking to put one in the 70 Cutlass. Want to use the stock battery tray and hold down. Also are they worth it?

 

I don't think its worth it. I've had really good luck with Walmart Everstart batteries.

 

I've used nothing but optima for the last 15 years or so and have had no issues, I'm still on the same one in my car now that I started with 15 years ago. The thing with optima or any gel type battery is the charging, they do not like high amperage. I typically don't unhook the battery during the winter months and I very seldom start it from about thanksgiving till about the middle of march or so and it fires right up, I also do not have any parasitic draws or anything plugged into the cigarette lighter and it's not hooked up to a charger of any type. As far as price, my price on the optima is about 175 out the door and for 15 years of service I think it's worth it, the other thing to consider is the reserve capacity (how long the vehicle can run on nothing but the batter at a 20 amp discharge and no alternator) the optima is at 90 minutes, allot of your cheaper batteries either don't even rate it or it's very low. Good luck.

 

I have a group 24 Exide battery in the car that needs to be replaced. I didn't see an Optima group 24. What size would fit in the stock tray with hold down? Can I go with a Group 27 or i see 34?

 

15 years ago Optimas were great batteries - I currently have one in two different vehicles. For many years they were the preferred / recommended battery by the local off-roading community due to their ruggedness and reliability.

Unfortunately, the newer Optimas are not as reliable as the older ones. My third vehicle (Jeep) had one and it died just out of warranty. Brought it back to Costco and found they stopped carrying them due to all of the warranty returns. I got a full refund, went to an auto parts store, and bought an Optima there. That Optima died just out of warranty (3 years, I think?), so I went back to Costco and bought a regular Interstate battery, which has been doing well for several years now.

So my bottom line is no more Optimas for me due to the poor reliability.

 

Similar unfavorable Optima Red results here - went thru 2 in 3 years (2nd one was a warranty replacement for the 1st), both started out working perfectly but developed perpetual discharge conditions within a year which would cripple it after only 3-4 days of sitting idle. Changed to Duralast Gold, problem solved.

 

I've had an Optima red top in my crewcab dually for about 15 years now. The first one lasted about seven years. The current one has been in there since then.

 

I have had both and for lb.per-dollar, I am sticking with Walmart Ever start batteries.

 

Wow! Mixed reviews I see.

 

Optima had a very good reputation early, then it seems the quality went down. I've never owned one; two friends have and their experience mirrors what's been posted here.

No battery is really good now and warrantees suck. I've been using Advance Auto batteries and usually manage to get 5 years out of them.

 

Not really. I and others reporting good results with Optimas have the old versions (the one in my Cutlass is from 2006).

 

Okay Fun 71.... doing some research. Optima batteries are made by Johnson Controls in Mexico these days. Down went the quality. From what I seen and like therobski said earlier, Walmart Everstart have. Pretty good reviews. They are made by Exide.

 

First Optima = fabulous.

Second Optima, years later = garbage. Had to be charged every month, starting at about the 6-month mark.

My history with Exide is not good. But if they're working for you, fine.

 

Odyssey batteries. I run the 925 series. Half the size half the weight and all the power.

 

After Johnson controls bought Optima, juke now.

 

I see the Odessey is an AGM. Anyone run any of the other AGM batteries? I saw an Interstate AGM and CT has them as well for twice the price of a regular battery. Unfortunately nearly every battery is made in China and now has half the life they used to.

 

I have an Advanced Auto Parts AGM (Autocraft?). It's worked great for the past 5 years. I wouldn't waste money on an Optima red. I'd consider yellow or blue, but again, not worth the money.

 

Good to know, 5 years is impressive. We put are batteries to the test up here. Supposedly the AGM lose less cranking capacity in below freezing temps. Either -40 for potentially weeks on end or sitting half a year, very tough on batteries. I currently have a battery less than a year old, could not get it 12 volts. I fully charged it before sticking it on a plastic shelf in the basement. One bar on my 6 amp charger means dead, charged all night to get 2. Dewalt showed 10.7, meter 11 volts. Another issue I am running into is battery chargers and even volt meters. I bought a Dewalt charger and it barely will charge a battery, goes into flow mode and stops. I have gone through 3 trickle chargers in the last few years as well. My meter is questionable as well, bought a new one.

 

The odyssey battery's triple the CCA. For the first 3 seconds then if cranking continues it's will gradually drop back after 10 seconds. The AGM odyssey I have I have had for a while now. I killed one by being an idiot but the one in the race car is still strong. I bought through a local supplier for 160 I wanna say. But this was 4 or 5 years ago.

 

I have Walmart Everstart in all my vehicles. I think for price and quality they are hard to beat. I learned about these batteries on this site.

 

I have been getting 3 to 5 years out of Walmart batteries, regular and deep cycle.

 

same here no outgassing! Cheaper than optima, i was useing the walmart one but w advanced auto 25% off this was about the same price and AGM