My stock battery has finally seen a better day...not bad considering I bought my '03 new...

Anyway, I'm torn between the Bosch Premium and an Interstate Megatron...they are the same price +/- $5, and I have had good success running 2 Megatrons in my boat...both are made by Johnson as far as my research goes, but the Bosch has a 36 month no questions asked warranty, whereas the Interstate I believe is 24 months...

Anybody have input about the Bosch? The warranty seems like the deal breaker...

-Mark

 

optima red tops, expensive but they last a looong time

 

Optima red for me.. ive got close to 300k and 9 years on mine in the TL and still starting strong. I have one even older in my parents S10 still starting strong.

 

I forgot to mention, I have no need for an Optima...I'm not cheap but I cannot justify spending $200 for a battery, my Porsche battery wasn't that expensive...

Especially since a battery half the price will perform just as good, last just as long, and also, I've heard from quite a few people that Optimas aren't made as well as they used to be...

 

Just put an Interstate Megatron in my TL. I'm with you, I've been using them for years with great success. I've yet to replace one...

 

They really are great batteries...one of my marine Megatron's had trouble holding a charge about 2 months after the warranty expired and Interstate replaced it with no questions...

 

bosch in my tl for a few years now.

 

flip a coin- both are well regarded
If it takes a dump in 2 years which has better coverage?

 

interstate batteries are one of the best in the automotive battery industry.. so i say go with the megatron !

 

I went with the Bosch one from pep boys...$95 and there were two options...I went with the one that had 1000 Cranking amps. Not too many single batteries can make that claim. Bosch makes a quality product.

 

And what kind of need does it need to offer? It starts the car and lasts MUCH longer than conventional batteries?

 

I do see your point, however I have always had great success with batteries costing half as much lasting for probably just as long, give or take a year or 2...and have heard from a few people around here that when they bought new Optima's to replace their old ones, that they were having problems with them not lasting as long...My marine Megatron's have lasted me almost 7 years, and those boys get worked HARD on the boat.

And I know there are a ton of variables to consider regarding battery health & life, but to hear that from 3 people is enough for me.

Plus, I plan on selling/trading in my '03 in the spring for an '08 so it just doesn't make sense to spend $200 on a battery now, only to let it go with the car in the spring, or have to spend more money on an additional battery to go with the car if I want to keep the Optima.

I'm going to go with the Bosch - $82, an additional 12 months on the warranty, and an additional 175CCA over the Interstate...sounds good to me.

-Mark

 

And that monster fit in your battery tray?!? What group size is that? haha

 

Sure did brother...
I have a system and so many other little electronic nick knacks going...I thought it was a good move.
I originally had another bosch for 2 months...the smaller one...it was defective from factory as it was overfilled and there was some acid leaking from the top, so I did some research and found that BOSCH made a bigger one for $5 more.

I went in to pep boys...talked to the manager and he agreed to let me pay the difference to upgrade. I'm happy and expect a long life from it.
I agree about not dropping double the money on something you probably won't be keeping double the time. Plus, I personally like the engine bay looking somewhat stock, meaning, no big red battery in it (no offense to those that DID drop the cash for one, just my preference).

Here are the two...the smaller one on top and the one I just got on the bottom. The bigger one fits the battery tray as if it were custom made for our car, I kid you not. The smaller one LOOKED small, to me.

It's the 78DT850B model number I got...850CCA/1000CA at 32 deg farenheit (which it always is in South Florida!)


http://mfr.activant.com/pepboys/servlet

Good luck!
Dual Terminal Battery

850CCA/1000CA - RESERVE MIN = 120



OE BATTERY HAS FLUSH VENTS.

• 1 per Vehicle
• LTD. 36 MONTH FREE REPLACE.

78DT850B
04-06
$95.99

[plus $10.00 core chg]

Normally Stocked
Bosch 36/96 Month Battery

640CCA/770CA - RESERVE MIN. = 100



OE BATTERY HAS FLUSH VENTS.

• 1 per Vehicle

35-640B
04-06
CALL FOR PRICE

 

Well that's awesome! Good to know about the 1000CCA model. I opted for the 770. It rnded up being $62 with a $10 off coupon and $20 rebate, and in my humble opinion that is a great deal!

-Mark

 

Mark, at 60 bucks...it's hard to argue that point! lol...
In the grand scheme of things...our own humble opinion is all that matters to us anyway, right?

 

So true my friend, so true!

You know, I hate to get rid of my '03 because I love the look of the 2nd gens with the body kit, but I would really love an '08 TL-S, or an '05 A-Spec...

 

You can pick them up for a pretty decent price at this point...
Had I NOT bought my stepfather's lease out, I would have probably kept my RSX-S forever, myself.
I have an 04 Aspec and was looking at an 08 Type S at the local dealership but I couldn't justify pulling the trigger and spending over 200 bucks a month for the same car I already have. But if I were in an 03 that would have been a different story. There are a LOT of type S's showing up at the dealerships these days.

Anyway, Happy Holidays and just to keep us on topic...congrats on the new battery and great deal!
J.

 

Probably a good idea then. I have replaced mine and now 3 yrs. later it's getting weak and not starting as well. If the Optima's last that long, then they are a good idea. I've never had a battery last longer than 3-5 years.

 

a lot of reviews nowadays say that the quality has dropped on them though...maybe they realized if your target market is limited and their batteries last almost a decade...

you do the math...lol.

 

Costco battery with a lifetime warranty FTW! I've never actually tried or even heard of optima batteries.

 

Hi SBUtypeS
Congrats on the new battery...I am also in search of a new battery and am considering geting a bosch. How did you get the discounts from pepboys on the battery? Thanks for your help in advance.

Mike

 

All things considered, with you getting rid of the car next year there's no point in getting anything other than your 60 dollar battery. Hands down, thats a bargain for something that you just need to get the job done.

If you had a big sound system or were looking to track your car, then there'd be a point to talking about beefier batteries or lighter weight dry cell ones. there's some batteries you can upgrade to that are so lightweight that they are more weightsavings than a carbon fiber hood! then again, they are about 100 bucks more than the battery you bought.

 

Mike,

Pep Boys has a printable $10 Off of a $50+ purchase coupon on their website, and the Bosch battery has a $20 mail in rebate. I believe that both end on 12/31 however, so get there before close of business on Thursday!

-Mark

 

DAMNit! I just read the thread now...My battery is getting ready to go and was looking for Batt's. I might be going with Interstate

 

I got my battery from my cousin who owns a construction supply store and sells batteries. 900cca and buit to last. my original battery last from the cars build date of 11-01 until 11-09 when it was replaced. I replaced it at the first sign of trouble..it lasted 8 years