Odyssey, Interstate or Diehard? Opinions appreciated. Only AGM types under consideration. They all cost about the same in this area.

 

I went with Honda battery because my local dealer will sell me one installed for $109.

 

Ive heard 90% of American batteries come from the same parent company. You may get differing quality based on where they are made, but if it fits, go for high CCA, best prorated warranty and cheapest price. It just starts the engine, nothing special.

:ibtehmovetoCarTalk:

 

I believe the Diehard platinum is made by Odyssey. I read that while researching a potential new battery for my plow truck. I had an unused optima red top and threw that in the truck for now since my O'Reilly super start extreme isn't cutting it.

 

I use advanced auto, order online, 30% off coupon code pick up in store. Brand doesn't matter too much for me, I buy as many CCA as I can fit in the space provided.

 

Apparently advanced auto goes by carquest in CA. If you do go the order online and pick up in store route, the code TRT30 will take 30% of any order over $50 (I've used this several times). TRT41 should take $40 off anything over $100 (although I haven't tried this one).

Like someone else said, it just starts the car. Unless weight is a concern, it's really all about cold cranking amps.

 

Get an Interstate from Costco, or whoever charges the least for the Interstate.
IIRC, they have at least 100 CCA more than OEM, which is 450 CCA.

My last two Diehards died before the warranties ended; the Interstates worked beyond their warranties.

Are you nuts, posting this thread here rather than in Car Talk?

 

Hi Dan and anyone else interested in car batteries,

Odysseys are really awesome (great specs, made in the US, 4-year full warranty). If you use your vehicle regularly and the vehicle doesn't have issues, Odysseys should last you about 8 years or so. If you don't drive regularly, you may want to invest in a maintainer/trickle charger.

The current Platinum Die Hards look like NorthStar batteries, which are very, very similar to Odyssey. They claim to be better, and it's possible - but they haven't been around as long as Odyssey so they aren't as proven. But they're excellent batteries.

If you want an AGM (which I highly recommend) but don't need a true deep cycle like Odyssey, Northstar, or Optima Yellow Top, then you could look into Exide's "Edge" line. They're similar to Optima Red Tops, but are made in the US, have a 4-year full warranty, and should cost less.

I don't know who makes the Interstate AGM.

 

Hey Dan, moving to Car Talk okay?

 

D'oh! Ignore my prior post-- I missed the part about AGM batteries, and was thinking lead-acid batteries. I must be nuts...

 

If your battery dies before the warranty, doesn't that make your next battery cost less? Seems like a win in my book.

 

Yep. I've been running a Wal-Mart EverStart Maxx in one of my cars for at least 8 years now. I pick the oldest sticker on the shelf and keep my receipt. I just xerox a copy, stick it in a ziploc baggie and tape it to the side of the battery. I've had 2 replacements, three batteries total, all free.

I've also learned if you go to Wal-Mart at 2 AM or so with your dead battery, they'll take your word for it and not test it before giving you a new one.

 

What Wackjum said.

 

I go with Bosch from Pep Boys...last approximately 3 years and they prorate. 1000 CCA too...

I like the Walmart idea though!

 

I haven't had to replace too many car batteries recently, but historically I have always gone with a DieHard. Last two replacements were as follows - OEM warranty replacement for my 08 TL-S back in 11 and DieHard Platinum for my daughter's 09 Accord in Jan of this year.

 

Johnson Controls makes most if not all wet batteries. Interstate and Die Hard are same internally. (I know this because I worked for Johnson Controls for 5 years)

Only difference is case and varied warranties.

 

if that's the case, then with 1000CCA...I have a really big Johnson.

 

 

 

:ghey:

 

oh wait...

 

i expected something else based on the title...you suck.

 

hahaha...
I expected a bukake party.

I was not disappoint.