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C3VR Life Member #4
NCM Life Member #994
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Life Member

I have Optima Red Top batteries in my '69 and '78...no problems so far. I guess time will tell.

BTW - a current issue of Consumer Reports tests numerous auto batteries, though not the Optima. The WalMart yellow battery was rated a Best Buy. The Sears Die Hard didn't work out too well in the ratings. Cost had little to do with quality and performance from their testing. Very interesting article.

I won't have a Die Hard battery (what an ironic name, should be Die Easy). 

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 Haven't had any issues with optima in my 73. Then again I haven't had a problem with my "in a pinch reconditined $20.00 battery" in my 77 

I had trouble with NAPA's best batteries and switched to the optima two years ago and have had no problems. I quess you just pay your money and take your chance.

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Annicorvette
Lifetime member # 35

AutoZone Duralast has done well for me.  Used to travel 40K+ miles /yr.  Start my blazer 15+ times /day.  Only had one go bad in an unreasonable amount of time.  Had the same one in my vette at least 7 years.

There is a chain out here called battery wholesaler. I can get a lifetime free replacement battery for my vette for 109.00. Any problems bring it back and they will replace it.  They have my business.

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Corvettes and women are the same...You want to make love to them but they keep breaking down.

I bought an optima red top because it was sealed and the battery compartment id inside the car.  13 months later it died.  I took it back to Advance Auto, they looked me up in their files and gave me a new one--NO CHARGE!  Not so good for the battery, but the retailer sure followed through.

my red optima lasted a 1 1/2 years and died dead. could not even charge it.  won't buy another one, wouldn't take one if they gave it to me. use a sears die hard now. never had a problem with the die hard, use it in my truck and my other car.

  My 80' has always been a Battery Killer. I have probably had a Dozen Optima's in it the last 12 Years. Interstate is the Distibutor for them and the Guy who Runs ours in Seattle is a Class A Jerk. A Optima will Die just like any other Battery if You have a Drain in the System somewhere. My Trucks got 7 Years or more out of them cause they were Driven every Day the way Batteries are ment to be Used. Since I have Restored My car and Ripped out all the old Sterio and Alarm Wiring and redid it all My Battery is holding up much Better. If I let the Electric Radiator Fans run after the Engine is off thats a diffrent Story. I  just Like the design of the Battery I think it was designed for the behind the Drivers Seat C-3 Body. The only way I can Remember the Receipt is to Tape it onto the Battery at the Time I purchase it and then I can allways remember where it is when I need it. Richard....

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My Car...PIC 1     PIC 2

I've had an Optima in my 74 for the last 3 years. I've shorted it out twice, and killed it (drained due to short) recharged it and never had a problem since then.

Optima make more than one grade of battery. I have the one used by NASCAR in my Jeep, It was used for a full season in our Busch car until they wrecked the car . I took it out as well as the MSD6TN ignition box and put them on the Jeep. That was over 8 years  ago and its never once failed me. If it looks like 6 pack from what I was told, don't buy it. My optima is rectangle without the six pack design. I just bought  a NAPA sealed battery for my 71, time will tell what it does. I think Exide makes those for NAPA which is what I believe Walmart sales. Personally I had rather be taking a bad battery back to my NAPA guy that I buy my parts from, then trying to talk to the employee of the day at Walmart.

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Costco is they way I go.  I have Costco batteries in all my rigs and I have never had one go bad before the garantee ran out.

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Steve, Lifetime Member #129

74 coupe 4 speed 350, 54K actual miles,
all original; paint, interior, engine,
split  bumper. #'s match. 2nd owner, no stress cracks.

 I have five vehicles and they all have the same four letter word on their batteries...BLEM  I get them from a local battery co. that supplies me with lawnmower batteries. Haven't had to change one in years, and at $25 a pop, if I did have to get a new one after 3-4-5 years, I ain't gonna complain.

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   I know the voices aren't real, but they have some pretty cool ideas...

[QUOTE=OH6A] <DIV id=post_message_1557349582>Purchased a red top optima in 09/03 with a 3 year free replacement and 3 year pro rated replacement. It failed stone dead on the 37th month. Paid $99, pro rated replacement only $91. Indeed 90% of the initial cost for the replacement. Further, the replacement must be with your receipt at the place where you bought it or another store from that chain.How many of us carry the battery receipt in the car while on a trip? Since I have had Wal-Mart 3 year yellow batteries last for 8years, I did not take the Optima pro rated offer. Bottom line: if you buy an Optima, be ready to have it socked to you when it quits. Beware!