What Batteries are in Your Cars DD or Classic and Which Brand you Perfer?

[DanStokes]

OEM in the HHR (almost 100K miles), whatever was in the Dakota when I bought it a few years back - still starts every morning. The Buzz Bomb has an AutoZone cheapie that I put in when I bought the car as the one in it was kaput - still going strong. I need a new Optima in the 'Stang as it finally bit the dust after about 12-15 years. BTW - Costco has a screaming deal on Optimas.

Dan

[The Outsider]

Optima, Motorcraft (the Johnson Controls ones) and (sadly enough) Wal-Mart (they suck but they're convenient and nationwide for warranty purposes)

Brands I won't use: Exide, Interstate (too expensive; sponsors of Gibbs "Toyotas"), AC/Delco (or whatever they call 'em now . . . unless it's branded Motorcraft and comes with a Ford-backed warranty . . . Yes, Virginia, there were some OEM Motorcrafts made by Delphi (or whoever makes the silly "wonder-eye" battery), O'Reilly (they wouldn't warranty a tractor battery because I bought it in the tractor), AutoZone, NAPA (the NASCAR "Toyota" thing again), CSK (sales clerks are too ignorant), Advance (still mad that they killed the Western Auto brand after I'd bought a pile of "lifetime" parts), Pep Boys (not enough locations for warranty, not convenient).

Brand I'd use if it was more convenient: Sears Diehard

[Stich496]

only fools buy a battery by warranty a silver and a gold are the same battery. you just pay extra, betting it'll die before the time runs out

[TheSilverBuick]

Duralast Golds in the Buick's and T-bird. A NAPA one in the Jeep because there is only a NAPA in town. Don't know what's in the truck.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Costco and Les Schwab. Both have excellent warranties and have covered them when the battery went bad. In fact, I just had to replace them (costco) in my diesel truck - cost me $40 for the difference in price (prorated, and price increased) for two batteries. The batteries were 4 years old.

But here's the bit that I find best - neither Schwab nor Costco checks the battery. I've had a battery that went dead, and while the store admitted the battery was not fully holding its charge, because the little needle on their tester said it was "okay" they wouldn't do anything for me....

[SpiderGearsMan]

hhr and cobalt batteries last due to in trunk position ..caddys buicks under the rear seat too

[Runner1972]

Costco and Les Schwab. Both have excellent warranties and have covered them when the battery went bad. In fact, I just had to replace them (costco) in my diesel truck - cost me $40 for the difference in price (prorated, and price increased) for two batteries. The batteries were 4 years old.

But here's the bit that I find best - neither Schwab nor Costco checks the battery. I've had a battery that went dead, and while the store admitted the battery was not fully holding its charge, because the little needle on their tester said it was "okay" they wouldn't do anything for me....

I've had issues with that plenty of times in my job. This one old guy recently bolt a 6 volt battery for an old jeep and I took this old core that was completely dead. He comes back a few hours later and the battery I just sold him isn't working either, hook it up to the battery machine and it's reading 200 CCA then it should. I make up a test code and gave him another battery

I've been in the same boat when batteries I know were no good and the person in charge didn't want to either warranty the battery or just a complete piece of work to put it lightly.

But, I have also had to tell people no because how can you kill 3 batteries in a few months?
Had a big problem with a guy driving an old Toyota that needed an alternator, but just kept showing up wanting this battery replaced.

Had to get my boss involved on that one and haven't seen the guy or that damn car since

[The Outsider]

only fools buy a battery by warranty a silver and a gold are the same battery. you just pay extra, betting it'll die before the time runs out

Wrong. The better batteries usually weigh more and have better plate insulator material.

[squirrel]

The more expensive batteries are usually better made, but the added quality is not proportional to the added price. Most of the extra cost goes towards the warranty and the advertising.

With the price of alternators for late model cars, replacing the battery before it dies can be a cost saving measure

[The Outsider]

I've had issues with that plenty of times in my job. This one old guy recently bolt a 6 volt battery for an old jeep and I took this old core that was completely dead. He comes back a few hours later and the battery I just sold him isn't working either, hook it up to the battery machine and it's reading 200 CCA then it should. I make up a test code and gave him another battery

I've been in the same boat when batteries I know were no good and the person in charge didn't want to either warranty the battery or just a complete piece of work to put it lightly.

But, I have also had to tell people no because how can you kill 3 batteries in a few months?
Had a big problem with a guy driving an old Toyota that needed an alternator, but just kept showing up wanting this battery replaced.

Had to get my boss involved on that one and haven't seen the guy or that damn car since

The hardest rule in tire & battery retail . . . the customer's always right. Back in the old Western Auto days, I never bought a new battery because we always had such a supply of nearly-new customer take-outs. Then Sears switched us to AC/Delco . . . lots of warranty fun . . . .