Battery Recommendations?

[Slider]

I know this is like asking "what is your favorite color?" but it's time to replace the battery on my MK4 with 2011 Coyote. Anyone have any particular recommendations? I have a front mount battery if that impacts the decision at all. Just curious and thanks in advance.

[chrisarella]

Color = Red, as in Optima Red Top Group 51 AGM battery which has high cold cranking amps. This is assuming you have Breeze's front mount and are driving a street car.

Lithium is better than AGM, but I believe AGM is the best bang for your buck considering the cost of Lithium. It is too premature to invest in Lithium right now as prices are insane. Pretty sh*tty considering how long Lithium batteries have been around as a technology.

Gel is also an option but more expensive than AGM, and Gel doesn't last as long as AGM.

My $0.02 FWIW.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Just a good old lead acid group 51 from Interstate, Autozone, etc. That is unless you like to keep your car on charger if you're going to park it for more than a few days at a time (feel free to look up my Optima battery post from a few months ago) ;)

Jeff

[chrisarella]

I saw that post Jeff. If I send you my car to paint, I'll charge it up first. lol

There is a wide mix of experiences. To each there own, each battery isn't the same within the same product line, and each person applies a different level of care for their batteries. Even in the parts store, they test batteries before selling them because they discharge on the shelves.

Years ago, I was a tech for Acura. When I'd go out to the back lot to prep new cars being sold I'd always bring the charger cart because 1/3 of the batteries were dead. These are new cars that came from the factory. When cars are driven regularly their batteries tend to last longer.

Temperature also plays a critical role in the life of a battery, especially in flooded batteries. I live in FL, where the heat cooks off batteries extremely fast. The guys at Autozone got to know me pretty well just off of my battery experiences. I had an 03 mustang gt with an alarm and GPS on it. I drove it roughly once/week (sometimes once evey two weeks). Having accessories in a car that vampire the battery in the Florida heat and don't get driven is a recipe for dead batteries. After a battery failed in 2012, I bought a Duralast Gold because it had a 3yr warranty (I like added insurance in general). In that 3yr time, I replaced it 4x on their warranty. I bought another one after the warranty period was up and then replaced it 3x more. This last time around I got the Optima Red top last year before I gave the car to my daughter. No battery issues for 18 months. Now, I'm not going to say the red top has lasted because of the quality of battery or the fact that she drives the car every day. Who knows.

Outside of controlled lab conditions we'll never know if a battery is bad because of quality, how it was cared for, the environment that was exposed to, or some combination of those. In general, I trust an AGM battery over a flooded battery. To each their own.

[Avalanche325]

...and when you get down to it, all of those many brands are really 3 or 4 manufacturers with different color cases and stickers.

I have had good luck with my Optima Red Top. However, it is 6 years old. Are the new ones still quality products???? Jeff thinks not. Companies do the old quality switcharoonie all the time. They know that people will buy the good name for years. At this point I would buy another one.

[Fixit]

Just a good old lead acid group 51 from Interstate, Autozone, etc.

2nd on that... They've worked for 80 years, don't fix what ain't broke.

[E-Car Man]

I agree with chrisarella. You can't go wrong with the Optima Red Top. In my experience in Vehicle Testing, we use only Optima Red Top and the Yellow Top, depending if we need the CCA or Deep Cycle requirements.

[sn8kboy]

I agree with Jeff you can buy 3-4 from Rural King for the price of 1 Optima. My first battery lasted 7 years. I am going to move it from under the rear this winter but I never had an issue changing the battery.

[Aircontroller]

I have an optima battery. I got lucky i had my receipt cuz it failed about a yr after i installed it.

[TMartinLVNV]

I use the Auto Zone Duralast batteries. I have the Gold series in my Maxima and the AGM batteries in my Roadster and Jeep. They usually crap out just before 3 years which is within their full replacement period. Auto Zones are everywhere and they get me a new one with no questions asked. I've never had any battery last 4 years here in Las Vegas.

[NAZ]

I recommend you get a 12V battery.

[Real time recon]

121398 Dont know how or why but this cheap-o batt lasted 9 years.Thinking the in-line batt. kill switch had something to do w/it :)

[GTBradley]

Just don’t talk about how great the battery in your daily driver is. The last time this subject popped up I went on about my 8-year-old lead-acid - it died right before xmas.

[Avalanche325]

I recommend you get a 12V battery.

Yeah. You can get two for less than five bucks. They are compact and lightweight too!
121456

[Avalanche325]

121398 Dont know how or why but this cheap-o batt lasted 9 years.Thinking the in-line batt. kill switch had something to do w/it :)

Because it is made in the same factory as every other battery, no matter the price.

[Jeff Kleiner]

121398 Dont know how or why but this cheap-o batt lasted 9 years.Thinking the in-line batt. kill switch had something to do w/it :)

I can assure you that it had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Jeff

[rich grsc]

A proper battery, in a proper place. :cool::rolleyes:
121468

[Slider]

Just wanted to close the loop here. I ended up replacing the battery with a new one from AutoZone (3 year full replacement, 5 year pro-rate) and the Cobra started first try... Problem solved! Thanks

[Real time recon]

I can assure you that it had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Jeff

I've owned/driven muscle cars as far back as the 60s....And NEVER had a Batt. that lasted 9 years :confused: And it never was hooked up to any kind of charger

[Jeff Kleiner]

I've owned/driven muscle cars as far back as the 60s....And NEVER had a Batt. that lasted 9 years :confused: And it never was hooked up to any kind of charger

I’ve had batteries that lasted over 12 years...and they were not wired through a disconnect switch.;)

Jeff

[NAZ]

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/car-batteries/buying-guide/index.htm

[flynntuna]

https://youtu.be/h7rTcBanpMk

Something to concider...