The winter has squeezed the life out of my 4yr old OEM battery. Now that I have to replace it, I am wondering if it will be worth going all out and getting a yellow top. My ICE consists of the following:

-CarPC w/ 7" touchscreen
-Alphasonic PMA640HCA 4ch amp
-Alphasonic 6.5" componants
-Alphasonic PSW810J 10" sub in darkknight box

The price for the regular style battery with the extended waranty 500 cold crank amps is about $80 after core return. The optima is about $180. I am wondering if it is worth the extra $$$ for the optima. What are the advantages? I don't run the ICE with the car off if that matters. Also, I noticed that the optimas only have a 12mo replacement waranty and a 24mo pro rated whereas the regular style are several years full replacement and then a pro rated schedule. The optima weighs about 5# more, which is not an issue. Just wanted some feedback on this as I will be getting one or the other tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Well, after reading through quite a few pages of stuff regarding the optima, I think I have ruled it out. I am going to go with a regular style 3-4 year warranty battery. If it does, I will get a new one.

Anyone care to try to now talk me INTO the optima?

 

The OEM lasted you 4 years. I'd just go get one of those. Too many complaints about the Optimas.

 

Exactly my train of thought. Sometimes the "new and improved" isn't very improved.

 

I would get the bigger size one Jeff. You'll be surprized how hard that sub is going to hit

I've had my Optima for almost 5years now with no trouble... and drain the thing to nothing at every car show. However, I would think you'll be alright with a regular battery, just get the larger size. I can help you install it, as its not a direct drop in.

But mine fits just fine and has been working great for years. Its almost time to replace it because of the just in case factor though

I'm a Kinetic battery dealer how fitting....hehe

Here's a picture of mine:



I took out the stock battery tray and cut this replacment one to fit:



Plus I rewired everything...

 

I have started having trouble with mine after less than a year.

If you want it, it's yours for free. (Can I talk you into with THAT!? )

I will be shopping for a new battery in the spring, and it will not be an optima.

 

thanks for the offer, but I will pass.

I ended up going to autozone today and got their high end battery. Called a Gold Duralast or something. It has 625amps at 32* and 500 cold crank amps. IT has a yellow top on it and looks similar to the optima, which is pretty cool IMO. It has a 3 year full replacement warranty and several years after that of pro rated waranty. Cost me like $80 out the door.

 

Good choice, my old Optima yellow top crapped out on me in a shorter time than the OEM battery. Won't ever buy another.

 

Kinetik is the way to go. They're quite possibly the best battery out there.

 

My oem battery from 2002 still works fine but it can't last much longer, can it? What model optima is that? The optima's i have seen all look too big to fit in the s2k.
I have been using optima's red and yellow in offroad vehicles and in my boats for over 10 years and have never had any problems. My oldest red optima lasted 7 years!