optima battery from costco

[Maximus96]

anybody familiar with the optima red top from costco know approximately how much they cost? i can't call because costco don't give out prices over the phone and i don't have time to go in until sometime this weekend. thanks.

 

[alkemyst]

You can find the out online pretty easy with google.

The red is about $100, the yellow about $130-140 and the blue about $175 IIRC.

I paid $109 for the red there, Autozone had similar pricing.

 

[Maximus96]

really? autozone.com show a local price of $197 for a group 35 red top for my 96 maxima...

 

[IGBT]

..I've seen them there. how long are they supposed to last??

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

A lot of guys on the Corvette Forum are getting the red tops from Costco for ~$100 as well, however more than a few have complained about terribly short life spans and defective batteries. I've been hesitant to make the switch for that reason, but I do need to do some more research on the issues I've been reading about.

 

[Maximus96]

if it does die quick costco will probably take it back for refund like their non-electronic items i assume...

 

[summit]

batteries are different you will get prorated amount. unless it dies prior to six months, which i haven't heard off.

 

[thecritic]

I think it was $159 or $179 for a 34/78 model. Check out this site for Optima batteries. Free shipping too:

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

 

[Pacfanweb]

Those batteries do have a lot of problems....they fail at a much higher rate than regular batteries. And there's no reason to get one...unless you just want a pretty battery. Or you have a car you're planning on rolling on a regular basis, like rock crawler.

 

[lurk3r]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
A lot of guys on the Corvette Forum are getting the red tops from Costco for ~$100 as well, however more than a few have complained about terribly short life spans and defective batteries. I've been hesitant to make the switch for that reason, but I do need to do some more research on the issues I've been reading about.

I put one in my midyear, and the heat from the sidepipes/manifold melted a hole in the battery, acid burns everywhere, not a pretty site. I was extremely pissed at the time, but it was really my fault, crappy ebay motor, always overheating. The replacement has been solid for 3 years. The car sits all winter, I dont even bother disconnecting the battery, and the car fires up just fine in the summer, clock still even works

I've really got to get a real 63-67 327 block back in, I hate this 68 motor I have, it runs strong, just way too hot.

 

[mooseracing]

Get a better brand battery, they have gone down the crapper since they got big. My old Sears DieHard gold lasted 7 years, many total drains and even on its lid a few times.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Maximus96
really? autozone.com show a local price of $197 for a group 35 red top for my 96 maxima...

damn they must have raised their pricing. I am pretty sure I was looking at the Grp. 35.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
A lot of guys on the Corvette Forum are getting the red tops from Costco for ~$100 as well, however more than a few have complained about terribly short life spans and defective batteries. I've been hesitant to make the switch for that reason, but I do need to do some more research on the issues I've been reading about.

I would say user error accounted for the failures or them trying to use it like a Yellowtop.

Mine is going on 3 years+ and fine. I have over 500WRMS running off it.

 

[zerocool84]

I have a duralast that has lasted 2 years with no problems. My stocker died out with-in a couple months.

 

[Azelrok]

Optima batteries have been worth the extra price for me.

My yellow top lasted 7 years with a 1000+ watt stereo system and numerous power drains. My current red top battery is 2 years old and no problems yet either.

Ill have to check costco to see if they really sell them for 100 bucks. I typically see them going for 180 now-a-days.

 

[SoulAssassin]

can someone remind me what the difference is between the yellow and red? I have two amps for my sub and highs and get some minor headlight flickering during bass hits and I plan on adding a winch in the future (this is in a wrangler). I'm pretty sure the yellow is the right answer but I forget what the difference is. FWIW, I can't fit a capacitor in because of where the amps are installed so a battery is probably the next route.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Azelrok
Optima batteries have been worth the extra price for me.

My yellow top lasted 7 years with a 1000+ watt stereo system and numerous power drains. My current red top battery is 2 years old and no problems yet either.

Ill have to check costco to see if they really sell them for 100 bucks. I typically see them going for 180 now-a-days.

List on a red top is around $160.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
can someone remind me what the difference is between the yellow and red? I have two amps for my sub and highs and get some minor headlight flickering during bass hits and I plan on adding a winch in the future (this is in a wrangler). I'm pretty sure the yellow is the right answer but I forget what the difference is. FWIW, I can't fit a capacitor in because of where the amps are installed so a battery is probably the next route.

Yellow vs Red don't make much of a difference if you are running the engine/alternator.

The Yellow is designed for when you are just bumping and have the engine off.

You more than likely need to upgrade your Big 3 grounds.

 

[d33pt]

i had one about 10 years ago and it was awesome. i used it for a couple of years, then i left it sitting for a year, and then put it back in and it started the car quicker than the original battery. i then continued to abuse it for another 4 years, completely draining it a few times, and it never failed on me and still worked until i sold the car.

 

[programmer]

I got a regular Kirkland battery about a week ago from Costco for $56.99 + tax. It includes a three-year warranty. Their stuff is built by Johnson Controls, apparently, which also makes Interstate and a bunch of other name brands. Working fine, as a battery should. Its just there to start the engine, no need to spend big $$$ for one.

BTW, the only Optimas they had in my store were the deep cycle (RV) batteries. I didn't see any regular ones so didn't see any pricing for them.