new battery

[rickinfalconcove]

Anybody got any suggestions for a solid, long-lasting, reliable battery for 02s? Thanks.

[M3M3]

Any 16lb AGM battery.  Many threads already on this topic.

[Mike Self]

Since most of us don't drive our '02s every day, year round, and they tend to sit for several weeks (or months) at a time, my philosophy has been to find an inexpensive Group 26R battery and replace it when it dies.  The two best prices I've found--at least in our area--is Rural King and Wal Mart.  

 

Amazingly, when I pulled my '73 out of the COVID-enforced storage (no '02 events to drive to), I charged up my battery and it worked just fine.  When I checked my records, I was amazed to find it was 8 years old, and a cheap one from Wal Mart!  

 

Unless you have a high compression engine with a radical cam, you don't need a Hoover Dam's-worth of electricity to start an M10, so go cheap...

 

mike

[esty]

i buy batteries at walmart...cheap and always exceed the stated life....the one on my 76 was $39.00 and is 7 years old...chevy silverado 4 years old...f-150 3 years old...pt cruiser 4 yeas old...e30 3 years old...honda fit 2 years

 

 

forgot to say...if snob appeal is important ignore walmart batteries

Edited November 2, 2020 by esty

[tech71]

Bi-Mart for me, its closer then Walmart. 

[2002iii]

I buy Optima yellow tops from Costco for all my cars. I can leave the cars sitting for months or sometimes years and they still start every time. Just started the e24 635csi that's been sitting for at least a year, started up in a few seconds.

[FunElan]

If you start your car regularly, a 26R battery from walmart is fine, $70. 

[esty]

25 minutes ago, 2002iii said:

I can leave the cars sitting for months or sometimes years and they still start every time. Just started the e24 635csi that's been sitting for at least a year, started up in a few seconds.

same with my cars...what does a yellow top optima cost?

[Son of Marty]

If your car is not a daily driver then use a budget lead acid battery, and a battery tender if you don't let it discharge and stay that way for a while it will last for a long time.  

[2002iii]

Optimas have gone up in price since I bought my last one. They want $250 for the yellow tops now. When I bought my last one a few years ago it was $150. But they are deep cycle gel batteries that last for 10+ years and are almost bulletproof. 

[Son of Marty]

A deep cycle battery should not be used as a starting battery it's made to provide a relatively low amp draw over a long period your not doing it any favors by using it for the high draw of starting.

[NYNick]

I dug deep and sprung for a 3 lb. Li-Pho. It's been working just fine but is expensive.

[rcf925]

I've been running Miata AGM , Works great and is small, Paid $100 on-line

[bavariaboy]

Confession of a battery snob. Put a Bosch battery in the '02 I acquired in Feb. Could not find a Varta, the battery  in my 1971 1600 long gone, much loved and a long time and many miles ago. Lasted eight Northeastern winters. 

 

Bosch was the closest I could come. It was $116.00. 

 

What is my penance?

 

Steve

[Vicleonardo1]

Have an AGM in mine. My cheap Walmart 26R sits with a battery tender for backup. I favor AGM, because this conversation has just reminded me I need to check the water level in my Wally World battery. 

 

FWiW, If I recall correctly from some hot rod forums, I believe that since Optima moved one of its plants south of the border a few years ago, some of them (I cannot remember if its Red or Yellow) have not have been as durable and reliable as they used to be.  I haven't seen any hard evidence to back that up, (but I haven't  been looking either.) 

 

Cheers!