[s-cars] Do I want an Optima?

[Tom Green]

Optima has an excellent reputation for longevity in extreme  
conditions, and
recharges quickly.  I believe the battery causes less strain on the  
charging
system and holds the charge better than a standard battery.  In  
normal use ,
the gel cell batteries produce a negligible amount of hydrogen gas,  
so in
practice they do not vent hydrogen.  I think they are an acceptable  
choice
for the back seat location.  If some event caused the battery to  
completely
discharge, I would remove it to charge it, as I would with any  
battery.  You
should also see no corrosion around the Optima.

The issue is will it fit beneath the seat?  The battery is pretty  
tall and only
comes in one configuration, posts and side terminals combined.  The
S6 requires a battery with the terminals reversed to the Optima  
terminals,
so the cables have to be reconfigured.  I don't know about the S2 setup.
I am not a fan of laying the battery down, although Optima promotes this
option, since you have no good way to secure the battery.  If it  
fits, I think
it's a good choice, if it doesn't, it's too much trouble.

I bought an Odyssey gel cell battery because it fit where the Optima did
not.  However, it was way too expensive, and I probably should have just
stuck with a regular battery.  ( It's the Humvee battery, guaranteed  
to survive
the desert.)

Tom



> Dave Kase asks:
> I was getting ready to buy an Optima Red Top for my e//S2 and was  
> told I
> might not be doing the right thing.
>
> The battery is currently in the trunk area and I will be relocating to
> under the rear seat in a stock S2 battery box.  I figured an Optima
> would be the right choice as it is a vent-free battery and the battery
> will be in the passenger compartment.
>
> I went to pick one up at Advance Auto and the store employee told me
> that I should have a vented battery.  She said that a vented battery
> would exhaust the fumes outside the car.  If I had an Optima I might
> exhaust any fumes inside the car - not good.
>
> OK, OK, I know...it was a discount auto parts joint with a likely
> less-than-pro clerk, but it did make me think.
>
> Do I need an Optima? (I guess not since the stock S2 battery was  
> vented
> - the vent hose in still in the box I bought)
>
> Do I even want an Optima?
>
> TIA,
> Dave Kase