Re: Battery recommendations?

["Mike Guidotti" <mikeeg@mindspring.com>]

Craig,
I have been using an Optima battery(red top) In my 5000 TQ fo 3 years. Just
had to replace it a few months ago cause it was not holding a charge. I
think this was the fault of the car, about a year ago there was an
electrical short and was killing the battery and  think this really
shortened it's life.
Optima is now owned by Interstate and actually have an even better warranty,
my battery was replaced for free=) I have lots of friends with the same
battery and none ever had a problem, a few of them the battery is over 5
years old and still going strong. The only problem is that as of last time I
checked they only make the battery in one size so you have to make it fit.
The sort of good news is that because of the design of the battery you can
mount in in any position you like including upsidedown. Mine is on it's side
so that it fits under the rear seat.
Previous to this I had been using an old sears Die Hard international which
I purshased back in 92 for my 85 5000 cs auto kept it when I gave the car to
a friend put it in my quattro for a few years till I did not trust it and
got the Optima. I never had a problem with the Die Hard but heard tons of
horror stories about  what garbage they were(figured I just got lucky),
their "new" line of batteries the sealed ones (think they are made by exide,
not sure)are supposed to be much better.


>Another Lister recently posted that he was in the market for a new battery,
>and was looking for suggestions for a replacement. Right on cue, my battery
>died on me this morning. I was expecting it to fail sometime soon, since
>starting was becoming more difficult in the past weeks. I looked to see if
>there were any responses to the other Lister's request for suggestions, and
>saw none (must have been all private replies). Interstate, Die-Hard, Exide,
>Wal-Mart (Prostart?), OEM? Any one have a good / bad experience with any of
>the above (or others?)? TIA.
>
>Craig
>'92 100S (78k)
>