Getting ready to pop for 2 new batteries for my 2003 Cummins Ram 2500 and was wondering if you guys think Optima Red Tops are worth the extra 100 bucks over conventional batteries??
Any good deals out there right now? rebates??
Posted By: cageman
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/30/13 08:42 PM
a hundred bucks, wow, that seems to be excessive.
I paid 150 each for three of them not to long ago from my local sams club. Only battery I will own, and I have twenty of them, at least.
I did blow the top off of one (actually, just the little vent blew out), so I threw a wet cell in there to diagnose why my alternator went crazy, and that battery boiled over and made a huge mess, where the red top optima only just had a sulfer smell, no paint eating aluminum etching acid all over like that stupid wet cell. All of my battery clamps look great on all my optimas, but my wet cell cars have crappy looking wiring, and the clamps look to be in bad shape. So why anyone would even consider a wet cell is beyond me.
Posted By: shanker
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/30/13 08:43 PM
I think they're worth it myself...I own 5 optima's ( 4 red tops & 1 yellow top)
I buy mine used from the local Interstate Battery for about 50 each. The oldest used one I have I bought in 2005 and it's still going strong in my daily driver (F150)
I also have a CTEK charger that I use to keep them conditioned properly
Posted By: azmopar
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/30/13 08:54 PM
red tops in all my cars, and my truck, bought 2 warranty return ones for $75 ea(price the new ones
) and have em in everything, wish they made one for my lawnmower
Posted By: jt4406
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/30/13 09:01 PM
Had one in my 70 Buick 455 Skylark since 1999, finally died this past fall. I will buy another.
Jess in ky
Posted By: rowin4
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/31/13 01:54 AM
Where do you buy warranty returns ? If they were returned isn't there a problem with them?
Posted By: lewtot184
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/31/13 02:24 AM
optima red tops are the best batteries i've ever used.
Posted By: MoparMarq
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/31/13 02:47 AM
Red top in RR now. Had Red Top in Toyota for a few years - lasted about 6 years. Quality reputedly is hit/miss since they were purchased by Johnson Controls (IIRC). Wet cell in Toyota now, as not sure how long I'll keep the car. Got one of these rebadged
Odyssey batteries batteries in wife's DD (Acura).
Really happy with it. AGM is the only way to go. Terminals, j-bolts, strap are as clean as the day I put the battery in the car last spring.
For me, that benefit alone is worth the price of admission.
Posted By: Ramrod39
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/31/13 03:23 AM
Had great luck with Optima red tops for years. Had one that lasted 16 years.
But when the company got sold, the quality went down, at least initally. I bought one for my truck shortly after the company change over and it kept going dead after sitting a while. Finally warrantied it and the replacement went dead quickly too. Finally junked it abd bought an Interstate.
I still have one old one from before the sale of the company that is great, but for new replacements I've gone back to Interstates.
Is the quality of Optimas back to where it used to be?
Posted By: ahy
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/31/13 05:04 AM
I had one of the "old" ones installed around 2002 that great service despite some abuse. I understand they went through some problems and improved. Anyhow, when my old battery got tired, I replaced with a new red top. After 2 years no problems. Battery posts and hold down's are clean as new which is important with a trunk mounted battery.
Posted By: Chris2581
Re: Optima Red Tops - 01/31/13 09:59 PM
I have 4 red tops,and like most here,no problems.I like the fact there is no leakage and no corrosion.
Advance Auto Parts sells them and most of the time they have a 15-20% discount if you order online.You can order and pickup at the store closest to you.
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Optima Red Tops - 02/01/13 03:49 PM
Have 2 red tops. One is dead, other is holding on.
One that works is in a 92 GMC safari. Had it since 2005. Had one in my 69 Charger. Bought that one in 2003. It lasted all of 4 years, it was on a battery disconnect, always tendered. Once you somehow drain a red top, there is no bringing it back to life. I tried the brake light over both poles to "excite" the battery...its now a door stop in the garage. I bought an AC Delco. 700CCA (versus the 960CCA of the optima) I dont have a problem with it. It kicks over my 440 every time with that mini-starter.
Posted By: SomeCarGuy
Re: Optima Red Tops - 02/01/13 06:30 PM
I had a red top that I left the key on for about a week and drained. Had to charge by putting it in series with an old school battery. Alt simply won't charge a dead one, no matter how long you drive. I wonder how many of the bad ones got drained and the guy didn't know about that?
Worked fine for over a year after I did that and was fine when I sold the car. Bought mine in 2008. Ran another in a daily driver from 2006 to 2008 when I sold that car. No problems. I got mine at AZ or Advance.