What is the best car battery?

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:45 pm

I went out to the 5 this morning to drive to work but to find that the battery was flat. Shoot! Need a replacement anyways..
What would you guys recommend for another new battery? Century? Bosch?

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Tue May 08, 2007 5:50 pm

odyssey ftw.

will free up some boot space too!

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:26 pm

how much do they cost fatty?

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:30 pm

from memory i think it was about $260

zoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoom** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:33 pm

Sounds exy for a battery. I would jsut get something around the $130 mark that has a 2 year warranty, car batteries are notorious for dieing, so just get one with a good warranty, so if it does then its covered.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:12 pm

If it's for an NA or NB don't get a standard lead acid. You don't want all that acid sloshing around in the boot causing corrosion or worse if it spills and even worserer if the gasses light up.

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:28 pm

JBT wrote:If it's for an NA or NB don't get a standard lead acid. You don't want all that acid sloshing around in the boot causing corrosion

yep, which is why i suggest the odyssey. and as i mentioned, it's small so frees up boot space!

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:39 pm

Supercharge MF43 (around $100) is perfect, 3 year warranty and no venting issues as it is a calcium/calcium battery- you can't use a standard lead acid battery as JBT said. Genuine/Federal batteries with the external vent tube are over $200 and Odyssey is dearer still. My Supercharge is over 12 months old now and have no issues at all. Even if I have to buy another one in two years time I'm still ahead.

zoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoom** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:45 pm

You cam get a sealed lead acid battery in many brands wich has a vent hose which you hook up just like the std one, and should be alot cheaper than $200. I have a nomal battery cos thats waht was in it when I bought it and have never had any issues with it leaking, even at the track.

tk421 · Postby **tk421** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:28 pm

I have heard of Odyssey ones failing from time to time. I guess you get a warranty and all but its a bit of a hassle. The federal one that Mania sells is doing a good job for me. Fits quite tightly under the factory bracket too. It is about 200 though. Big Dog's one sounds great value - never heard of an MX5 battery so cheap :shock:

Steve

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:47 pm

the Century ones are about $120ish also.. I just need one that won't die out on me because the 5 is only for weekends most of the time

Abyss · Postby **Abyss** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:56 pm

Sliq,

The same thing happened to me last Thursday when I went to leave work!

I bought a Federal battery today for $230 which is a direct replacement for MX-5's.

I got 6 1/2 years out of my Odyssey which all the battery people were surprised at. They are apparently very hit & miss with reliability but I was happy with mine. At $375 for a replacement one I didn't think it was worth the extra this time around

Andy Wana · Postby **Andy Wana** » Wed May 09, 2007 10:41 am

I use Federal battery (8AMU1R)
It hasn't had a hiccup or any problems yet, very reliable to date

If you are looking at getting one in the south west area of Sydney, I'd suggest Globe Batteries (shameless plug)
Call 9773 3654 and look for Martin, he's a top bloke who really looks after his customers

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed May 09, 2007 12:11 pm

The weather getting cooler overnight causes marginal batteries to finally die.

Jimmy · Postby **Jimmy** » Thu May 10, 2007 10:41 am

personally i would go the fully sealed battery which is recommended for a five. My five came with a century battery and it had completely rusted away the battery tray underneath to the point u could poke your finger straight through! (gas build up and other battery stuff leaking out) Got it all cut out and replaced at a cost of $100. am now in the market for a \"proper\" battery to suit the five.

Jimmy