Best AGM battery?
 

I will be needing a battery for "Dust Off" soon and I initially was just going to install an Optima. But I have been hearing more and more grumbling from people who are unhappy with Optima's apparent declining quality. I was doing some reasearch on AGM batteries and have read a good deal of positive reviews on both the DieHard Platinum and the Odyssey AGM batteries. I would like to see what the Lat-G members think about AGM batteries.

im a little behind you in my research, but have you looked into the braille batteries? they are made by another company that markets them as well. no sure who was cheaper though.

I just bought a braille b3121 from summit, $190 delivered -- haven't mounted it yet but will do so soon, it wieghs just under 22lbs and doesn't take up any room at all.

Funny thing about that is that with the aquisition of Optima by Johnson Controls a few years ago the manufacturing processes and quality has improved.

People armchair quarterback the optima batterys more than they should, because people have no idea what they're doing. Most of the time they have a problem with their car that they're too stupid to figure out. If you properly maintain a red top it will last you a LONG time, I got 14 years out of mine before it was killed by human error.

I agree, to many people let them go flat while their projects or babies sit. They don't like to be brought back from the after life. :unibrow: I've been happy with my red top. I ALWAYS tender it.

So researching on the net, Braille is a great battery but made by EastPenn and simply rebadged and sold at a higher price. I have no direct knowledge of this but guys on another forum seem to like them. Supposedly 1/2 price as well --

http://www.dekabatteries.com/default.aspx?pageid=4

Then there must be a whole lot of stupid people out there cause there are a whole lot of people complaining about Optima quality. The AGM batteries do require special treatment with respect to proper charging techniques and perhaps it is more a lack of education than stupidity.

Recently, at a local Blain's Farm & Fleet store automotive department, I noticed all of the Optima batteries were marked down about 40%, I asked the guy at the counter why, he said that since they started making them in Mexico a few years ago the warranty claims have gone through the roof and sales are down so they're blowing them out and getting rid of them for good.

We have had excellent service from the EXIDE ORBITAL batteries. We use them in the race cars and also in the show cars. Their pricing seems to fall below the Optimas. We just picked up one for $125.

My girlfriend really, really likes her Duracell copper top batteries.:unibrow: