Good Battery for 12-13?
 

I can get Optima Red Tops batteries at a killer price, but are they worth it?

I have a 2013 Focus Se and it gets cold where i live. I want The BEST battery money can buy.

Odyssey batteries.

Also sold as Sears DieHard platinum (often cheaper too)

How cold does it really get where you are? The stock battery should be more then acceptable unless you have days in a row which are below freezing.

theres no point in replacing your origninal battery until it no longer startes the vehicle or its voltage is below 12.4v. Optima batteries are great buti dont get a filling done unless i have a cavity.

Wait till the battery is no good. The optima batteries take a special type charger if they get killed. Unless a normal battery is in the mix.

off the top of my head I do believe that the Motorcraft batteries are like 5-600 CCA. A redtop Optima would be 900 CCA.

A few years ago there was a week where it was below zero in CT, never had an issue with the motorcraft battery.

Now if we had 2012 Imprezas (which I do) I might, might have a slight concern. The factory battery is only 315 CCA, iirc.

Don't worry about the battery until it has issues starting the car.

Sigh...don't do this, don't do that...

I'll at least give you an answer. I had a '03 SpecV show car with a fairly impressive sound system in it. I had an Optima yellow-top in it. It then got transferred to at least 5 more vehicle, including an Audi A4 1.8t and a Mazdaspeed 3. So yes, to me they are worth it.

Thanks man. That's what I wanted to hear.

CvRyder's Rezound

My pleasure.

On a side note, if you know where to get them at a good price, would you be willing to share?

I don't see anyone saying that Optima batteries are not good batteries. They are good batteries as you have pointed out. I have them in my other cars. I even killed one twice back to back and its still running strong.

However, the op asked about a good battery in cold weather. And unless there are really extreme conditions there shouldn't be a need for an Optima battery. The factory battery, in most cases, would be fine.

But by all means, if the deal is good and the person wants to upgrade then go for it. But by no means is it absolutely neccasary, imho.