best battery?

[MichSVT]

What's the best battery for our cars? The Motorcraft is part # BXT-96R and is $109 with a 750 core.
I don't want to spend $200 on an Optima btw

[Sponsor]

[iminhell]

Good, because after Optima was bought out they went downhill (Johnson Controls BTW).

Honestly most batteries are good, it's the warranty you should be more concerned with. IMO get something affordable, from a national retailer (in case it fails on a trip or something) and large enough to compete with the stock CCA rating. Everything else is moot and preference far as I see it.

[MichSVT]

ok, what are some national battery brands? I've just been looking at local Murray's (O'Rielly's) store and the sell those dang Optima's too but they're $150!

[illinipo]

i have been beating the crap out of my red top Duralast (Autozone) for over 3 years, and it has loved every minute. I will be buying another if/when it dies.

i think it was only 60 bucks.

[6SPD_soul]

Advance Auto sells three different battery grades in addition to a couple Optimas. I don't remember the brand name but they come with I think 1,2 and 3 year warranties, ranging in price from like $40 to I think a bit over $100. I have an Optima red top that came with the car and I've never had any issues with it, but I doubt I would drop the extra money on another one.

[penguin]

Everstart Maxx batteries from Wal-mart tested out very well in the last Consumers Reports tests, as did the Duralast Golds. Teh Sears Diehard Platimums test to be extremely good; however, (a) they are very expensive, and (b) they do not have the right size for the Focus.

[MichSVT]

ok thanks guys I'll check out Autozone and make a decision soon

[MaroonZX3]

A lot of the different brands are made by the same few manufacturers. There is not really that much difference, IMHO. Batteries are a commodity item. Cold cranking amps are misleading also, kind of like watts per channel in a stereo. I used to have a Camaro with a 350 V8 and I used a John Deere lawn tractor battery with around 350 CCA, it started just fine all winter long. Probably the most important thing is to give it a good charge before you install it.

[illinipo]

you only need about 120-130 cca to start a Focus...

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Originally Posted by illinipo

i have been beating the crap out of my red top Duralast (Autozone) for over 3 years, and it has loved every minute. I will be buying another if/when it dies.

i think it was only 60 bucks.

That's what I've always done. O'Reilley's makes me mad because they want me to keep my receipt. Autozone or Advance do it with your phone number. I've always bought the Duralast Gold series- usually the highest capacity battery that will fit in my vehicle. I'm just a freak like that, and it has only helped me out once when I had a Honda Civic wagon that broke a belt and was able to drive home at night, and then to the store the next morning just on battery power. It was a carbed vehicle, so I would not expect a Focus or any other EFI vehicle to do that regardless of the size of the battery.