Standard sealed lead acid batteries from duracell will work great for several years.
Pros: work great for years
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Fall 2016 Update: I just installed a new battery. It is a Deka Group 47 AGM. Cost was about 135$ at Battery Mart, 20$ more than the standard battery the store offered. It is odd in that the carry handle is square to the battery length. The specs say it weights 37-1/2 lbs. 600 CCA at 0 F. Two minor things: The battery foot flange is not thick enough to match the battery holding channel or the holding clamp. Some sort of wedge needs to be used. There are probably height adapters or spacers sold for that. Second, the hood release cable will need to run on top of the battery corner, unless you slide the battery out toward the radiator more than I want to.
Pros: 600 CCA at 0 F
Cons: wedge needs to be used
I've been buying Deka batteries for awhile now and they have been great to me as a customer.
Pros: great customer experience
The OE Panasonic battery in my WRX died roughly 12 minutes after I bought the car. It was the original, so it was 9ish years old. Impressive.
Pros: impressive lifespan
Cons: died quickly
Vehicle:
Subaru
I had an OEM VW battery made by Varta. It lasted from October 2005 to May 2014. It spent time in Michigan, Minnesota and northern Germany. I never had any problems with it.
Pros: no problems
Vehicle:
Volkswagen
My MY2007 S2000 also came with Panasonic battery. I replaced it with Walmart battery in last summer (2015), So it ran for 8 years.
Pros: ran for 8 years
Vehicle:
Honda S2000
Original factory Panasonic battery in my RX-8 lasted 7 years. The 'premium' Exide I replaced it with is on it's way out now after only 4 years.
Pros: lasted 7 years
Cons: Exide failed quickly
Vehicle:
Mazda
Well my Volvo dealership wanted $400 for a battery so yeah... It's the small things that cost the most at dealerships, maybe as a way to lessen to cost of bigger jobs so you're not paying tens of thousands for a major job.
Pros: lessen cost of bigger jobs
Cons: expensive small things
Vehicle:
Volvo
The "new" Optima in my RX7 died after a very short life
Cons: died after short life
Vehicle:
Mazda
Optimas are garbage. Mine didn't survive a 3 month work assignment. The battery was less than 2 years old, and fully charged when I left. Dead when I came back. Blew up like a football when I tried to charge it.
Cons: dead after 3 months
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