Battery OPTIMA or Exide
I remember this very interesting post a couple years back regarding AGM batteries and their charging requirements: On the one vehicle that I modified the charging circuit to run at 14.7V I have an Optima Redtop battery in it that has never been replaced. And this includes repeated discharges to near 0% SOC when the sales people at the tradeshows forget to turn the vehicle off after the show.
I always hear people talk about issues with newer Optimas but my old REDTOP is going on 13 years old and still going strong.
i have a optima red top in my drift car. its been in the car for atleast 4 years. 3 of which i have owned it. its been crushed, deformed, on fire and drained dead multiple times (always when diagnosing electrical issues or wiring up lights) and it still works great. it sits in my car hooked up and unused for weeks at a time with no issues.
I have a pair of Optimas (older) and they're dead-ass solid.
Exide are good made in usa
They’re pricey but I’ve always sworn by Optimas
While I did that I went ahead and grabbed a Red Top Optima Battery. Got everything back together, it turns over great but it doesn't spark.
Optima has been garbage for about a decade now, ever since they were bought out and production moved out of the country. Quality immediately took a huge dive.
I'd be more concerned about the Optima battery - they have been crap quality for years now. Probably better than VW OEM junk though.
Purchased one a few years ago, bad a year later and yes I have a good battery tender.
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