Has anybody used Odyssey or Stinger batteries?

[MADMarc]

Okay okay, I will try to avoid this being a "what battery is the best" thread but after just two years, my Red Top has hit the shitter...and I won't get another. My first Red Top was awesome but I had that before they sold, apparently, and the new battery hasn't held up to it at all. My choices right now are either buying the Stinger SP680 compact battery from STM w/the bracket (whew...it's expensive).

STM: 3000GT / STEALTH SMALL BATTERY KIT

Or the Odyssey 34-PC1500T off of Amazon

Amazon.com: Odyssey 34-PC1500T Automotive and LTV Battery: Automotive

The odyssey has everything I could ever want power wise and an awesome warranty but it weighs as much as a small horse. The Stinger doesn't have near the power output but it is light as hell and I would save some space in the engine bay.

Has anybody used any of these and could you give some feedback? Heard any stories? I don't have a demanding audio system but I also dont want to watch my headlights dim when I do drop in some subs or have my speakers up. I couldn't find any warranty info on the Stinger, unfortunately.

AH! And if neither of these two, does anybody have better recommendations? Saving space and weight is always a plus but it's not on my priority list. Reason I am even considering the Stinger 680 is in case it will do everything I need, why not get the extra perks?

[Permanent grin]

These are supposed to be good although I have just gone with one of these for a lightweight battery.

André

[MADMarc]

You are running an odyssey now?

What aboooooout, Amazon.com: Odyssey PC1200-A Automotive Light Truck Battery: Automotive

I really need to go and get some dimensions for the battery lol

Just came across an awesome read on Stealth316
http://www.stealth316.com/2-dynabatt.htm

Let's see what everyone else is running and hear about the pros and cons!

[Permanent grin]

It's on the car but the car is in for a build at the moment, so I haven't lived with it yet.

André

[UTRacerX9]

I have the Odyssey PC680 as shown on Jeff's page in the link above, it's my second one, the first was the Hawker version. The small batteries will start the car, but don't plan on listening to the radio for any amount of time with the engine off, or you'll be stranded. My Hawker I had for years until it finally blew up on me, my latest PC680 seems to have a much shorter life span. You'll also need a battery tender with one of these, they don't hold a charge very long if you have an alarm, it will drain it down in a few days.

[MADMarc]

Awesome info, thanks. I was wondering about how long it'd last with a small trickle coming off of it while it sits. Do you notice any problems with headlight fade when driving around? Hell, mine started getting to the point where even my turn signals would make the lights dim a little .

[MADMarc]

hmm...and just to keep updated apparently Optima changed their warranty to 3 year replacement rather than the prorating which is exactly why I didn't want to go back to them. The Yellowtop is 30 less than the Odyssey 1200, 70 less than the first odyssey I mentioned and 100 less than the package from STM. Looks like I might be getting another damned optima.

[93STLTH]

I've been running a Yellow top for years with no problems. My car sits on a trickle charge for months at a time and when I need it, it's ready to go. I can run the sound system for hours and the car starts right up every time. I think the red tops have had some issues since the change in ownership, but the yellow tops are still using the same design as before and still perform as expected.

[mb3000]

I vote yellow top as well. Held up to anything I could throw at it, & started the car when I needed it to.

[IPD]

yellow top is what i'll be getting next time. the red's do NOT like being drained completely. they may not have the CCA of the yellows, but they're MUCH more durable--based on what i've read/heard.

i will NEVER use anything but a dry-cell battery in my car. i don't give a shit about die-hard, duralast, ever-start, interstate, etc. i've seen too many lead-acid batteries boil-over in my day. and since i dd my car, i'll never use a racing battery either--i don't trust it to have the capacity/durability.

p.s.
i'm upgrading to a mechman 220 also.