Your Battery Brand and Price Topic is solved

Post by **Brucebo** » 26 Aug 2010, 14:06

Costco.

I replaced the battery in my '99 S70 in July 2009. The "correct" smaller battery at Costco was around $54. I then noticed the bigger battery was exactly the same form factor except longer and only cost 3 bucks more, for almost twice the capacity. I checked my tray to see if the larger one would fit and it did! So I immediately bought the bigger one!

-Bruce

Volvofix1 · Post by **Volvofix1** » 26 Aug 2010, 15:15

Well OK guys , I will share a secret with y'all Intersate batteries are made by Johnson Controls. Yes Interstate batteries are very good , I sold them in my old shop for many years, but they are also sold under many names such as Costco,Bosch,Duralast and others. Don't screw around with cheap batteries, we have the latest testing gear in our shop and find many people who insist that nothing can be wrong because it is only 2 years old. We buy our batteries from Pep Boys who are close by and take good care of us because we are a commercial account( I am not getting paid for this) Costco probably has the best price for the average person. Make certain the connections are clean and tight.....happy motoring.
Dick K. in Fla.

wjhandy850 · Post by **wjhandy850** » 26 Aug 2010, 16:53

Warren561 wrote:tascaparts.com has price quotes for the OEM Volvo Battery:

520 amp $33.10
600 amp $49.95
However, when you call their parts department, the price jumps to $131

I am tempted to order one online just to see...

They are heavy, so shipping is probably the difference.

Post by **igel513** » 26 Aug 2010, 17:07

The Costco batteries are made in Mexico and have had no problems w/ them ever since they started carrying car batteries.

Post by **meine39** » 26 Aug 2010, 21:33

Napa Gold International (group 48) ~$95. I bought it about three weeks ago to replace an Interstate Group 48 that lasted about 7 years. Seems pretty well made so far but time will tell.

+1 on the NAPA Gold - 4.5 years and going strong.

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 26 Aug 2010, 22:40

I have something called EverHard, I know I know it sounds like a certain Blue Pill we get e-mail spammed with every day.

It cost $128 from Sears.

I would have rather had a Optima yellow top but money is tight these days.

Post by **meine39** » 27 Aug 2010, 00:32

I have something called EverHard

You might want to check again, if it's from Sears, it's likely a DieHard.

Optimas are simply "conspicuous consumption" IMHO - the price premium would be better spent on Stage Zero maintenance. I've had batteries of all brands over the years, and not one has failed before it's rated life. They're commodity as far as I'm concerned, and I shop on price/availability. Several years ago, I had to replace the gigantic, expensive battery in my BMW - I phoned around, and the dealership, Sears, and NTB (owned by Sears) all wanted in the neighborhood of $135 - I went to the local Pep Boys and picked up a Bosch for $89.99 - it works just fine and even had the required vent tubing kit and BMW-specific instructions for installing it.

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 27 Aug 2010, 04:42

Your right it was DieHard. What an Awful name. Thankfully I didn't buy it. The chap I bought the car from just a week ago stumpt up the cash for it.

I to would have bought a Bosch, I have used them for years without any trouble.

jadnhm · Post by **jadnhm** » 27 Aug 2010, 07:01

no one has brought up the issue of warranty.

I have /traditionally/ bought batteries at Canadian Tire because

1 - they offer a pretty good warranty ( I think it's full replacement for 3 years, pro-rated money back for the remaining 4... something like that)

2 - they are truly a 'national' chain with a store in every major area of the country, so pretty much every place I can think to go (that I won't need a passport to get to) I will be able to get to a Canadian Tire store easily for help.

Surely warranty is a factor in some of the purchases described in this thread. Esp for those who claim that batteries are a 'true commodity' with little difference between the brands.

Warren561 · Post by **Warren561** » 27 Aug 2010, 08:41

Brucebo wrote:Costco.

I replaced the battery in my '99 S70 in July 2009. The "correct" smaller battery at Costco was around $54. I then noticed the bigger battery was exactly the same form factor except longer and only cost 3 bucks more, for almost twice the capacity. I checked my tray to see if the larger one would fit and it did! So I immediately bought the bigger one!

-Bruce

Do you remember the "Group Code" or "Size Code" of the battery from Costco you bought? I checked my local Costco's (the little look-up book) and I couldn't find the "correct" battery for my S70.

I ended up buying "Group 41" batteries from Wal-Mart.

Your Battery Brand and Price Topic is solved

Re: Your Battery Brand and Price