They are expensive. I picked mine up when they ran a 15% discount. Much, much lighter, has built in jump start and you can check the charge with your phone sitting in your living room. If you ever take the car on long road trip with the trunk loaded you can load another 50 lbs. Time will tell how long it lasts, but so far I really like it.

 

Since my last post in this thread, my battery (Porsche OEM) conked out. Fortunately, it was in the garage. One of the issues I came across was the stock batteries that were available where I live (suburban NYC). The AutoZone and Advance have essentially the same battery branded as Duralast or DieHard. Easy peasy to find an H7 AGM in stock as long as it was a Duralast/Die Hard. I guess I could have gone to the dealer's parts department or local repair shops to see if they stocked anything different but it became a PITA to find anything other than the AZ/Advance options. I don't know if it's COVID or what but there was very limited distribution in my area for alternatives. Bottom line was that I wanted to get back on the road and for the $200 and 25 minutes of my time, I just threw a Duralast AGM in and I was on my way.

Maybe I just kicked the can down the street for 3 years or so but I didn't want to make this a science project despite a strong preference for putting a Li Ion battery in.

 

Reminds me of when I had to replace the water heater in my house for $450, or spend $2,000 for a high efficiency one instead. The break even cost savings was 7 years, the average life expectancy of traditional water heaters.

Maybe you kicked the can down the street, but in 3 years, we’ll likely see modest improvements in battery tech/capacity with hopefully lower costs as well.

 

I'm extremely impressed by this as my experience with optima in the last 12 years is vastly different.
In the late 90s early 2000s, I was a huge optima fan and had very good experience but somewhere around 2010 my experience changed drastically (along with their warranty)
Prior to 2010, it was easy to get 5 years out of a red top for me, after 2010, I could not get one to last longer than 18 months. Same with the dual yellow tops in my powerstroke. They couldn't make it to 36 months. I gave up on optima and went back to lead acid batteries. I'm definitely open to other brand AGMs to try out now. I'm expecting my 5 yr old bosch to give any problems now that we are starting to get cold mornings here in Alabama now

 

Current battery is giving me fits, so looking to replace it. Found a deal on a Champion AGM with 48-month free replacement warranty, 850 CCA, and on sale. I was told I'd get it for even cheaper out the door. Picking it up tomorrow, I'll let you know.

https://www.pepboys.com/champion-agm...roduct/2071662

 

The problem with Optima batteries is not an AGM problem. It’s an off-shore manufacturing problem. They used to be expensive but good. Now they’re expensive garbage imported from offshore factories with zero QC. I had an Optima red top last me over 15 years. Now gobs of people are having to replace multiple ones inside the short warranty period and retailers are refusing to sell them because of the constant flow of bring-backs.

AGMs are great. I have a Porsche AGM in my car and at least 4 more of various brands in other vehicles. But I won’t buy another Optima.

 

Duralast and Diehard are both made by Johnson Controls as is Interstate and Optima. In fact nearly all lead acid batteries in the US are made by either Exide Technologies, Johnson Controls, or East Penn Manufacturing. The Porsche OEM Bosch battery is made by Johnson Controls. Globally there is also EnerSys, HOPPECKE Batteries, and Trojan Battery. Lead acid is old technology and the industry has consolidated. Any unique properties of the original brands have disappeared. There are no good or bad lead acid batteries. Any AGM battery is a suitable replacement.

Johnson Controls = ACDelco, Advance Auto, AutoCraft, AutoZone, Bosch, Champion, Costco, Delco, DieHard, Duralast, Equalizer, EverStart (Walmart), Firestone, Interstate, Motorcraft, Optima, Pep Boys, Sears

Exide = Autolite, Delco-Remy, EverStart (Walmart), Marathon, NAPA, Orbital, Sears

 

Has anyone ever used one of these two brands ? I have a 3 yr old Bosch L4 (94R) in my 997 and the engine always turns over like an old lady and even worse when it's hot. Why this oem battery is only 640 CCA I will never know ?? So far it has never let me down but it turns over like crap ,,, These cars need like 800 / 850 CCA not a lousy 640.

Anyway thinking of replacing it and either getting a good quality AGM or breaking the bank and going all in on a antigravity, I was considering an Optima but not now after all the comments on them now not being what they used to be.


https://www.fullriverbattery.com/ft-series-batteries/
https://www.northstarbattery.com/media.ashx/nsbautomotivebatteries.pdf

 

Love my Antigravity but it's hard to really rationalize...I'm taking a chance, using this as a test, to see how things sort out.

Admittedly, the built-in jump-starter was a major attraction as it let me relax about the frunk.

Otherwise, I go with Walmart's batteries: The sell the crap out of them, so nothing is sitting around/they're fresh; great prices; no questions on their warranties; there's one a stone's throw from anywhere (even in VT).

Just my $0.02.

Thx!

Bob

 

Being in Vermont, how does the cold affect the Antigravity battery, I though I read some concerns around that. When I'm ready I will go this route as well, its nice to be able to save 40+ lbs. Now if I can take 30lbs off myself also ....

 

To be transparent @Sporty, I've tucked it away for the winter so I can't give you a 'real world' evaluation...and I keep it on a CTEK Lithium charger.

The battery I bought is this one and, specifically, the 40 Amp Hour flavor...I spoke to Antigravity and they thought this would provide more than enough ooomph.

Regarding the 30 lbs., dude, I'm so there and feel your pain...Covid sucks.

Bob

 

3 years. AGM, from Porsche. $400.

 

Too much weight in the the back of the 911 anyway, so taking off 40 lbs from the front is not necessarily good!

 

well it gets offset by the spacesaver spare tire kit in the frunk- that's about 30lbs, and, a full tank of gas

 

My battery is on it's final cranking leg. It was a Bosch blue S6 and saw a thread that Audi and VW also use the same battery. Has anybody gone with the VW battery?

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...for-997-a.html

Vehicle Battery - Volkswagen (000-915-105-DH)

1999-2017 Volkswagen


https://www.vwkearnymesaparts.com/oe...ry-000915105dh