My mechanic carries Interstate battery, are there better choices?

[Axeman]

I really like the Optima as well.

[Brian 162]

I've gotten 3 prices for batteries from the same shop.

Sears $99.

Interstate $150

Delco $200

He had a Sears battery in stock however it didn't have the tabs on the end for the hold down bracket. I was told that is the replacement for Porsche. I'm probably going for the Intsrstate battery.

[scottb]

I think I paid $60 US for the Costco battery, and it fit perfectly. Sounds like you're getting hit with a "Porsche Tax."

[911pcars]

Last time I checked, The Optima @ Costco was around $100.

Owners with late 911s (SC and Carreras); don't fall into the false hope your galvanized chassis is impervious to the effects of battery electrolyte (aka sulfuric acid). It just takes time unless the battery is a sealed type (Odyssey, Optima or equivalent).

MHO,
Sherwood

[RWebb]

what are the other (cheaper) sealed types?

[Force]

Originally Posted by scottb

I bought a battery at Costco. Perfect fit. Great price. Great warranty. I didn't care about the weight, and just wanted a battery that would get the job done. The Costco battery has been perfect so far.

Scott

Costco might be better in your area, but we've found their tires and batteries to be loss leader JUNK, more trouble than it's worth.

Yeah, they offer a warranty, but you should ask about the specific details; I had to change the costco battery in our 2004 honda FOUR TIMES, about once a year, no trivial matter since doing so requires removing the high beam headlight due to the retarded design of our honda.

And when I would go to return the old battery, expecting to just be handed another battery, they would charge me the difference in price from the old to the new one.

When I asked why I was being charged since it was "under warranty" they said, well, we're reducing the price of the new one for the use of the old one for a year.

After the 3rd or fourth battery THAT I HAD TO CHANGE MYSELF, (since Costco doesn't do that- probably because they know their batteries are junk, and then THEY'D have to blow an hour of labor time replacing it, wiping out any profit) about a 45 to 60 minute process due to the aforementioned design, I replied that was no warranty, that was them locking me into a subscription plan to buy crappy batteries from them every year.

I asked for the manager, and once I started talking about how many problems we've had with their tires and batteries and that I thought they did it on purpose just to get people there and shopping, they got me out of there QUICK before too many people heard me and could figure out they were cheating people.

When factoring in the amount I was paying each year, not to mention labor time, I was paying FAR MORE for crappy costco batteries that lasted about a year and would fail unexpectedly, stranding me.

I think they buy old tires with weak rubber too- sure, they offer a road protection policy that sounds great- they'll fix it for free, meaning you have 2-3 hours to kill, which you will usually fill by shopping.

Duh.

We've had to have 20-25 screws, nails, even a BOLT the width of my little finger punch itself into these el cheapo Costco rice paper tires.

And once we stopped using Costco tires, NOT A SINGLE PROBLEM. Hello.

[EarlyPorsche]

Originally Posted by Force

Costco might be better in your area, but we've found their tires and batteries to be loss leader JUNK, more trouble than it's worth.

Yeah, they offer a warranty, but you should ask about the specific details; I had to change the costco battery in our 2004 honda FOUR TIMES, about once a year, no trivial matter since doing so requires removing the high beam headlight due to the retarded design of our honda.

And when I would go to return the old battery, expecting to just be handed another battery, they would charge me the difference in price from the old to the new one.

When I asked why I was being charged since it was "under warranty" they said, well, we're reducing the price of the new one for the use of the old one for a year.

After the 3rd or fourth battery THAT I HAD TO CHANGE MYSELF, (since Costco doesn't do that- probably because they know their batteries are junk, and then THEY'D have to blow an hour of labor time replacing it, wiping out any profit) about a 45 to 60 minute process due to the aforementioned design, I replied that was no warranty, that was them locking me into a subscription plan to buy crappy batteries from them every year.

I asked for the manager, and once I started talking about how many problems we've had with their tires and batteries and that I thought they did it on purpose just to get people there and shopping, they got me out of there QUICK before too many people heard me and could figure out they were cheating people.

When factoring in the amount I was paying each year, not to mention labor time, I was paying FAR MORE for crappy costco batteries that lasted about a year and would fail unexpectedly, stranding me.

I think they buy old tires with weak rubber too- sure, they offer a road protection policy that sounds great- they'll fix it for free, meaning you have 2-3 hours to kill, which you will usually fill by shopping.

Duh.

We've had to have 20-25 screws, nails, even a BOLT the width of my little finger punch itself into these el cheapo Costco rice paper tires.

And once we stopped using Costco tires, NOT A SINGLE PROBLEM. Hello.

Hello Mr. Walton


I haven't had any problems with my Costco batteries and I've purchased quite a few. I've also purchased quite a few Michelins from Costco without a single problem. Are you sure you are talking about the same Costco I am? The same number 1 global company Costco?

[scottb]

Originally Posted by Force

Costco might be better in your area, but we've found their tires and batteries to be loss leader JUNK, more trouble than it's worth.

Yeah, they offer a warranty, but you should ask about the specific details; I had to change the costco battery in our 2004 honda FOUR TIMES, about once a year, no trivial matter since doing so requires removing the high beam headlight due to the retarded design of our honda.

And when I would go to return the old battery, expecting to just be handed another battery, they would charge me the difference in price from the old to the new one.

When I asked why I was being charged since it was "under warranty" they said, well, we're reducing the price of the new one for the use of the old one for a year.

After the 3rd or fourth battery THAT I HAD TO CHANGE MYSELF, (since Costco doesn't do that- probably because they know their batteries are junk, and then THEY'D have to blow an hour of labor time replacing it, wiping out any profit) about a 45 to 60 minute process due to the aforementioned design, I replied that was no warranty, that was them locking me into a subscription plan to buy crappy batteries from them every year.

I asked for the manager, and once I started talking about how many problems we've had with their tires and batteries and that I thought they did it on purpose just to get people there and shopping, they got me out of there QUICK before too many people heard me and could figure out they were cheating people.

When factoring in the amount I was paying each year, not to mention labor time, I was paying FAR MORE for crappy costco batteries that lasted about a year and would fail unexpectedly, stranding me.

I think they buy old tires with weak rubber too- sure, they offer a road protection policy that sounds great- they'll fix it for free, meaning you have 2-3 hours to kill, which you will usually fill by shopping.

Duh.

We've had to have 20-25 screws, nails, even a BOLT the width of my little finger punch itself into these el cheapo Costco rice paper tires.

And once we stopped using Costco tires, NOT A SINGLE PROBLEM. Hello.

Interesting first post. Clearly a guy with a ax to grind with Costco.

My experience with Costco batteries in several different cars has been just fine. I had a problem with one battery leaking a little at the upper part of the case -- probably due to my tightening the hold-down too much -- and they replaced the battery with no questions asked. Other than that one incident, however, my Costco batteries have been trouble free and last a LONG time.

As to tires -- my local Costco only sells name brands like Michelin, BF Goodrich, Bridgestone, etc. These are the same tires sold at thousands of tire stores across the country. I have no idea what your gripe is with their tires.

[Ray_G]

After having to do gas tank support/battery box repairs on my galvanized 911 due to a leaking lead acid battery I went with an Optima. I had to make a battery tray for it. That was easy enough. I will not put a conventional battery back in.

[rouxroux]

HAve had Bosch batteries in both our 86's that have lasted over 5 years...Bought 'em pretty cheap at Pep Boys.

[scottb]

Originally Posted by Ray_G

After having to do gas tank support/battery box repairs on my galvanized 911 due to a leaking lead acid battery I went with an Optima. I had to make a battery tray for it. That was easy enough. I will not put a conventional battery back in.

That's a different discussion, and most people won't disagree with you. But for those people that don't care and still use conventional batteries, the Costco batteries get the job done as well as any other brand, IMHO. YMMV, of course.

[Dan J]

I sell Interstate's at my shop. We've had good luck with them.
We've also sold many Optima and Odyssey with very mixed results
If your gel battery goes completely flat chances of it coming back to life are slim
Interstate has introduced their own brand gel battery that has worked well so far
though it's early to say long term. Interstate owns and distributes Optima and the quality seems to have gone down since they bought them. I've been told that the guys that sold Optima to Interstate are the owners of Odyssey

[ronster]

+1 for Interstate.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Conventional battery; Sears. They have the hold down feet, and they "Die Hard." And they don't leak, which is what Interstate batteries used to be famous for. That may no longer be the case, but my SC has a Sears battery; Group 48.

[T77911S]

i put a hole in an interstate and one of the cells drained dry. i used the battey for about a year until i left the lights on.

if i remember correctly, there are on ly a few battery makers out there, everyone else just puts their name on them.

i have lost faith in the sears die hard batteries. i remember as a kid, they where THE battery. seems like in the last 10 -15 years, the die hard gold series has really turned into junk, maybe 2 years out of a new battery.

i too just go for the cheap battery now. either advance or wal mart.

[dshepp806]

Big arse Interstate in my 89,..the weight was kept closely the of the removed BOSCH

...didn't want to frik-up the corner balance with some light weight battery (jk?)

It's a monster,..with monster cranking amps for all seasons....

Doyle

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by T77911S

i put a hole in an interstate and one of the cells drained dry. i used the battey for about a year until i left the lights on.

if i remember correctly, there are on ly a few battery makers out there, everyone else just puts their name on them.

i have lost faith in the sears die hard batteries. i remember as a kid, they where THE battery. seems like in the last 10 -15 years, the die hard gold series has really turned into junk, maybe 2 years out of a new battery.

i too just go for the cheap battery now. either advance or wal mart.

I guess luck can be bad, or good! My last Sears Die Hard battery lasted more than six years, and when I took it in to replace it, the store gave me $50 credit toward the new one because of the eight year warranty! That battery has been in the car since, and because it's just hot enough here that the car gets light use during the summer we have not had any starting issues, even after sitting unused for 4-5 weeks.

[Noah930]

I'm still on the Interstate that came with the car when I bought it from the PO 6+ years ago.

Now having posted that, I'm sure it'll go kaput next week.