Who carries Optima..

Post by **Billet Benny** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:32 pm

Need to go buy a battery tonight. Who carries Optimas?

Do not say Advance Auto, I will not spend money with them.

Does AutoZone in C'burg?

I called Napa, they don't keep in stock but can get.

Wal-Mart?

????????

Post by **Andrew** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:36 pm

According to Optima's dealer finder, Autozone does sell them.

Post by **Billet Benny** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:41 pm

I'm having trouble w/ their website.. It's slow.. They're open til 8 so I expect I'll just head over there..

Post by **csult** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:05 pm

advance in bburg has red and yellow tops. check sears they had them.

Post by **Fonger** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:29 pm

I know Auto Zone sells them as well as Wal-Mart. I've seen them at both places.

Post by **Billet Benny** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:48 pm

csult wrote:advance in bburg has red and yellow tops. check sears they had them.

I won't spend money there.. Place is terrible.

I did drop by there after class being as this was kind of a bind and I still ended up just walking out.

Post by **Billet Benny** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:54 pm

Fonger wrote:I know Auto Zone sells them as well as Wal-Mart. I've seen them at both places.

I just got back from AutoZone.

As I thought my battery was dying hardcore. I bought the Optima and when I went to put it in found that the + and - terminals are switched from the normal battery. Didn't have enough cable slack on either + or - wires to hook it up. Almost could do it with the battery rotated 180* but no dice. The mods to make my wires reach would be extensive and I needed a battery. Sucks.

So, I returned the Optima and bought the Duralast Gold and plopped it in. I think I now remember terminal problems with Optimas and Tacomas now that I think about it. Retarded, I wanted to spend $150 on a battery but had to settle for a $80 one. Hopefully this thing will last.

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:12 pm

Benny, pretty sure it's a later model Toyota thing. My Land Cruiser is the same way. Fortunately there's JUST enough slack to put the battery in the other way on mine. Optima used to make a special "orange top" that had reversed terminals but was otherwise the same. They discontinued it a couple years ago. I believe in its place they manufacture a special Red Top with an R at the end of the part number to indicated the terminals are reversed.

Post by **Billet Benny** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:16 pm

Arya Ebrahimi wrote:Benny, pretty sure it's a later model Toyota thing. My Land Cruiser is the same way. Fortunately there's JUST enough slack to put the battery in the other way on mine. Optima used to make a special "orange top" that had reversed terminals but was otherwise the same. They discontinued it a couple years ago. I believe in its place they manufacture a special Red Top with an R at the end of the part number to indicated the terminals are reversed.

Yea, that orange top rings a bell.. I definitely didn't have the slack so it would've had to get fancy and I just wanted the thing to start tomorrow. I hear fine things about the Duralast Golds so we'll see.. Supposed to be 3 year free replacement either way.

Post by **Billet Benny** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:21 pm

Aaaand.. I just found I probably could have mounted it on its side.. Apparently the spacer will also clip to the side and the stock hold down works in that orientation too. Then the cables will reach the terminals.. Interesting.

Post by **jac6695** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:39 pm

You should be good to go with the Duralast. FYI, Johnson Controls (who I work for) makes most auto batteries sold in the US (and around the world for that matter). Here is a website for the list of brands we make:

http://www.autobatteries.com/brands/index.asp

We also own Interstate and Optima. Just to brag, I can buy red tops for $70.00/shipped to my door, yellow for $80.00/shipped. Used to be really sweet until soon after I found out about this deal they limited the number of batteries per year to 2/per employee.

Post by **jac6695** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:40 pm

BTW, what the hell do you have against Advance? I don't think they are worse/better then Autozone and others, but I do try and shop their since they are a local company.

Post by **Billet Benny** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:07 pm

jac6695 wrote:BTW, what the hell do you have against Advance? I don't think they are worse/better then Autozone and others, but I do try and shop their since they are a local company.

I have NOTHING against Advance. I have lots against Advance Auto IN Blacksburg. They stay understaffed at all times so you can't go in there without a long wait. The few employees I've known weren't treated well and quit so I expect management has a lot to do with improper staffing. I've also seen what happens to the in charge guys in there when some pretty girl walks in. Also, Kim was the best manager they ever had and kept the place running well and he got let go in a big fiasco and the place hasn't been the same since. There's a lot more that the particular place does that irritates me but I'll stop.

Also, I do prefer most of the stuff AutoZone carries to Advance. Personally, I normally go to Napa first and CarQuest second for actual parts.

Post by **jac6695** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:20 pm

I used to pick Napa first until they continued to support MWR. I also have a problem with the local NAPA. You can confirm the story with Baber and Leach, but when I bought my now broken half shaft from them, the moron behind the counter asked at least twice if the truck I needed the drivers side front half shaft was indeed a 4 Wheel Drive. No Mr. Idiot Parts Guy, I need a front half shaft for my 2 wheel drive truck.

Website · Post by **tsmall07** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:35 pm

You can get one of the new Sears Premium batteries. They're $150 and are supposed to compete with optima.