Hi,
I have just swapped out the original battery (1999)from the lightning, which no longer holding charge.

I drive apprx 200miles per month (this is ave when i have time some months this is zero) and I always have left the battery on a trickle charger

I have installed an new Optima Red top - (totally wicked)

Question is should maintain the routine of the trickle charger fore the optima considering I do so few miles

Any comments ??

 

Get rid of the Opti-crap and buy a Sears Platinum/Odyssey or Kinetik battery.

Optima's were good years ago, ever since they got bought out they are no better then cheapo $50 wal-mart batteries.

 

I've had a Optima red in my truck for 9 years now and never charged it once.

 

You have the old school ones before the company sold a few years ago. Do a search on optima and there is a thread that explains what all happened.

 

I believe they are made in Mexico now.

 

Thanks for folks for the update on the optima - however I am in the UK and USA sourced batteries are not easy to come-by for the average joe.

Fuel over here is approx $8.50/gallon - hence the low miles

Quesion still stands - optima - should i trickle charge ??

 

Yes. All batteries can benefit from an occasional trickle charge but batteries that only see occasional use benefit more.

 

i love my redtop!

 

I'm probably just going to go with a WalMarts (N)Everstart type 65 batt when my original fails on 2005 SCab. They're made by Johnson Controls, one of only 3 or 4 battery mfrs left in USA and at $75 a good bit cheeper than the other parts house sources.

I drive my F150 daily, what would the benefit be going to a Optima? I have no additional power accessories on my XLT. The red top Optima is $169.09 at Advance Bros here in GA

 

No benefit over a standard battery. As has been stated Optima's are POS.

 

The optima is a good battery. I have a yellow top in my 89 stang, put it in in2002. The car set for one year in storage in 2003-04.(unhooked). Hooked it up, fired right up. left lights on all day, died, jumped started, never looked back. stored it again in 2008-09 for a year(outside this time). Jumped started, never looked back. Stored again in 2009 for six months, and the optima is still kicking. Maybe I got an unique one, but it has done justice for my stang since 2002 and still kicking. my .02

 

Why so harsh on the optima brand, I could care less but would prefer to pay more just for the red accent under the hood,which I did. I mean no offense but I would never bash anything unless I had a very bad experience with it.

 

Been using Optima Red Tops for over 10 years in several vehicles and they work/last very well.

 

1. I used to be a huge supporter of the optima brand back in the early 2000's. They were GREAT batteries back then. I still have one from then that still works.

2.During 2004 optima was bought out by another company and they completely redesigned the battery for maximum profit.

3.Ever sense the redesign i have had 4 fail on me... 4!! They are pieces of crap

4. If you bought the battery strictly on looks alone... Ricer.

 

Got a red top in my L thats only driven 200 miles or less a year with a battery tender plus - been that way for about 6 years.