Do you bother with more expensive car battery brands?
Discussion
Are the more expensive batteries worth shelling out for?
I'm buying a new battery for my 2004 MG ZT and I can pay anywhere between £120 (Lion) and £220 (Bosch) at Euro carparts. That's exact the same size, cold starting current and amp hours, just different brands. Same warranty also.
Why is this, and is it worth paying more?
I'm buying a new battery for my 2004 MG ZT and I can pay anywhere between £120 (Lion) and £220 (Bosch) at Euro carparts. That's exact the same size, cold starting current and amp hours, just different brands. Same warranty also.
Why is this, and is it worth paying more?
Shop around. Eurocarparts prices are crazy, and even with their best discount codes, you can normally do better. Local battery shop will probably be cheaper.
Lion stuff is a bit crap by all accounts on the internet- but keeping a battery in a good state of charge and not overworking it is as important as anything for the life.
The pricier ones often have better ratings and longer guarantees for a given size, so the battery isn't working as so close to its limits starting the car, for example, even before you get to any differences in actual "quality".
Lion stuff is a bit crap by all accounts on the internet- but keeping a battery in a good state of charge and not overworking it is as important as anything for the life.
The pricier ones often have better ratings and longer guarantees for a given size, so the battery isn't working as so close to its limits starting the car, for example, even before you get to any differences in actual "quality".
Mighty Flex said:
Shop around. Eurocarparts prices are crazy, and even with their best discount codes, you can normally do better. Local battery shop will probably be cheaper.
This, absolutely. Changed mine recently, nearly £200 Halford, £120 ECP, £80 Tanya for a bosch silver battery.
Yuasa work well, but Bosch are the gold standard for me. I would not use a off brand battery as it can make trouble shooting a nightmare, also the performance is generally terrible
(electrical engineer who wrote a load of design procedures for an automotive firm for battery testing - cold weather starts and cold cranking performance - this makes me sound like a dick, but it's one of the few areas that I have experience in.)
(electrical engineer who wrote a load of design procedures for an automotive firm for battery testing - cold weather starts and cold cranking performance - this makes me sound like a dick, but it's one of the few areas that I have experience in.)
Branded for me, my recent purchase was a bosch from Tayna, it worked out only a few quid more than the Varta and 25 or so quid more than the budget option, which over the life of the battery is minimal.I also use an exide on my lancer, again from Tayna . Always fast delivery and very good service.
I have used varta before on a Mazda 6, again no problems with that brand either.
I have used varta before on a Mazda 6, again no problems with that brand either.
rodericb said:
The last battery I bought was for a Japanese car so I bought a Japanese battery - Panasonic. When I replaced the battery in my Ducati - which has a Yuasa as OEM - I replaced it with an EarthX lithium battery from the USA. The quality on the cheap stuff can be slightly variable.
Just an FYI -- GS Yuasa is a Japanese company. Wherever I'm not buying an OE battery, it'll likely be Yuasa.I almost always end up buying Varta batteries and have had very good experience of them. No idea if they're generally considered a good brand or not to be honest, but they're popular for Elises because they're light for their capacity. The one I've just replaced in my Elise lasted 11 years, which doesn't seem bad.
As above Tayna seem to generlaly be good value, whatever you're buying.
As above Tayna seem to generlaly be good value, whatever you're buying.
Baldchap said:
Halfords offer some stonking warranties on their batteries. No idea if they're any good, but the implication from the warranty is that they are.
I have had a Halfords battery on my Series land Rover for 5 years still starts every time I try it. Equally had Halfords batteries on the MX5 and Lexus RX400h for a few years each and they still work. Halfords prices are OK and I have had no trouble from their batteries over the years.My first Bosch purchase lasted 16 years. Whilst I guess cost engineering means that over that time the newer ones probably don't last as long I've always looked to buy Bosch where possible.
Others that I'd consider are Varta or Yuasa - but always a recent name. On a friend's mini the difference between an average one and the very best was about £20. The way I look at it, for the first 2 or 3 years probably any battery is fine - but then after a really cold snap on one of the following years, not making that £20 investment may be payback time!
As others have said, great prices & delivery from Tayna.
Others that I'd consider are Varta or Yuasa - but always a recent name. On a friend's mini the difference between an average one and the very best was about £20. The way I look at it, for the first 2 or 3 years probably any battery is fine - but then after a really cold snap on one of the following years, not making that £20 investment may be payback time!
As others have said, great prices & delivery from Tayna.
Edited by C-J on Monday 17th May 12:33
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