993 Battery........ Lightweight or Not? - Page 2

944/951guy · 11-05-2009, 03:13 AM

Does a optima battery need a new bracket? or does the stock on fit?

Yellow or Red top and why?

Edward · 11-05-2009, 03:05 PM

I have been through many batteries, over many cars, over many many years (decades ...hmmm, that makes me old

). I've come to the very easy conclusion that for a street car, there is no such thing as a "performance" or "better" battery. You can pay more ...that is easy. But you won't get more. Get one that fits right, the proper CCA for your useage, and one with a 3-4 year warranty and you're good. I've had Optimas fail in 1-2, had costco and autozones go up to 4 years ...just no correlation between what you pay and longevity. In my experience, all that battery marketing hype amounts to you paying more.

Edward

Dick in TN · 11-05-2009, 03:35 PM

Optima Red Top in my Porsche is 10 years old.
Have an Odessey in my BMW M/C, like it too.

2Many Cars · 11-05-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

just no correlation between what you pay and longevity

+1 It matters more how the battery is treated. Regardless of liquid or gel type the chemistry isn't all that different. Frequent cycling (drained to full charge) wears any battery out. If you're not using the car much keep a high quality floating charger on it, avoid deep discharges (like leaving your lights on...duh!), and if appropriate keep the electrolyte level topped up - if you do then even a cheap battery should last for years. To me the only justification for an Optima/Oddessey is the acid spillage issue, which shouldn't be an issue as long as the battery is properly vented and secured (an assuming you keep the shiney side up of course).

pcar · 11-06-2009, 02:27 AM

I tend to leave my car sitting for 2-3 weeks at a time and because of this I have killed two optima red tops over a 4 year span. Even when the Batteries were new it would be hit or miss after a few weeks. i dont have access to a power outlet so the use of a battery tender is out of the question. I gave up on the Optimas and went with this http://www.remybattery.com/Products/...y__9AGM48.aspx after reading some good reviews for some other listers. I jumped in the car after it sat for 5 weeks and it spun-up like a champ-I know I need to drive more!

Tuner1 · 11-06-2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave911G

I got my Odyssey 925T (that T is important) from Battery X-Change on Canyon Rd in Beaverton about a year ago for $170. The factory bracket won't work. Add a Rennline bracket for another $100 and you have just spent a ton of money to loose about 11 lbs from the front of the car. i

It all depends on how fanatical you are about performance or OCD about the details

If you have a stock(ish) 993 that is only driven on the street then stick with an OEM replacement battery.

I would be happy to shed weight off my car at the rate of $15/lb without giving up anything except having to use a battery tender for long parking intervals. Odyssey here I come

Noah · 11-06-2009, 11:38 AM

The weight loss with an Odyssey is quite a bit more than 11 pounds. The stock battery is 50-55 pounds, the Odyssey is 25.

Tuner1 · 11-06-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noah

The weight loss with an Odyssey is quite a bit more than 11 pounds. The stock battery is 50-55 pounds, the Odyssey is 25.

I was using the # given by the previous poster. At that rate my weight saving cost goes down to only $7/lb. What a deal!

Noah · 11-06-2009, 01:01 PM

Ed Zachary. I'm going to do an Odyssey as well, when it comes time for a new battery.

944/951guy · 11-06-2009, 02:46 PM

I weighted my stock battery yesterday and it was 43lbs.
Red top optima was 33lbs.

2Many Cars · 11-06-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

I weighted my stock battery yesterday and it was 43lbs.

That sounds more realistic. The battery for my 300D diesel might be 55 lbs - it's a fair amount bigger with much more CC amps - but not the standard 993 battery.

Noah · 11-06-2009, 03:07 PM

Ah, I must be thinking about the older 911 batteries. Those were huge.

Tuner1 · 11-06-2009, 03:22 PM

I used this one in my 930 and it performed very well, even during the occasional -10C cold start! Only 21lbs.

http://www.braillebattery.com/index....tteries/b3121/

shu · 11-07-2009, 01:44 AM

the braille battery seem to be reasonable in price, might have to give it a try!

Edward · 11-07-2009, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shu

the braille battery seem to be reasonable in price, might have to give it a try!

OK, I'll bite: with the MSRP at $179, which part of that is "reasonable"??

Oh well, to each his own.

Edward

11-05-2009, 03:13 AM	#16
944/951guy Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 708	Does a optima battery need a new bracket? or does the stock on fit? Yellow or Red top and why? __________________ Current Cars: 1996 Porsche 993 C2. ABD/LSD, Black on Cashmere, HID's, Stage II's, Big Ovals, Rennline Harness Bar, Turbo Twist Wheels and more coming.......... 1994 Toyota T100, Work Truck. Previous Cars Worth Mentioning: 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo 1995 Porsche 968 2007 Subaru Sti 1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo 2000 Honda S2000

11-05-2009, 03:05 PM	#17
Edward Addicted Specialist Rennlist Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: So.CA Posts: 4,334	I have been through many batteries, over many cars, over many many years (decades ...hmmm, that makes me old ). I've come to the very easy conclusion that for a street car, there is no such thing as a "performance" or "better" battery. You can pay more ...that is easy. But you won't get more. Get one that fits right, the proper CCA for your useage, and one with a 3-4 year warranty and you're good. I've had Optimas fail in 1-2, had costco and autozones go up to 4 years ...just no correlation between what you pay and longevity. In my experience, all that battery marketing hype amounts to you paying more. Edward __________________ Support your local Rennlister: Pay it forward. 1995 Carrera Coupe - Guards Red and Grinning 1982 911SC Track Meister-in-Progress HWFM Proud!! RennMember 020407-3788

11-05-2009, 03:35 PM	#18
Dick in TN Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Signal Mountain, TN Posts: 186	Optima Red Top in my Porsche is 10 years old. Have an Odessey in my BMW M/C, like it too. __________________ Dick Scales '97 993tt Arena Red/Classic Grey

11-06-2009, 11:38 AM	#22
Noah Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 1,405	The weight loss with an Odyssey is quite a bit more than 11 pounds. The stock battery is 50-55 pounds, the Odyssey is 25. __________________ Black 1996 C2 with PSS9's and stuff

11-06-2009, 01:01 PM	#24
Noah Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 1,405	Ed Zachary. I'm going to do an Odyssey as well, when it comes time for a new battery. __________________ Black 1996 C2 with PSS9's and stuff

11-06-2009, 02:27 AM	#20
pcar Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Marina del rey,Ca Posts: 106	I tend to leave my car sitting for 2-3 weeks at a time and because of this I have killed two optima red tops over a 4 year span. Even when the Batteries were new it would be hit or miss after a few weeks. i dont have access to a power outlet so the use of a battery tender is out of the question. I gave up on the Optimas and went with this http://www.remybattery.com/Products/...y__9AGM48.aspx after reading some good reviews for some other listers. I jumped in the car after it sat for 5 weeks and it spun-up like a champ-I know I need to drive more!

11-06-2009, 02:46 PM	#25
944/951guy Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 708	I weighted my stock battery yesterday and it was 43lbs. Red top optima was 33lbs. __________________ Current Cars: 1996 Porsche 993 C2. ABD/LSD, Black on Cashmere, HID's, Stage II's, Big Ovals, Rennline Harness Bar, Turbo Twist Wheels and more coming.......... 1994 Toyota T100, Work Truck. Previous Cars Worth Mentioning: 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo 1995 Porsche 968 2007 Subaru Sti 1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo 2000 Honda S2000

11-06-2009, 03:07 PM	#27
Noah Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 1,405	Ah, I must be thinking about the older 911 batteries. Those were huge. __________________ Black 1996 C2 with PSS9's and stuff

11-06-2009, 03:22 PM	#28
Tuner1 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 168	I used this one in my 930 and it performed very well, even during the occasional -10C cold start! Only 21lbs. http://www.braillebattery.com/index....tteries/b3121/

11-07-2009, 01:44 AM	#29
shu Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 158	the braille battery seem to be reasonable in price, might have to give it a try! __________________ 1997 C4S, Arena Red, Cashmere, Bilstein HD's w/H&R springs, RS Tail, Clear Corners, Gert's FPB, 996tt Hollow Spokes, V1, HID's, Focal VRS, JVC AVX77, RS Motor Mounts.