Which Battery?

[Bruce]

Hi again folks!

My 2003 Aero needs a new battery (this one has lasted 5 years - which I guess from reading other posts is pretty good!)

Problem is - which type should I go for? I've checked various websites but they throw up a huge range of recommendations. I found a Varta E11 on "Performance Batteries" for a very reasonable £63 - but given the RAC/Halfords are quoting upwards of £140 - is the Varta cheap for a reason?

Lead Acid, Calcium, Silver;
AH
Cold Cranking (SAE)
Cold Cranking (EN)

Seems like a bit of a minefield...any suggestions greatfully received!

I'm not fussy for a particularly long warranty - just a good strong battery that's going to turn over in the Scottish winter :-)

Thanks
Bruce

[sgould]

I got a Bosch one from Halfords in desperation on a Sunday morning and it wasn't cheap, but it's still going after three years.

Varta have been around a long time and I know nothing bad about them.

[ScarbSaab]

The place I use gets UKBatteries, so I ended up with a Platinum Prestige Plus 096BPP+ at £85, but it has only been on the car two years so can't say how long it will last. Ratings from the website are 80Ah, CCA-SAE 750 with a four year warranty.

My '04 handbook lists battery capacity of 70Ah but no CCA, I'd guess around 650. Mine had obviously been replaced before, and some cheapskate had fitted a Lucas with something like 60Ah and CCA 550 so I'm amazed it lasted as long as it did.

[Audax]

carparts4less.co.uk (branch/division/sister of Euro Car Parts) has a Bosch S3 (3 year warranty) for £57.54, S4 (4 year warranty) for £64.74 and an S5 (5 year warranty) for £75.54...

[steventon95]

I recently got one from UKBatteries. Bosch I think, It's sort of rectangular and black and does what it says on the label. 

[Mark B]

If you are anywhere near a Costco store, they keep Bosch at reasonable prices.  I believe that Bosch and Varta are now part of the same group.  The batteries look identical apart from the label.  I got a Varta from a local factor recently for only about £5 more than Costco wanted for the same with a Bosch label so it wasn't worth the trip to Costco.

I would get the biggest battery that can fit in the space provided.  As a battery ages, its capacity reduces.  So if you get a big one, after two or three years it will still have the capacity of the standard battery.  You will notice a large difference in price from the common sizes to the uncommon ones, so get the biggest that will fit for a reasonable price.

You can find all the sizes etc here http://rb-aa.bosch.com/aa-batterien/gb/en/start/index.htm

If you have the money (and the room for the S6002), the S6 range with AGM are supposed to be good.

You should be able to get a Bosch S5007 or Varta equivalent or larger version (I think the S5010 is the next common size) for £80 - 100.  I got a Varta Silver H3 (same as Bosch S5013) for a neighbour for less than £100 recently.

[JB]

Last week I bought a Varta E44 battery for my 2000 9-5 from www.tayna.co.uk (http://www.tayna.co.uk/E44-Varta-Silver-Car-Battery-577400078-P7726.html) (I think the later 9-5's take a different size). The CCA is a high 780A.

My existing Yuasa battery (approx 6 years old) was cranking very slowly in the cold weather and I didn't want to risk it. The Varta battery turned up the very next day, but I haven't fitted it yet as the existing battery hasn't died.

[jmblack]

Worth trying eurocarpartsoutlet on eBay. Sometimes good deals there.

[Mr Linear]

About 18 months ago I nought a TAB 096 cca630.

£50 inc vat.

No complaints so far.

Mr L.

[Petemate]

Hope I'm not teaching grandmothers to suck eggs blah blah but worthy of note that one needs to wait to crank until the glow plug pig's tail goes out to ensure max battery life. I keep moaning at SWMBO after I hear her turning the motor over first start of any day - I KNOW she has not waited and she woefully admits to same upon return. I WILL educate her......

[Bruce]

Thanks as always for the quick & comprehensive replies.

After much faffing around - I decided to plump for the Bosch S3 as Audax mentioned - less than £70 from carparts4less - with next day delivery.

That's my Saturday morning sorted!