Just realized my Optima Yellow Top had it's tenth birthday ...

[mpozzi]

I bought "The Best Car in the Entire World" back in 2002 and started the first build a year later. As part of that build, I wanted to move some of the weight in the engine bay to the trunk and after raising the hood and taking a look-see around, that big, black, rectangular lump that sat in the front corner needed a new home.

Moving the lump from the front of the car to the trunk was a no-brainer but as I still wanted to keep most of the trunk space available for car show stuff (a disclaimer here as in the early days, I have been known to frequent car events where a constant companion to my butt was a folding chair). Looking about, that left the sides closest to the quarter panels but this was angled, not flat. Angled is had to be and as I needed a 12-volt lump that didn't care what position it was in, I selected an OPTIMA Yellow Top as you can mount this sucker forwards, backwards, sideways, at a 90* angle, and probably upside down ... it don't matter a whit. Why the Yellow Top? Well, it's simple. I like yellow ...

Fast forwards to 2010 and I've sent my four-wheeled ton and a half of automobile awesomeness to college for some aftermarket education. Lots of changes, tons of modifications, a new engine, new suspension ... still the same battery.

Now we're in 2013 and it's Graduate School for the Wonder Machine. LS7 from Lingenfelter, bigger and badder Baer brakes, and even more suspension goodness is going in. The OEM subframe is yanked in favor of the ubercool Art Morrison Engineering aftermarket sub and yes ... still the same lemon-yellow battery.

Gotta say that I'm very impressed with OPTIMA and especially the duty-bound and ever-faithful Yellow Top. It's never left me stranded, always ensured sufficient cranking amps to get the engine up and running, and just like a Timex it's kept on ticking.

Thanks, OPTIMA ...

[Rod]

need a HUGE like button for this, and I agree

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/08/GEDC0859_zps6b999c80-1.jpg

[mpozzi]

Thanks, Rodney ...

I've thought about batteries and how they're blamed for all things "no-start" and it just isn't fair!! We take them for granted and treat them poorly. We freeze them in the winter and boil them in hot summer months.

This is just wrong and I'm glad mine thinks it's a cat with nine lives!

Mary P.

[UNBROKEN]

Try that with a new one since production has gone south of the border. I had 4 blue tops fail and not take or hold a charge within 2 years of being bought new.
I gave up on Optima....nothing but XS Power for me now.

[Bryce]

Mary, that is good to hear. I get about 4-5 years out of my redtops. I have bought at least 12 for my cars over the years.

[72BBSwinger]

Optima lost me as a customer about 4 years ago. When they were made here they were an excellent battery. Sorry to bash this post but maybe someone from Optima will read this and bring jobs back here and the quality might return. Anyone want a good battery with MORE cca's that an Optima that is $100 cheaper go to your local Caterpillar dealer.

[srh3trinity]

I think everybody missed the most important part of this thread. Mary just leaked that she is getting an aftermarket subframe ,an ls7 and bigger brakes.

[72BBSwinger]

I think everybody missed the most important part of this thread. Mary just leaked that she is getting an aftermarket subframe ,an ls7 and bigger brakes.
That sucks for anyone that has to race her. I'm not worthy....

[SLO_Z28]

My old red top is still going strong. It was one of the Colorado made ones after gates sold them off. Its approaching 20 years old, and has served in my CP car when it was a drag car, a tube chassis el camino drag car, 05 crown vic, 89 camaro Z28, and a 91 Chevy 454SS. The shop I used to work for had one of the originals made by Gates in the 80's still running on dyno duty when it closed 4 years ago. We sold the hell out of them to the roundy round guys back in the early 90's, as they are a huge safety upgrade.

[Rod]

I think everybody missed the most important part of this thread. Mary just leaked that she is getting an aftermarket subframe ,an ls7 and bigger brakes.

I know right! I wasnt going to say anything because I was just feeling good about my driving and my car and then she throws down the gauntlet ,:crying:

[Dave B]

7 years on my red top, someday when I grow up, I'll have a yellow top. :)

[83tb]

I got 7 yrs out of a yellow top in my F150.

[staged67gspwr]

yea mines on its way out too 6 yrs red top.might go with an odyssey next.

[GrabberGT]

Im going on 10 years on my Yellow Top as well. I thought I killed it 2 months ago when I grounded out my Alt cable and heard the battery sizzling. WRONG! Fixed the problem and it started right up. A week later I completely discharged it due to the stereo being left on over night. Got out the jumper cables and let it charge for 5 minutes and BAM! Fired right up. I hate to jinx it but Im starting to think this thing is indestructible. It goes months without being used and never gets put on a charger. It just works.

[Jim Nilsen]

I think everybody missed the most important part of this thread. Mary just leaked that she is getting an aftermarket subframe ,an ls7 and bigger brakes.

I caught all of that too, but what impressed me is that she likes Yellow!!!!!!

It seems strange to me that when we do absolutely nothing but abuse a battery ,and I do that well, that they just keep going and going. Had a motorcycle battery go 12 years in my lawn mower, my Vibe battery is 10 years old, my Braille battery is still surviving its under rated size task without giving up. So it really must be something that if you don't think about it, it really does go away.

[mpozzi]

Yellow is the "new" black ...

Mary P.

[buickfunnycar.com]

I think everybody missed the most important part of this thread. Mary just leaked that she is getting an aftermarket subframe ,an ls7 and bigger brakes...

LOL...just wait! :dunno: