hi. are these batteries the same in function and durability as the optima red and yellow tops? i mean how do they stack up against them?
they seem to be cheaper so i thought maybe the quailty isnt as high. maybe im wrong. thx!!

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...sPageName=WDVW

 

They are good batteries, and they do sell them locaclly here. I wouldn't buy one off ebay, as shipping + taxes and brokerage would end up costing mroe than if you bought one here.

 

You get what you pay for. Yellow top $199 costco best battery I have ever owned.

 

you can get them at costco?

 

oh nevermind that last question, i dont have a membership. where else in canada can i pick one up?

 

Not sure where else you can get them. The best is to find someone you know with a membership. Hey BTW did you figure out your terminal problem. You could use these and just put terminal ends on all your wires.

http://www.audiopipe.com/AudioPipeCa...ture=AP-37.jpg

 

Orbital XCD can be had at Canadian Tire/Partexpress for ~$150-170. Just as good as a comparable sized Yellow top.

 

Yup, Optima's and Orbital's are basically the same. Optima's were originally a Swedish company that now resides in the USA (Colorado if I remember right). They invented this technology. Orbital's are made by Exide, and are a direct copy of the Optima "Spiralcell" technology. They are legally able to copy it now since Optima's patent has run out. I've been in the battery business for 13 years now, and Optima's were roughly 5-7 year old technology back then. So they've been around for 20 years by now...

Red top (starting) and yellow top (deep cycle) are Optimas. Prices start around $150 for a red top group 75/35 (front wheel drive GM & import cars), and about $160 for a red top 78/34 (an inch longer, the most common size), at major discount superstores like Wally World and Costco.

Black top Orbital (starting), blue top Orbital (deep cycle/marine), black top Orbital Extreme (fancy labled starting for stereos), and ALL Canadian Tire's variations are ALL made by Exide. As a matter of fact, ALL of Cdn. Tire's automotive batteries are relabled Exides. This is common practice in the battery biz. Exide puts a better warranty on their batterys, GETTING warranty is easier, and they're a little bit cheaper than Optima's.

Which do I use or prefer? 6 of one, 1/2 a dozen of the other... Optima's are probably better (although I dunno for sure), Exide batteries have always corroded excessivly, they're a little higher maintenance, Exide's a much better company to deal with, and they build batteries right here in Calgary, as well as Eastern Canada. Although, Exide's deal (about two years ago) with Cdn. Tire pretty much put me out of the Orbital business, I now stock Optima's again, not Orbital's. However, my own van has an Orbital starting up front, and an Orbital deep cycle for the system.

What should you get? If you know exactly what you need, know your "stuff", then go grab one at a major discounter. If, however, you need the technology explained better, need it installed, or just don't have the faith, spend the extra 10 or 20 bucks and get it from a shop that knows what they're doing. There's a lot to be said about customer service... However, I suppose I am biased.

Good luck!