[00 SS]

I'm thinking getting an Optima red top but was wondering what else might be a good choice. The car is mostly autox (ESP now but maybe FS next year) these days but does still see some street duty. Any other suggestions besides Optima?

[00 SS]

The original Delco is leaking. I'm not saying anything bad about it, it lasted over 7 years. However, I like the idea of a battery that can't leak. I've had optimas and the exide (spiral style) in other vehicles in the past and both were excellent batteries. If I remember right, the optima lasted longer. Both were in 4x4's with electric winches.

I thought about the Hawker, but if the SS gets moved to FS next year, I think I will put it back to stock and the Hawker would not be legal.

The optima now has a 7 year warranty with 3 year free replacement. I think that's what I'm going to get.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[CrashTestDummy]

<SNIP>
I thought about the Hawker, but if the SS gets moved to FS next year, I think I will put it back to stock and the Hawker would not be legal.

<SNIP>

It's not? Isn't it a normal wear item? If this is true, I didn't know that. Of course, it has been a while since I have run stock, but seem to remember some of the stock Honduhs in our region with those tiny little batteries installed.

Battery Tenders are great! I have our 95 SS with it's red-top Optima hooked up to one. The car gets out of the garage maybe once a quarter. When I want to go, I simply unplug the Battery Tender and fire it up and get on the road. I'll soon be getting a 4-port Tender so I can hook the Firebird up and have it on the 'mind' between events.

The Optima in the SS is over 3 years old now, and still going strong. On little-used cars, I would only get about 3 years max out of an optima. I installed the optima because the Delco I replaced it with leaked, as they all seem to do. I'll probably replace the little battery in the SVO with a Hawker when it gives up. I already have acid burns on the hood latch cable.