Battery

[macplaxton]

What make / capacity battery do you have in your car?

Came back from holidays (10 days) and being "bastardly cold", the wife's Pug 106 turned over about 3 times and went on the dead slow churn. Battery has been there ages and is a crappy Fiamm one.

Went to start the GS and much to my surprise, didn't take many turns to pull fuel from the tank and started. Although it really wants the points / timing reset as I've never touched it in 9K miles /15 months.

Later I dug out my Bosch silver S4 from the porch outside, which was in the DAF before the smash and has a bit of a slightly crushed casing, but no leaks. Car started on the button. Not bad for a battery that's sat for the last 15 months at outside temperatures, never charged and only used once in September to jump start a 1.9 VW diesel (a feat it managed much to my surprise then).

Having charged the Fiamm, I pulled it out to try and start the GS, as it didn't want to know tonight: the odd cough, but no fire. That didn't do many turns before going slow again, so I'm going to toss that one out. The Energizer in the GS was ok for a bit of cranking, but I think I ought to look at the ignition on it.

Anyway, I might have to get a new battery at some point and as there are a number of members in colder climates I was wondering: Which battery manufacturer / type / model FTW?

(I'm impressed by the Bosch S4, but can I do better and / or cheaper?)

[Speedy88]

Bosch would be my choice of quality. I'm currently running one of the halfords batteries and it's alright.

[macplaxton]

I suppose a VARTA is much the same as a Bosch too

Halfords batteries aren't bad according to Auto Express tests.

Can any of our NI folk offer any price indicators up there. I've a gut feeling that I don't want to be shopping local.

[Speedy88]

If its anything to go by, I was running a hella battery up to a few months ago. It was liquid acid and the label was disintegrated. I'd put it being from around the mid 90s looking at the condition of it and everything else in my engine bay

[Chris_C]

I'd not hugely recommend Hella tbh, I had one last which was still accessable liquid and it lasted 3 years and 4 minutes. Plus she struggled in the winter a lot more than my old silvertop.

[Ride_on]

Halfords batteries seem really dear now, £100 for a 940 one, which I would prefer for a 360. I can't remember the size but the 940 turbos got a small slow starter due to the low compression, might be bigger due to all the electrics/alarm.

You get a good guarantee with the Halfords ones anyway and you can pay more for longer guarantees.

[trabitom99]

The longest-lasting battery I ever had was an original Volvo one. Bought the GLi in 2000 with it already fitted. Changed it only two years ago, and there was still some life in it then ...

Tom