I'm in the market for a car battery at the moment. It's for my 1800 74 van.

What I need is the best bang for my buck, as the number of said bucks is limited.

Can anyone suggest the best brands/duty ratings and the most cost effective places to buy it?

I've been into a lot of car parts places/supermarkets etc over the years which stock batteries, but I have never paid the slightest bit of attention.

I have decided that my current battery is not salvagable finally. The main reason being that two cells resemble trodden on sandwiches, or waterlogged books. Whichever analogy floats your boat.
My spare battery can't even pull the current to light a globe.

So, where should I look/avoid? And what sort of prices do batteries sell for.

Any help, informed or otherwise is greatly appreciated. Hehe. terminator smiley.

$140 smackers for a good one

ouch.

So whats a good one?

i use a century.......bought it the day i got my baja. cant even remember what size it is but its about the right size for a bommadore or falcon. was about 110 buckeroos

never had an issue but its only a year old.

i had some no name brand battery in my superbug for ages and its still sweet cost me about 80 bucks.

[ Edited on 29-6-2005 by Anthiron ]

You can get new batteries from $40.
They are not as good as an expensive one but they will do the job.
Will start a v8 no problem so your kombi should be fine.
Go to repco or kmart.

Century heatguard range are a good performance/ price

I found that Exide batteries were much cheaper that Centuries, and all the retailers I spoke to said they were basically the same. My exide battery cost $140 for a 660CCA recessed terminal, maintenance free unit. I would guess that for under $100 you should be able to find a good quality battery suitable for your Kombi, if you are happy to live with a bit less juice. Look for one with a two year warranty. I would suggest K-Mart Tyre & Auto or a specialist battery shop, they were cheaper than Autobarn or Repco.

I think i paid about 110, for a exide one for the golf. I would prefer a Century, but at the time it was the easiest option late on a sunday arvo. if i had the chance i would get a optima next time.

The companies I buy batteries from have no noticeable difference in price between Century and Exide for similar style and size. Both are good.

The imported batteries (german) from your vw merc etc dealers are value. One lasted nearly 9 years so spend a little more as the aussie batteries are made of lesser qualiy lead.

OR add batrolite (Supercheap) and if batt is new the maker of the batrolite (others too) will double your warranty of the battery (add within 14 days !!!
May cost 12$ to add./ I even use it in the ride on mower battery and IT WORKS

exide shit over century every day of the week. i use to work with batteries and have been told the same thing by the battery guys we deal with through work.. i have sold exides through work for the last 4 years and only once had a faulty one... go the exide..

as for the cheapies, you will usually find that for the equivilent size to the good ones, the cheapie one is of lower CCA. so watch that one when your buying tristan... best of gettin the bucks and havin something that kicks the kombi over nice and fast for those cold mornings..

Any new battery (even the $40 horrors) is better than a knackered one that doesn't work and leaves you stranded.

Cheers

Hugh

Any new battery (even the $40 horrors) is better than a knackered one that doesn't work and leaves you stranded.

Cheers

Hugh

What size does the battery need to be to fit under the back seat in a bug?

I have a battery that I pulled out of the 74 bay I just wrecked. Seemed to hold a charge alright. $15 if you want it
Nicko
0418692557

kmart have 20% off at the moment

Where was that thread about battery reconditioning fluid? Was that thread lost in the Great Forum Move? Anyway, you should get some of that stuff, so whatever battery you get lasts much longer. It might even revitalise your spare!

go to your local battery dealer and get them to look up the codes for the bigest battery with the most CCA that will fit and make sure the positive terminal is the right side tell them you are getting quotes,then just go to a century whole saler and ask for a blemished battery- give them the code and it will be less than 50% of what you were quoted. I got a brand new 440CCA century for $50 cause it had a tear on its paper label.

Century

DIN 55

or DIN 65 (larger)

try super cheap auto

Hi

For a bug or type 3 its very important to have a battery with sunken posts to avoid fires when the battery post touches the seat and bottom rail to bolt it in, these are known as DIN batterys and fit most Euro cars.

With Kombis you only really need the bottom rail.

I see lots Yuasa batterys in Jap cars that are upto 10 years old.

Steve

Wow!
I didn't go on to the forum last night. Look at all these posts!!!
Hey Nicko, whereabouts are you? I'll send a U2U too. Just covering my bases. A $15 battery couldn't hurt.

I've been using century batteries mostly. I have to admit, sometimes their performance annoys me. When they fail, they fail fast. Other than that they aren't bad.

Maybe the battery reco juice would do the trick for the big battery. I don't hold much hope though. It has the terminals on the wrong side anyway.
As for the primary battery, not a chance.

I can pretty much use anything in my van as long as the terminals are the right way round. It doesn't need the DIN style batteries. When the area around the battery was replaced in a rust repair. It now has a nice heavy cradle welded in. It can take anything up to the big heavy duties.

I'll probably get a decent one later on. I just need something that works for now.

Thanks for the great replies everyone!