MK1 Battery choice

Kerry Phillips · 07-06-2009, 10:42 AM

Okay, I will be acquiring a battery for my car real soon. I made sure the new battery cables were extra long- I can now use any top-post battery.

Now, the engine is a small 4 cylinder-so I really don't need a very large battery.

Here is my conflict, I hate to buy a smaller/lighter battery for the same price as a larger battery! The tightwad/miser in me wants to get a larger battery-get my money's worth! LOL

Is a larger battery in a MK1 worth the extra weight and space? This is Daily driver, so I am not worried about a few extra pounds. Also, Sears has a marine/starting battery on sale-might go that route.

Any brands, size recommendations?
Kerry

palos · 07-06-2009, 12:26 PM

As far as size, the MK1 is a group 35. You have many options, from Optima to blems. Interstate, and presumably other manufacturers, offers blem batteries that do not come with a warranty. Not all distributors appear to be aware of their availability or perhaps do not wish to sell them. They can be considerably cheaper.

Battery warranties are difficult to understand. Usually you have a free replacement period, but after that the prorationing is rather convoluted.

tjmr2 · 07-06-2009, 01:09 PM

FWIW: I've always installed the biggest battery I could fit in the box (with the highest cold cranking Amps). I'm running a NAPA Optima type gel battery in the frunk, no problems, no regrets, no maintenance.

I'll pay a few extra dollars, and carry a few extra pounds for the reliability and peace of mind afforded by the bigger battery.

328FTW · 07-06-2009, 08:31 PM

I like big batteries apart from they are a PITA if you have to carry them. I use NS70 batteries. The best I ever had was Marine (by coincidence) Optima Sealed Gel NS70 battery. Cost a pretty penny but I got them out of an old tractor and they worked for so long and could crank the car all day long. You just can't beat big batteries for cold cranking amps. Also since my dad bulk orders large batteries they are way cheaper than the little ones that I found gave trouble after cold weather all the time

iceNine · 07-07-2009, 01:22 PM

I just replaced my battery with an Optima yellow top (deep cycle). I allow my MR2 to sit for various periods between driving it and sometimes the battery drains to nothing. This really kills the battery. I usually use a battery conditioner but sometimes the kids (or the lawn service) pulls out the plug. In the last 10 years I have replaced the battery about 3 times so this time I thought I would pay more and get a battery more resistant to discharge death. Will see if it makes any difference.

traintech86 · 07-07-2009, 03:20 PM

let me know how this works cause i been eyeball ****ing that battery. if its worth the money i def want to know!ty

dirocyn · 07-07-2009, 05:38 PM

I was in Autozone the other day, and the guy there was griping about batteries. Seems he gets a lot of complaints about the Optimas, but very few about the Duralast yellows (3 year). Seems when people pay $150 for a battery they expect it to be a lot better than if they pay $89, but they're really not that much better.

Unless you live somewhere that gets really, really cold, or unless you're planning to keep the battery after the MR2 is gone, get the smaller size. The MR2 has a gear-reduction starter that doesn't use that much power, and the engine spins up pretty easily. Heck, if your battery dies, the MR2 is pretty easy to push-start, even for one person. There's no reason to lug around the extra weight.

Starlet 3SGTE · 07-07-2009, 08:08 PM

Tercels will run on the battery from a road hazard sign, no kidding! My 91 MR2 wanted a lot more though. A small battery would spin several times before starting where a larger battery would start it before you could let go of the key. I specialize in auto electrical systems so let me shed a little light. Most people don't know there are two grades of optima. One has the side posts closer together like the red one in this pic.

The other has these posts at the corners like this.

Of these two the top picture is the true optima. the lower pic is a second grade item with a lower price and lower standards. Make sure you get what you pay for as many crooked shops try to sell #2 at #1 prices.

07-06-2009, 10:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kerry Phillips Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chattanooga, TN area Posts: 299 Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	MK1 Battery choice Okay, I will be acquiring a battery for my car real soon. I made sure the new battery cables were extra long- I can now use any top-post battery. Now, the engine is a small 4 cylinder-so I really don't need a very large battery. Here is my conflict, I hate to buy a smaller/lighter battery for the same price as a larger battery! The tightwad/miser in me wants to get a larger battery-get my money's worth! LOL Is a larger battery in a MK1 worth the extra weight and space? This is Daily driver, so I am not worried about a few extra pounds. Also, Sears has a marine/starting battery on sale-might go that route. Any brands, size recommendations? Kerry

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07-06-2009, 12:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
palos … Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 544 Thanks: 0 Thanked 44 Times in 42 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	As far as size, the MK1 is a group 35. You have many options, from Optima to blems. Interstate, and presumably other manufacturers, offers blem batteries that do not come with a warranty. Not all distributors appear to be aware of their availability or perhaps do not wish to sell them. They can be considerably cheaper. Battery warranties are difficult to understand. Usually you have a free replacement period, but after that the prorationing is rather convoluted.

07-06-2009, 01:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
tjmr2 Cage Fighter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 409 Thanks: 0 Thanked 62 Times in 59 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	FWIW: I've always installed the biggest battery I could fit in the box (with the highest cold cranking Amps). I'm running a NAPA Optima type gel battery in the frunk, no problems, no regrets, no maintenance. I'll pay a few extra dollars, and carry a few extra pounds for the reliability and peace of mind afforded by the bigger battery.

07-06-2009, 08:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,222 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I like big batteries apart from they are a PITA if you have to carry them. I use NS70 batteries. The best I ever had was Marine (by coincidence) Optima Sealed Gel NS70 battery. Cost a pretty penny but I got them out of an old tractor and they worked for so long and could crank the car all day long. You just can't beat big batteries for cold cranking amps. Also since my dad bulk orders large batteries they are way cheaper than the little ones that I found gave trouble after cold weather all the time

07-07-2009, 01:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
iceNine Some Skills Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I just replaced my battery with an Optima yellow top (deep cycle). I allow my MR2 to sit for various periods between driving it and sometimes the battery drains to nothing. This really kills the battery. I usually use a battery conditioner but sometimes the kids (or the lawn service) pulls out the plug. In the last 10 years I have replaced the battery about 3 times so this time I thought I would pay more and get a battery more resistant to discharge death. Will see if it makes any difference.

07-07-2009, 03:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
traintech86 Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yokosuka, Kanagawa Japan Posts: 1,799 Thanks: 27 Thanked 47 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	let me know how this works cause i been eyeball ****ing that battery. if its worth the money i def want to know!ty

07-07-2009, 05:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
dirocyn Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 14 Thanked 110 Times in 108 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I was in Autozone the other day, and the guy there was griping about batteries. Seems he gets a lot of complaints about the Optimas, but very few about the Duralast yellows (3 year). Seems when people pay $150 for a battery they expect it to be a lot better than if they pay $89, but they're really not that much better. Unless you live somewhere that gets really, really cold, or unless you're planning to keep the battery after the MR2 is gone, get the smaller size. The MR2 has a gear-reduction starter that doesn't use that much power, and the engine spins up pretty easily. Heck, if your battery dies, the MR2 is pretty easy to push-start, even for one person. There's no reason to lug around the extra weight.

07-07-2009, 08:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Starlet 3SGTE Horsepower Junkie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Savannah GA Posts: 124 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Tercels will run on the battery from a road hazard sign, no kidding! My 91 MR2 wanted a lot more though. A small battery would spin several times before starting where a larger battery would start it before you could let go of the key. I specialize in auto electrical systems so let me shed a little light. Most people don't know there are two grades of optima. One has the side posts closer together like the red one in this pic. The other has these posts at the corners like this. Of these two the top picture is the true optima. the lower pic is a second grade item with a lower price and lower standards. Make sure you get what you pay for as many crooked shops try to sell #2 at #1 prices.