Car Advice - calling all Edugeek Petrol Heads

[tech_guy]

I need a new car battery for my wife's car - a 1997 Ford Mondeo 1.8 16v - where's the best place to go and what's a decent make of battery to buy? Many thanks.

[TronXP]

As much as I don't like Halfords, there own brand batteris aren't too bad their calcium batteries come with a 4 year warranty, they also stock the bosch batteries which are more expensive but very good (can get them cheaper of ebay if you can wait for delivery) and have a 5 year warranty. National Tyres stock Varta batteries which aren't too bad either.

[RabbieBurns]

I just replaced the battery on my car thinking it was stuffed. Turns out it was the connector that had cracked and come loose and wasnt making a full connection.

 

$179 wasted.. guess its a lesson learnt though for the future.

[Sirbendy]

Liking Varta here - when my GM DieHard goes poof (it's 11 this year) it's getting a Varta replacement. Reminds me, I MUST get a battery for Astra #2...the one in it is totally utterly screwed...

[3s-gtech]

Varta are chosen by many OEMs for a reason. Some Vartas are rebranded from other companies, but I believe their black cased ones (?) are made by them. Very tough. Halfords own batteries aren't bad though, as stated.

[Pyroman]

Go to your local Motor spares shop, not a chain one, you'll get a new sealed battery for about £30 halfords charge a fortune

[Norphy]

I agree. I bought a Bosch battery at a local VW specialist, it was cheaper than the Halfords own brand and significantly less than what Halfords charge for Bosch.

[MK-2]

I've always found Duracell Plus to be quite good........

[edumoto]

i got my VW diesel battery from my local scrappy, charles trent for £25. sounds a lot but it's a monster, £80+ from halfrauds. That said, my other half being the internet demon that she is, picked up her megane battery for £35 delivered with a 3yr warranty on-line. I can't remember who from and it's not a big name brand but it's been good for the last 2 winters. I'm sure google could find some options for you. The only rason I didn't get mine on-line was I needed it on the day as mine had given up under a foot of the recent snow.

 

They are not complicated components, it's one of the few items I'd not be overly concerned about getting a good brand on. just keep an eye on the capacity, make sure it's up to the task.

[JoeBloggs]

I agree with Pyroman... you can get a refurbished / second hand one way cheaper. Local motor spares!

[Sirbendy]

I tend to use scrapyard ones for my solar panels.. Astra #2 might get a scrapyard one. Not even sure the engine still turns over..certainly wasn't too chuffed last time I jumped it from Astra #1..