Best Starting Battery...

I need to replace the starting battery on my 2006 Tacoma Pre Runner 4.0. The original one died after 4 years and I had Toyota install another one and it is now marginal. I used to buy Optimas at Costco but they don't carry the size I need anymore.
So, what brand battery is the best for the money these days? I like Optimas but they are pricey, I just want a good quality battery that won't die on the exact day the warranty expires...

 

Duralast at Autozone. Most batteries are made by one of a couple manufacturers, namely Johnson Controls who make Interstate, Duralast, Diehard and the Toyota OEM.

 

Thanks Steve, I was disappointed with the OEM battery the dealership installed, but at least this battery has 3 years free replacement. The Toyota battery at 3 years was already being pro rated for replacement...

 

My original battery lasted 5 1/2 years. I probably could of kept it, but I didn't want to chance a dead battery in the middle of nowhere. Seems dealers are hit or miss with their version of an "OEM" battery. My local Toyota dealer at the time wanted $100 for an OEM replacement which didn't resemble the battery I was replacing; it looked a lot similar to an automaxx battery from Walmart with a similar name "auto start". The Duralast Gold has great reviews here on TW and on other forums, a great replacement warranty; plus there are Autozone's everywhere should you need to replace under warranty. I'm going that route when my Interstate takes a dump.

 

Original OEM battery lasted 6 1/2 years. I replaced it as a precaution upon dealer recommendation as it tested at only 450cca or so.

I bought this Interstate MTP-27F battery with specs identical to my OEM battery. (710cca & 160 reserve min).

If they sold the Toyota True Start batteries up here, I would have bought one instead of the Interstate and saved me quite a bit of cash, but they don't sell them up here.

http://www.midatlantictoyotaparts.com/oem-part/toyota/tacoma-parts/2012/x-runner/4-0l-v6-gas/electrical/battery/battery/00544-27f60-710

 

Buying a replacement battery should be based on your requirements such as application, driving habits, vibration, climate, abuse, freshness, size, etc. In Section 7 of the Car and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ on www.batteryfaq.org, you will find a number of tips. Typically starting batteries that have exhibited longer service lives, measured in the number of discharge-charge cycles, have a number of common characteristics--longer free replacement warranties, thicker plates, heavier (more lead), matched to charging system, good preventative maintenance, very low average Depth-of-Discharge, low heat, correct size, low vibration, driving habits, little or no abuse, and so on.

The major battery killers are neglect, heat, vibration, freezing, high discharges and sulfation. In high vibration applications, a spiral wound AGM battery will typically last longer than the more commonly used wet low maintenance battery. In deep discharge applications, single deep cycle battery with sufficient CCA, will generally last longer than a car battery for starting. In high availability applications, an isolated dual battery setup is preferred. I would avoid using a sealed wet "maintenance free" battery in hot climates.