Optima Yellow Top?

[blue2000s]

No yellow top "r" listed on the Optima web site. Red tops work great if you don't have a high power stereo or something else like that.

Otherwise you just need to extend the cables.

[ekam]

They don't make the R version for Yellowtop so you'll have to deal with getting longer cables.

If you don't need the deep cycle feature I'd highly recommend going with Redtop.

[mikefocke]

even with the 34R Red Top, I did. About $8 at Autozone. I took my old one in and matched the connectors, length and thickness to one on the rack. One bolt to undo and then redo if you do need the longer cable and very accessible. No one knows why different length cables were originally used that I've ever read.

Mike was an '01S TIP.

[Overdrive]

Thanks blue, ekam, and mike. I live in Connecticut, and occasionally, as we're going through right now, there's enough snow, and cold, out there that I can't even get the car out to even take it around the block a few times, and the temp just sucks the life right out of the battery. If a Red Top can hold up to what can sometimes be a period of weeks of sitting at low temperature then I can definitely go for it.

So mike, would you say it's less trouble to get the D34R and replace the negative cable? Is that one easier to access than if I were to replace the positive?

[ekam]

I'm not sure if you're aware of the difference between the Yellowtop and Redtop.

The Yellowtop is designed for deep cycle application (ie. if you have a high-end sound system) and you want to play movie or listen to music for a long period of time with the engine off. Otherwise you should get a Redtop.

[Overdrive]

Thanks, I get what you're saying, ekam. My car's about as stock as can be, so I don't have anything like that drawing any serious power, and don't have any plans to change them...the only thing I can think of would be the convertible top, which I imagine does use a significant amount of juice to operate, so I only operate it with the car running. Maybe I'm mistaken in thinking that is case. If so, Red Top it is.

[blue2000s]

It's not good for any battery to drain while unused, not even a yellow top. They're expensive so you'll want to care for it properly anyway. Just hook up your battery tender when the car sits for a while and you should be fine. That's the right solution to your situation.

If you just take the car around the block every couple of weeks in the winter, you're not doing it any favors anyway.