Is it ok to buy a cheap car battery?

[SusieQ]

I need to buy new car battery. Has anyone heard about GS Tropical? It's cheaper than other batteries. Sabi nung tao sa shop mabili daw to sa mga PUJs kasi cheap sya pero he will not say how long it will last.

[[archie]]

kung kapos sa budget, well why not.

pero two things to consider:
you get what you pay for.
gaano katagal warranty.

personally, ill stick with motolite kasi tried and tested brand na yun and may warranty.

hth

edit: welcome to tsikot maam...

[coiter]

try to research the particular brand and look for positive feedback.

but for peace of mind and most probably longer warranty, better get a known brand. hirap nang matirikan sa gitna ng daan. try outlast. alam ko medyo cheaper sya than motolite but is quite good too.

[ezem]

my advice is, if you can't afford the motolite excel, atleast buy the enduro

or

buy a tactical brand that has the same plate number/ quantity per cel of the motolite excel...tactical brands are dynapower and mercury battery. the makers of these tactical brands are the same makers of the motolite. you can know the plate number by looking on the engraved part of the top of the battery, usually very near the top sticker, then the last 2 digits of that code is the plate qty per cel...though naka styro pa di ba yung top and bottom kung bnew...if that's the case, just ask the shop attendant which of the tactical brand batteries have the same plate qty per cel like that of the motolite excel. enduro has 9 plates per cel, gold has i think 11 plates per cel, and excel has 13 plates per cel

and oh, GS battery's maker is the same as motolite's...dry charge nga lang yata ang GS and low maintenance yata and not maintenance free...GS battery, i think, is from oriental yuasa - also from the makers of motolite and oriental batteries


welcome to tsikot ma'am SusieQ!

[ezem]

sorry double post

[Francis Porter]

That's also a problem with a newbie like me. I tend to look at prices when buying. I always look for a carinderia where PUJ drivers eat for a great deal and a good meal but I dunno if that relates to batteries.

By the way I read an article weeks ago questioning the reliability of the GS battery brand.

[SusieQ]

Thanks for all your advice...

Was seriously considering buying the GS Tropical kasi the price difference is really significant compared to the other brands. Imported din daw kasi yun.

Pero one of my friends also said the same thing that most of you guys are saying - to get the known brand nalang (ang maintenance free) baka daw mas magastusan pa ako in the long run if I get the cheap battery and it conks out on me after just a few months.

Are there any sites that review car battery performances or compare man lang? Ang dami palang brands in the market.

[ezem]

if you want a battery that is not expensive but have a good quality, next to the motolite series...try the dynapower...
eto site for specs of motolite battery and battery selector for you to know what's the best battery that they can offer your ride...

http://www.motolite.com/

[ezem]

ggrrr double post na naman

[1D4LV]

sa akin, if it has the same warranty as the more expensive brands, ok lang. pero kung limited and short warranty, not worth it.

[1D4LV]

sa akin, if it has the same warranty as the more expensive brands, ok lang. pero kung limited and short warranty, not worth it.

[shadow]

stick with the branded one, first yun warranty ang importante saka hinde naman siguro super mahal ang difference diba?

[[archie]]

Pero one of my friends also said the same thing that most of you guys are saying - to get the known brand nalang (ang maintenance free) baka daw mas magastusan pa ako in the long run if I get the cheap battery and it conks out on me after just a few months.

hindi pa maintenance free yung GS? go for maintenance free batt na lang... one less thing to worry about the battery water.

[XTO]

Swertihan lang at depende sa gamit. kung pirming naka todo mga accessories, a/c vent speed and thermostat, upgraded wattage of headlamp, add’l fog lamps at multi amp audios tapos patay agad once nag park kumbaga wala ng extra min para man lang makapag charge for your next start. mamamatay talaga agad kahit top of the line siya. example yung mga A/C PUV - ang iikli ng warranty sa kanila kasi sagad sagad talaga gamit - abused maghapon-magdamag.

as long as lagpas sa warranty period di na masama.

[mbeige]

Think of it this way. The higher price you pay, is like cheap insurance, that your battery will perform as it should if you bought the better brand, rather than skimp on one and yet risk it one day when it fails you sooner than you'd expect.

Then again there are bargains... but for peace of mind I'd go for brand new premium brand. My car's battery has served me well since 2001, it's been running to this day. Costs $130 brand new locally. When it finally dies I'll be in a dilemma whether to get original MB battery (which costs the same) or an identical one (obviously costing the same). Maybe I'll go for the MB battery when my current one goes out. I mean, 7 years is quite a LOT when you think you can buy a cheap one and replace it once in that time frame.

[paolorenzo]

I need to buy new car battery. Has anyone heard about GS Tropical? It's cheaper than other batteries. Sabi nung tao sa shop mabili daw to sa mga PUJs kasi cheap sya pero he will not say how long it will last.

Here's the link provided by Xt7, regarding GS Tropical.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?...c=15&aid=66293

[alwayz_yummy]

ako, budget ko pang 2,500 pesos na non-MF/low-maintenance battery.. kasi ganun din naman, bili ka ng expensive MF battery, after 1-2 years, papalitan mo din naman.. so be practical nalang..

maganda pa ng non-MF/low maintenance, kung sakaling may alternator prob ka at na fully drain baterya mo, madali lang din pakargahan.

kaya lang naman madali masira ang baterya kasi faulty ang charging system mo, most of he time because of a mis-diagnosed regulator IC defect ( bibihira na ang may separate voltage regulator) which tends to over charge and/or undecharge the battery.

but the downside lang ng cheap, well, swerte na maka-2 taon sila..kasi maninipis ang plates sa loob. so dapat alagaan mo nalang din sa tubig ng baterya at charging system mo.. its handy na may good-brand VOM para macheck mong nasa 12.1-14.5V range palagi at hydrometer

[1D4LV]

Here's the link provided by Xt7, regarding GS Tropical.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?...c=15&aid=66293

eh nako. meron na palang ganito eh... forget it.
stick with reputable brands.. mahirap itirik lalo na kung umuulan...

[Galactus]

Like what the others have said, your prime consideration should be length of warranty. In my case, yung stock Motolite batteries ng mga sasakyan ko didn't last long (mga 19 months lang). Buti pa yung Metro Force battery ko, 4 years ang tinagal before dying up on me.

If I were in your shoes, I'd go for tried-and-tested generics than branded batts. Tutal, in 2 years time, papalitan na rin naman yan.

[valvura]

Like what the others have said, your prime consideration should be length of warranty. In my case, yung stock Motolite batteries ng mga sasakyan ko didn't last long (mga 19 months lang). Buti pa yung Metro Force battery ko, 4 years ang tinagal before dying up on me.

If I were in your shoes, I'd go for tried-and-tested generics than branded batts. Tutal, in 2 years time, papalitan na rin naman yan.

I'm in my 4th year using Motolite Enduro in my Revo. May confidence in every start even vehicle is used once a week only. No need to charge in-between.

I bought a dry charged battery (not sure if 'GS' but made by motolite with a small 'motolite' mark?). Madali siyang ma-drain especially when car is not used so often (once a weak or more).

I don't change batteries periodically (2 years), not until I sense mahirap na siya i-start.