[Raccoon]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

My earlier WagonR OEM Exide Freedom lasted 5 years! Others have lasted four years plus. Am I at fault for being an Exide believer?

Mebbe you are just a whole lot luckier than most of us here... a whole lot, because only a whole lot can get you a GOOD Exide battery.

The Standard Farukawa in our car conked off again today after few days of disuse. The remote and all are working, but it seems not to have enough charge to crack the engine. I don't think I'm going to even attempt to get it charged again. Will mostly buy a Base Terminal as the prices are competitive, and IIRC it has a 50 month warranty (including pro-rata discount).

[DieselFan]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

LOL, StarScream, that's the strange part. There seems to be no clear consensus on which battery is the best!
There are a lot of factors that determine the longevity of a battery and we cannot take them all into account with this kind of casual, non technical study!
My earlier WagonR OEM Exide Freedom lasted 5 years! Others have lasted four years plus. Am I at fault for being an Exide believer?

I Agree with you Anup. I had exide on my Santro (earlier car) and had served me for 6 years without any issue. It was great even when I sold my car. My car had run about 60000 km by then. The key is maintenance of the battery. I currently have an exide battery on my Swift D and have run 45000 km in 2.5 years and the battery is in pristine condition (Touchwood).

[gpa]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

My earlier WagonR OEM Exide Freedom lasted 5 years! Others have lasted four years plus. Am I at fault for being an Exide believer?

Originally Posted by DieselFan

I Agree with you Anup. I had exide on my Santro (earlier car) and had served me for 6 years without any issue.

Add me to this list as well, all my previous cars have come with Exide batteries and they lasted well over 5 years. These were not the maintenance free type.

Just last week, I replaced my Santro's OEM Exide (over 4 and half years old) with an Amaron.

It's perhaps the brand perception that made me make the switch.

[sgiitk]

It will be interesting to see which smaller brand is actually made by Exide and which by Amara Raja nd which by Amco. I am sure a lot of the smaller brands are actually a badging exercise. For example, at one time Lucas was all by Chloride (old name of Exide!). They were marginally (~5%) cheaper.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

It will be interesting to see which smaller brand is actually made by Exide and which by Amara Raja nd which by Amco. I am sure a lot of the smaller brands are actually a badging exercise. For example, at one time Lucas was all by Chloride (old name of Exide!). They were marginally (~5%) cheaper.

I can recall two immediately. Sonic (SF) is by Exide. And Power Zone is by Amara Raja.

[Raccoon]

^^^ And Bosch is reportedly also made by Amara Raja. I really wonder who makes Base Terminal. Anyway, the batteries will be made as per the specification of the buying company... so one can't assume similarity in the products.

As for SF, AFAIK, SF was taken over by Exide. So I'd assume they might have a separate facility. Also SF is supposed to be connected with Farukawa.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Raccoon

. I really wonder who makes Base Terminal. ......
As for SF, AFAIK, SF was taken over by Exide. So I'd assume they might have a separate facility. Also SF is supposed to be connected with Farukawa.

Base Terminal is marketed by Panasonic, India and is sourced from China.
SF is now under Exide and Exide is about to lose their very name; hence the active promotion of the Sonic brand by Exide!

[sgiitk]

I always thought that Exide in India was an oddity since it had nothing to do with Exide USA! So now we know the logic behind Sonic!!

Also, remember a few years ago a lot of batteries used to come in from Bangladesh. I do not see them anymore.

[StarScream]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

LOL, StarScream, that's the strange part. There seems to be no clear consensus on which battery is the best!
There are a lot of factors that determine the longevity of a battery and we cannot take them all into account with this kind of casual, non technical study!
My earlier WagonR OEM Exide Freedom lasted 5 years! Others have lasted four years plus. Am I at fault for being an Exide believer?

Originally Posted by DieselFan

I Agree with you Anup. I had exide on my Santro (earlier car) and had served me for 6 years without any issue. It was great even when I sold my car. My car had run about 60000 km by then. The key is maintenance of the battery. I currently have an exide battery on my Swift D and have run 45000 km in 2.5 years and the battery is in pristine condition (Touchwood).

Exide batteries have typically lasted me about 2.5 years. In my previous car, an Esteem, the OE Exide battery conked in 2 years. In fact in that car I had to change the battery just before I sold it! That is why I'm mighty impressed with Amaron.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by StarScream

Exide batteries have typically lasted me about 2.5 years....

Well, here's an update: The Exide Freedom that came as OEM in my Scorpio gave up the ghost yesterday!
And I'm still not blaming Exide!
Here's why:
1) The battery has served for 3 years and two months.
2) It has served in rather adverse circumstances. My Scorpio has been giving morning start problem at high altitude places, and has needed many applications of the self starter each morning during trips.
The important point to note is that M&M behave like cheapskates and fit a 65 AH battery for such a heavy diesel engine. Industry standard would be at least 90 AH.
Yet this battery served for 3 years plus.

I have now purchased a Sonic 80 AH battery.
From the same house, yet came Rs. 700/- cheaper than one with the Exide brand name. Seems to be because it is priced a little cheaper and there is a much better buyback value being given for the old battery with purchase of Sonic.
Exide is really going all out promoting this brand of theirs!

[funkydude]

I need to purchase a new battery for my Ikon diesel. OEM battery was a 44Ah. Would it be advisable to upgrade to a higher AH battery.

Which one (in terms of AH and make) would the gurus recommend? What is AH and how does it help?

[Raccoon]

Guys, what would be a fair price for an old Esteem battery? I'm being offered only about Rs. 250!! :( Shouldn't it be a lot better than this?

Also, the Amaron dealer only has Go and Flo. Anybody knows the difference between the two other than the varying warranty period?

As for Base Terminal, is there any significant quality difference between the 3 models? They are quoting net Rs. 2,700 for MF40B19R (35 Ah I'm told) which includes giving away the old battery to them. Warranty is 18 + 32 months. Or would the MF 38B19R be a better buy?

[rr_zen]

@Raccoon: I have heard offers for less than Rs 250/- as well.

Let me know which battery you zero upon for your Esteem. I am also on the look out for a new battery (read that as Amaron) for my Esteem but not sure which model/type I should go in for.

[gigy]

I have decided to change to bosch or panasonic or exide from amaron as it has started to show signs of failing. (will decide after checking how much amaron is asking me for replacement since its a 4year warranty model completed 3years). i want to go back to the old(basic) design with cell caps. its easier for me to maintain.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by gigy

I have decided to change to bosch or panasonic or exide from amaron as it has started to show signs of failing.

Please do remember that there is no car battery from Panasonic, India.