Is it Panasonic battery best? Or..Optima?

I have Camry LE 2003 made in Japan, which still has original Panasonic battery.
Am I lucky or is it Panasonic really best? After 170K miles on the clock I'm thinking how much longer this battery can last.
I have already replaced OEM battery in my 2007 Tacoma (made in US) after about four years. Unfortunately I did not know where to get Panasonic for my truck so I got some generic and it is about to give up again...
Does anybody knows where to get OEM Panasonic?
Also I would consider Optima battery but it does not fit because arrangement of the lugs are wrong.
I'm not sure...optima is still consideration but how to install it in my truck?

 

I'd stay away from optimas, they have really went downhill in quality over the last 4 years. U can't go wrong with die hard, interstate, or oddessy.

 

I know this is no help but the only place Ive ever seen Panasonic auto batteries was when I was stationed in japan

 

Get a Duralast Gold from Autozone and call it a day. It has a really good warranty and is made by Johnson Control who also makes the Toyota OEM battery and the Sears Die Hard battery.

 

Optima lug arrangement is fine. Be sure to get the group 35 battery as indicated on Optima's web site.

I will get this when my current OEM battery dies. It weighs less than 32 lb:

 

For 4 years I had an Optima in my Accent, never had any issues. I sold the battery with the car. Bought another Optima just after getting my first Tacoma and that has been in service for 2 years now(was in my 11' now my 13'). I've never had any issues with both. They were both Red Tops. My roommate has the same battery in her car that is 2 years old as well, no issues. I can't complain for the one I bought 2 years ago for being on sale for $150.00(CDN).

Batteries typically you only get 5 years out of them. I guess with the new Toyota OEM you get less. A lot of members on this board have had problems with their Optima batteries though.

 

Neverdie blows them all away.

 

What does that mean? Is it gonna last longer than my Panasonic which is already 10+ years? If yes how much longer?

 

Sorry, I don't understand. When last time I checked optima those lugs were in reverse: +and - in opposite locations and my cables did not have enough slug to reach them. Is it designated by group 35 battery?
Thanks for the picture.

 

Optima blows,didn't even get 3 years out of mine

 

Had one of these in my Camry for 9 years, and replaced it with another

 

You probably got the wrong battery. Erion109 had the same problem (http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/112868-help-red-top-optima-2.html#post2170880). Turned out he got a 34U model by mistake instead of the correct 35 model. The 34/34U model is a good 10 lb heavier.

35 (note the label faces the rear of the truck):


34U:

 

Panasonic batteries are awesome, I still have the OEM Panasonic battery in my wife's 06Tc. I'm almost to the point where Im going to replace it just because I don't want hereto get stuck somewhere since the battery is up there in age, but it still works so well! I really wish i could find one in the states but as someone else posted it seems like the are only located in Japan. Im with the others on the Optima, I have one in my s10 and I am not impressed at all, for as much as I paid there shouldn't be any issues with it.

 

Google it. Total different ballgame than anything mentioned in here. Last longer, lighter, more power, etc, etc.

 

I thought a lot of forum users didn't like the Toyota oem battery.

 

Optima batteries are an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) design as opposed to the flooded wet cell design in standard automotive starting batteries. They have different charging requirements, which the Tacoma alternator cannot satisfy. You will not get good service from an AGM battery without a charging system designed for its specific needs.

The vast majority of batteries (Optima included) sold in North America are manufactured by Johnson Controls. It makes a lot of sense to buy the least expensive one with whatever warranty makes you happy. I haven't bought all of my batteries at WalMart for at least 15 years. Excepting special sales at other stores, WalMart has the lowest prices. Same for motor oil.

Mike

 

My dads OEM battery in his 09 TRD exploded. I dont mean swell, i mean blew up like bomb while he was setting at the post office one day. Some may be good but some are defective.

 

and not to mention there's an autozone anywhere you go. so you can get a replacement very easily.

i went to gatlinburg tennesse this past summer for vacation and the honda battery on my wife's minivan went dead just after about 13 months of use. i have a 100 month battery and of course the nearest honda dealership was in knoxville tennesse. i ended up having to buy another battery at autozone, so i just lost quite a bit of $ on the honda battery.

 

Weird. I've had the same optima 34R red top starting battery in my truck for 7 years (in an ammo can, not the stock location), and the stock alternator seems to do just fine. I also have two additional yellow tops on board for my readywelder, and although I usually charge them with a normal $20 walmart schumacher charger, I have also charged them off of the alternator. Those are only 6 years old though, and I only welded with them for 250 feet of bead so we will see how long they last.

 

Automotive batteries are all made by the same two or three companies. Get a battery that fits, with the longest free replacement period, at the best price. Any amount of time the battery last beyond the free replacement period is gravy.