Well, after doing some research, reading the November Consumers Report, checking my wallet and battery spec comparisons, I decided on the NAPA 8434 for my '08 X. Although tempted to get the Die Hard Platinum, I just couldn't see the $200+ cost (twice the NAPA)even with the 4 year replacement. The NAPA has a 2 year replacement, 84 month pro rated warranty. I don't winch so it's reserve capacity of 115 minutes is just fine. It is rated for 800CCA and 960 CA. The Die Hard Gold came in a close second for about $25 more than the NAPA. Another deciding factor is the great guys at the local NAPA store only 1.5 miles from my home. They've always treated me fairly.

 

Would you mind sharing where the Duralast Platinum came in if it was on that consumer reports list? I didn't even think of Napa, and Sears is really far away.. Wondering how I did with the Duralast but proffesional reviews I can't find online. Thanks!

 

I did my Consumer report research at the library. Does anyone have the November CR to check out the Duralast Platinum for OverlandJKU. I'll try and go back to the library either B4 the Pats/Denver game or in the next day or 2.

 

One additional piece of battery info. A 34R means the positive post is on the right (reversed) Our 34 has the positive post on the left. I looked on line at the Duralast Platinum and the CCA and reserve capacity were very good
. Price was just under $140 for an AGM battery made by Johnson Controls. Sounds good to me.

 

Excellent. Many thanks.

 

After re-reading the CR battery ratings, Duralast, in our group 34 is not mentioned. Duralast is mentioned in Group 65 and 24. In the top 7 Group 34, 3 were DieHard Gold, platinum were not mentioned or possibly not tested in this group. Everstart Maxx from WalMart was CR "best buy" in the 34N (north) with a 3 year replacement and NO pro-rated time. The 34S (south) and 78S (south) were also best buy rated at Just under $100. They state that their test involved partially draining and recharging each battery 3,000 times. The best batteries were able to maintain higher voltages and withstand more drain-and-recharge cycles than others. Reserve capacity tests measured how long a battery can supply power if the charging system were to fail or the lights left on. The highest scoring models supplied power for over 2 hours and most all in the test are expected to last 1 1/4 hours. All but 2 batteries in all groups (37 batteries) had more than 600CCA which is what the stock battery is rated. Northern (N) batteries are rated with higher CCA than the southern (S) battery, to provide stronger starting in cold conditions. 7 group 34/78(they were grouped together) batteries had at least a 36 month replacement warranty. I hope this overview helps. Remember, if a manufacturer has a replacement guarantee of 2, 3 or 4 years, it's because they feel certain that their battery will last at least that long. They don't want to be replacing batteries for free unless there is some defect.