P.O.S. Batteries

[Bhigdog]

Roger that!.......Bob

[Guest 70 Electra]

Sometimes people in the old car hobby puzzle me. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> They will spend tens-of-thousands of dollars (or more) to restore a car, including incredible prices for NOS parts. Then they spend a fortune travelling to shows across country (add up gas, hotels, food, time off of work, and in some cases tow rigs and trailers <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />).

Then when it comes to buying a battery for the subject show car, and there's a bunch of heartburn because instead of buying a 5-yr mass-produced Walmart battery for $75, they have to buy a $200 hand-made reproduction that only lasts 2-3yrs. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Big Deal! We should water-down the rules for this??

Compared to the investment you have in the car, and going to the shows, is the extra $80 or so per year worth losing the points? [based on $100/yr for repro vs. $15/yr for Walmart battery]

Sure, I'd LOVE to see longer life and lower prices on the repro batteries. But frankly I'm just glad that someone is making them so that I can make my car as authentic as possible.

It makes me wonder if all the crabbing about allowing radial tires is more because of the cost than the so-called safety factor. If there was an AACA-acceptable radial, but it was $250 each (instead of $75 at Walmart), I'll bet a lot of the interest in allowing radials on judged cars would suddenly die-off.

[Bhigdog]

Yes, I have spent, and still do spend, a lot of time and money on my cars. And yes I can very easily afford a $200 battery. BUT, that is absolutely besides the point. The point being that we are being taken advantage of and being ripped off by the two sole sources of "correct" batteries. I don't mind spending money but I do highly resent being forced to bend over for no good reason.

By allowing tastefull (no garish green) battery substitutions the monopoly of the battry makers would be broken and their batteries would soon be of equal quality to a modern battery.

As far as "watering down" the judging standards I would say it's already too late. The rules dwell on trivialities like plastic tire valve caps and pop rivets while ignoring a full, triple block sanded, clear coated, machine polished paint job that is no more "correct" than if it was painted in polka dots. I won't get into powder coating, triple show chrome, silver paint instead of cadmium plate, stainless steel exhaust systems, seat belts, battery disconnects, etc, etc, etc.

As the restorer/owner of National Prize winning, Grand National 1st awarded cars I know how to play the game. I just don't like being forced into the position of being RIPPED OFF.........Bob

[Bhigdog]

To continue to flog what is probably a dead horse....... I understand that the repro batteries are hand made and low volume products, thus command a premium price. I have absolutely no problem with that and am also glad that someone is doing it.

Where the problem comes in is that the makers are INTENTIONALLY making the batteries as poor quality as they can get away with. Percentage wise it would cost very little more to make their product equal in quality to an average NAPA battery. But they CHOOSE to make an INFERIOR product because that way you will be FORCED to buy one twice as often.

And that, good people, is why I'm P****d off. It's the principle of the thing.......Bob.

[ex98thdrill]

I'm guilty of the basecoat/clearcoat, but I really would rather have that than have lacquer that looks like an alligator skin after 10 years. It looks nicer and it lasts longer than the original paint. A friend in my region has a really nice sedan delivery, and if it was painted in anything other than lacquer, it would still be perfect, but because it was painted in lacquer, it looks like the skin of an alligator. That's a shame!! This isn't an issue of neglect, it is an issue of quality.

I think my biggest gripe over these batteries is that you pay big money and after 2-3 years, you have to spend big money all over again. If the tires, interior kits, chrome, paint and wiring harnesses were the same inferior quality that these batteries are, and we were forced to redo that stuff every 2-3 years, you'd hear a big stink over that stuff as well.

I think the root of the problem is that we take the time to get these cars right, we spent good money to get these cars right, and you expect your investment to last. If you had one car it mighth be tolerable, but when you have 5-10 cars, it gets very frustrating and very expensive having to buy batteries all the time. It isn't the money or the cost as much as it is being frustrated over the lack of reliability.

[Bhigdog]

BINGO! I have no problem with clear coat, stainless exhaust etc. I just wanted to illustrate that the judging isn't as "pure" as some think it is. I pay big bucks for my chrome etc. but my rechrome guy gives me the best job he can. The battery folks charge the most they can for the least they can get away with and that STINKS......Bob