Go to Wal-Mart and get the cheapie for ~$43. The Audi version has a hose
connection for venting and overflow. If it fails in 18 months or less,
get another one free. If it fails in 30 months, get the replacement for
$22. At 30 months, it will already have out lasted that Optima
experiment and you still have $100.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Geza Polony
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 5:24 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Optima Battery warning

A word to the wise. I bought an Optima Blue Top from a local distributor
and, as the batteries do not fit in their original state, asked them to
cut
the tops off the terminals. Bad idea. This ruins the batteries. No
warranty,
either. $165.

So cut anything else to get them to fit, but not the top
terminals...from
one who knows.