Just sharing a recent battery shopping experience... as winter is
approaching, some of you on the list may be in the market for a new battery
for your Vanagon.

I just picked up a battery at Wal-Mart for my 2000 Volvo XC70, group 48 - -
825 Amp / 700 CCA... Everstart Maxx - 3 year full replacement warranty for
$77!  (Dealer charges over $300 for OEM).  The Wal-Mart batteries are now
made by Johnson Controls... and are typically very "Fresh" this one had a
date code of 10/10.

So, checked on the cost of a Group 41 (Size for Vanagon)... and discovered
that they had the basic "Everstart" with a 1 year full replacement warranty,
also by Johnson Controls, 780 Amp / 650 CCA for only $67.00  Not bad, if you
are on a budget and need to keep your vanagon going through the winter.  I
know other batteries have more amps... but for that price, hard to turn
down.  The data code was on the Group 41 in front of the rack was 1/09.
However, when I looked to the back and they had fresher batteries.  It is
worth pulling the old batteries off the rack, and digging for the freshest
one.  The warranty is 1 year from date of purchase, so keep your receipt.

Just as an FYI... be careful to also check the manufacturer name printed on
the battery... They have some old Exide-made batteries, which are not as
good as the Johnson Controls batteries.

Jack R.

84 Westy