Which Battery?

[ScoobyJawa 23]

Think I need to get a new battery, looking at Bosch if I type the reg into ECP it shows as either an 012 or 063 (063 being much cheaper), and probably get an S4 - think the S5 is a bit overkill for a GTi......

 

However if I look on Bosch's own website at their document which recommends the battery to use it shows as a 002.

 

Which one do I need?!

[welshpug 1,666]

063 is the most commonly used one, its a little taller and more CCA than the 012 iirc.

 

Motaquip only list the 063 for a 1.9, std part number VBY1, extra power VBZ1.

 

I found GSF to be very competitive on price but ignore the website prices, pop into your local branch, they do banner varta and bosch IIRC, all three are decent.

 

also worth checking with your local dealer, they will often have offers on genuine pug branded units, or Motaquip badged batteries.

[ScoobyJawa 23]

Perfect! Thanks very much

[Anthony 1,003]

and bosch IIRC, all three are decent..

I hope that Bosch have improved in the last few years, as the previous generation Bosch Silver batteries were - in my experience at least - utterly hopeless. I think I had three fail in the space of a few months, all brand new, and in the end I gave up and just bought a newish looking battery from a scrappy for a fiver that gave a few years service without so much as a grumble.

 

Same story a few years ago on my 306 that came with a Bosch Silver battery - worked fine until I flattened the battery one day, after which it never worked properly again. Thinking about it another one that came with some car or other that I left in the garage for a few months and - surprise, surprise - had dropped a cell (or two) by the time I came to use it again. Another battery that had been sat there longer worked perfectly still...

 

Maybe I'm just unlucky, but every other battery I've had over the last few years has worked perfectly, even those left sitting for months or that had been flattened (or worse, left flat for an extended period), which suggests to me that there's something fundementally odd in the way those Bosch batteries are made. Hell, the battery that came on my Jalopy which had been sat outside flat as a pancake for well over two years still charged up and worked, and indeed I think is still giving loyal service on a friends car.

 

Personally, I'd just buy something with a no-quibble warranty good for a few years - Halfords (on trade, as they're pricey without) are great for this, as you can just throw it across the counter at the spotty oink serving and get another one there and then.

 

Type 063 is what you want for a 205 GTi btw. An 065 will also fit and is a little higher rated, but check that you've sufficient space if you're running an induction kit as it's a physically longer battery.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

The only difference between the halfords 063 and 065 is the height. They are the same dimensions otherwise.

This is not the case on other brands