Where to buy "newest" new car battery

[LX89]

Where's the best place in the Toronto/Etobicoke area to get a "newest" new lead acid car battery?

Napa surprisingly had the best price for a group 58 lead acid battery,so I went to the local Napa and they had two in stock.
I ask the guy how long they have been sitting around.

He checks and the newest one is 8 months old.
I don't want a 8 month old battery.
Guy says they throw them out if not sold in two years.
I ask if he could order one and he said yes but it could be older or newer than 8 months old,whatever is in the warehouse.

So I left.
I don't know if group 58 is a popular size or not these days.

Some guys say a group 59 or group 65 will fit the stock battery tray in my 89 Mustang so theres two potential alternatives.
Anyone confirm if a 59 or 65 fit with no issues?

[Stephen06GT]

Costco

[bluetoy]

Costco

X2

[Scrape]

Interstate batteries still around? They were decent batteries back in the day. What about Delco batteries?

[Darkhorse]

Canadian Tire or Costco are both good. Especially for a fox body.

[Kennedy Ford SVT]

We keep a Motorcraft BXT58A on the shelf for the Fox and SN95 people. Currently we have a fresh one here recently received from the supplier with an Oct 2024 label. Price is maybe a bit more than other places, can sell for $207.85 + HST (retail $236.19). 3 year warranty on these.


thanks,
Ed

[ZR]

Ford OE replacement batteries have worked very well for me.

[redo75]

Bought CTC batteries off the shelf my whole life and did not think to check for freshness, never had a "stale" battery. All outlasted their warranty by years.

[RedSN]

Group 58 getting impossible to find on the shelves, let alone a “fresh” one.
Got mine from Ed last year.

But I’d have no issue with an 8 mo battery. LOL mine sits in the garage for at least that long between uses!

[Laffs]

I ended up modifying my battery tray and mount to accept a group 34 for this reason.

[LX89]

No Costco membership.

Local Canadian Tire shows 6 group 58 in store-don't know how old.
Looks like Canadian Tire and Napa batteries are made by East Penn.

Original Ford Motorcraft battery totally failed after 3.5 years and left me stranded.
Never bought another Ford battery.

Is group 59 more common than a 58 these days?
59 is a direct fit according to people on other forums.

[Kennedy Ford SVT]

Sorry to hear that you didn't have good luck with your last Ford battery. The group 59 is slightly larger, it was used on the last of the New Edge Mustangs and also on other applications more current, so you may have better luck finding a fresh one of those.


Here is a link to the group size chart to compare:

https://batterycouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BCI-Group-Sizes.pdf

[Darkhorse]

Agree with the comments on OE battery, they are the best if they can get the price close.

Not so much with a Fox or SN, but my 2011 acts real weird if you don't put the precise spec of battery in the car that matches the original. I can't explain it well, but I feel trying to go bigger or better on the battery in newer cars backfires.

I also don't care what anyone says, let a battery drain flat 3 times and it's done. get a new one. It won't be the same again. CT has a 3 year warranty, but if you replace once under warranty and the "original" 3 years passes from the time of the first purchase, they won't let you get another one, even if the second one is bad within the 3 years of it's shelf date.

[LX89]

Went to the local Canadian Tire to get something else on sale and checked the group 58 batteries.
Guy checked all six on the rack and they are all from March,2024.

One month newer than Napa,lol.
Forgot to check the group 59.
Group 65 that guys say also fits is heavy at around 46 pounds.
Group 58 is around 32 pounds.

I asked if I bought a different size and it doesn't fit can I return it and he said yes if it hasen't been used.
More research to do.
Didn't expect this pita.