My IS250 is from 2014 meaning it is reaching half a decade in age, Im currently sitting at around 108k(67,000 miles). My car of course still starts up and runs, but I'm starting to notice it struggle a bit to crank up and start especially since were headed into the colder part of the year WINTER !!!! I may want to just get it over and down with and replace the battery before it gets even worse. My question to everyone here is should I just go with an OEM battery from Lexus and keep it stock or should I go aftermarket and if so, is there perhaps a more beefy battery that would compensate for a longer period of time before replacement, or even if theres a battery with better cold start crank for the winter time ?

 

Go with any brand battery. Walmart works fine. There's only like 3 major battery suppliers in the world, apparently. Everyone slaps their own stickers on it and calls it their own.

I'd do Walmart or Autozone (or whatever your auto parts store is in Canada)

Check Amazon too.

 

You mean this is the first time you change battery in 5 years of usage?

 

Yeah, so this first, but I have never been too impressed with the OEM batteries. My old GS needed a battery every 2 years when the previous owner had it and those were OEM batteries. I ended up going with Die Hard Gold batteries for the rest of the time I had that car. I would probably do anything but an OEM battery.

 

I've used an optima red top on my wrx for 7 years with no issues at all, still going strong.

 

Again, it's shortsighted to say "NO OEM BATTERIES!" As the manufacturers contracted to supply batteries to Toyota can (and do) include your favorite manufacturers you do swear by. In fact people here are praising brands which are manufactured by a supplier Toyota uses for its batteries and then turning around and criticising "the OEM" battery.

Don't treat battery brands like sports teams. All kinds of scenarios and environments can affect battery life far more than any label will.

 

Any AGM battery should do.

 

There's no need for AGM unless you do frequent deep discharges with aftermarket electronics. AGM cost is ~2X but it's not guaranteed to last 2X. Even if it does, how many people will drive the same car after that many years? I rather just get a new battery every 3-5 years. Any quality battery with good warranty will do.

 

AGM batteries are not affected as much by extreme heat or cold like normal batteries. Deep discharge only applies if you are buying the yellow top. I had the red top in my Z28 for 8 years and never died.

 

Yes this would be the first time I am replacing the battery, I honestly thought that these batteries were suppose to last anywhere from 7 - 10 years but clearly not the case

 

I`ve heard good things about optima batteries, mostly guys that have done swaps or added extra hp to their ride. Although I`m wondering if i require some kind of different bracket to hold the battery in place because I realize they come a little smaller or different shape from the regular boxy squared batteries that you would buy at walmart or oem.

 

They are shorter and come with a spacer to go under the battery. IMO Optima are not as good as they used to be. I went with a Bosch AGM.

 

I just checked Bosch website, and it seems like they have S3 S4 S5 and S6. It seems like the S5 would be the most suitable although the S6 has one extra year on the warranty, would you guys think it`s worth the price difference for 1 year of extra coverage, even though I don`t place to do any performance work on my car. Would it even make sense to go with the S6 if not for the warranty

 

+1 here... I have a Red Top in my old Corolla since 2007. Knock on wood, to date like Jay89, no issues and still going strong.