Does Melissa's mom really need a Lexus car battery?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Dear Tom and Ray:

My mother owns a Lexus. The Lexus dealer is telling her she must replace her aging battery with a Lexus battery, because others aren't "big enough." Is this true, or are they merely trying to take advantage of an older, non-car-savvy lady so they can sell her one of their own, much more expensive batteries? -- Melissa

TOM: Your mother can use any brand of battery she wants, Melissa.

RAY: As long as the battery meets the same specifications as the original battery that came with her Lexus (the same physical size, and a similar number of cold-cranking amps), she can put in a DieHard, an AC Delco, an Interstate or a boatload of Energizer D cells, and they'll all work just fine.

TOM: Well, not the D cells. But she should have no trouble finding an after-market battery that meets the specifications required by her Lexus. Most places that sell batteries have a chart where they can look up the year, make and model of a car, and tell your mom which batteries are appropriate for her car.

RAY: Batteries for nonhybrid cars are largely interchangeable, because the technology is all the same. There are a bunch of lead plates and about a two-liter bottle of sulfuric acid. The primary difference between batteries is the number of plates, which determines the amount of power the battery can store and deliver.

TOM: In fact, Melissa, Lexus doesn't even make its own batteries. It buys its batteries from somewhere else. So, why shouldn't your mom?

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Ar...08/July/06.html

[almaty 19]

the bastards..melissa mom is a friend of a friend

[one...two...tree 2,762]

the bastards..melissa mom is a friend of a friend

Here, here to all the elderly, non-car-savvy ladies out there.

[almaty 19]

i agree.....it is sad that this practice still goes on..the capitalistic chopf##ks

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i agree.....it is sad that this practice still goes on..the capitalistic chopf##ks

That's why AARP member make good Commies for Christ recruits....they like to stick to the man.

[almaty 19]

you would know brother stevie..you are the ceo..chariman for life

[zqt3344 21]

Let this be a lesson to all women's libbers out there, know your limits and stay within them and this sort of thing will not happen to you, let the men take care of it.

Dear Tom and Ray:

My mother owns a Lexus. The Lexus dealer is telling her she must replace her aging battery with a Lexus battery, because others aren't "big enough." Is this true, or are they merely trying to take advantage of an older, non-car-savvy lady so they can sell her one of their own, much more expensive batteries? -- Melissa

TOM: Your mother can use any brand of battery she wants, Melissa.

RAY: As long as the battery meets the same specifications as the original battery that came with her Lexus (the same physical size, and a similar number of cold-cranking amps), she can put in a DieHard, an AC Delco, an Interstate or a boatload of Energizer D cells, and they'll all work just fine.

TOM: Well, not the D cells. But she should have no trouble finding an after-market battery that meets the specifications required by her Lexus. Most places that sell batteries have a chart where they can look up the year, make and model of a car, and tell your mom which batteries are appropriate for her car.

RAY: Batteries for nonhybrid cars are largely interchangeable, because the technology is all the same. There are a bunch of lead plates and about a two-liter bottle of sulfuric acid. The primary difference between batteries is the number of plates, which determines the amount of power the battery can store and deliver.

TOM: In fact, Melissa, Lexus doesn't even make its own batteries. It buys its batteries from somewhere else. So, why shouldn't your mom?

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns//Ar...08/July/06.html

[SteveLaura 0]

I'd probably be duped by that, if I didn't check. I'm fairly gullible when it comes to cars.

Well, most things, actually.

[Heracles 417]

My favorite.

Lady buys convertible. Returns it next day because the air-conditioning does not work. Mechanic explains that roof top must be down, with the windows up, for it to work.

[*julez* 124]

I'd probably be duped by that, if I didn't check. I'm fairly gullible when it comes to cars.

Well, most things, actually.

Me too. In fact, I actually thought I was going to get a free donut for paticipating in the Biggest Poll EVER.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Yet more proof that dealership "service" departments are to be avoided at all costs. Well, except maybe if your blinker fluid is low.

[SteveLaura 0]

I'd probably be duped by that, if I didn't check. I'm fairly gullible when it comes to cars.

Well, most things, actually.

Me too. In fact, I actually thought I was going to get a free donut for paticipating in the Biggest Poll EVER.

From my cold, dead paws...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let this be a lesson to all women's libbers out there, know your limits and stay within them and this sort of thing will not happen to you, let the men take care of it.

...coming from a guy who thought monkey grease is a sexual lubricant.

[almaty 19]

lol

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Also true in computers and peripherals. If you own a Dell printer, Dell has the rather strange belief that you MUST use only Dell ink/toner cartridges (I found this out once when I casually said "I'll just pick some up at Target" while speaking to a Dell rep--and the rep went bonkers on that).

Reality: it is quite easy to find cartridges which will work in a Dell printer--at Staples, Target, or Office Depot (for less than half the price of a Dell cartridge).