I am so upset with myself right now. I knew my battery was going bad I didn't replace it earlier. I had to have AAA come out twice to jump my car, both times after working on it. I had some accessories running for a very short time, less than 5 minutes and both times the car wouldn't turn over. This last time I hadn't started my car in 3 days. When I went outside last night to drive to a coffee shop to study the battery was dead. Now I am stuck waiting for my new Optima Red Top 34R to arrive from Amazon.com. I have free 2 day Prime Shipping because I am a student, but that still means my battery won't arrive until Wednesday.

 

I've read the OEM battery doesn't die slowly. Rather it just jumps off a cliff.

Mine is also an '06 with the original battery, so it's probably going soon.

 

Got 6 years out of OEM.
Died running errands, no warning.
Got a Braille.
Great!

 

The battery in my '04 MCS just died two weeks ago - slowly, I might add. Dec/03 build date. I'm satisfied.

 

My Oct '03 build is still going strong, but I know it's going to do the cliff dive soon...

 

I was in the same situation..so I ordered the red top 34r too, but it also went south when I was studying abroad. I then picked up a yellow top. So far so good.