I've never worried about battery brand and never had one that didn't last
about as long as the warranty period.  Most brands have several different
"grades" with corisponding prices,  warranties, and CCAs (Cold Cranking
Amps).  I usually try to stay away from the very bottom of the range but
otherwise I'm not picky and havn't been disapointed.  You'll want one that's
"maintence free" which most are these days.  Any store that carries
batteries will have a book/computer that can tell you which ones will work
with your car but it's a good idea to measure your existing one to make sure
it'll fit (sometimes the books/computer are wrong).  Installation is easy,
the hardest part is probably re-setting your clock and radio stations when
you're done.

NO, buy whatever brand you wish. I perfer "Interstate"

Many Subarus have really bad earthing cable/strap. It's a good
idea to replace it, and the cable end on the starter cable +ve.
That also gives you more choice about what battery to fit, as
you aren't stuck with the dinky little terminals they seem to
use.

Clifford Heath.

Drive over to Sears, buy the correct battery for your car, replace in
the parking lot, then bring the old one back in for them to recycle.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's)
Central NJ USA

Just one additional suggestion.  Take a good look at your battery
size and which terminal is where before you buy, so you can verify the
correct battery is being suggested.  I have run into incorrect specs
in battery application books before and it's always easier to get the
right battery the first time.

A couple of years ago, a shop told me my battery "failed a load
test."  I did my own load test by timing the battery voltage with the
headlights on and it seemed to hold as well as my gf's car, so I took
a chance and waited.  My car lasted through the winter no problem.
Morning temps can get as low as -20celcius here.  My car has seen
colder, but not that winter.  So maybe the mild winter helped.

In the summer, I was doing some other stuff anyway, so I bought a
battery.  I bought the right "style" that had lots of CCA.  Cold
Cranking Amps will do you more service than capacity.  How often do
you run your battery down to empty, vs asking your battery to start a
cold car?

Anyway, even though I had the right "style", the terminals were not
centered along the top of the battery like the OEM battery, so I had
to stretch the cables by an inch or so.  Talk about tight!  I got it
to reach, but only after removing one of the cable holding brackets.
Maybe the extra pressure will ensure a better electrical connection!
Not a difficult job other than the reach issue.

Also, I measured the charging current on each battery before and after
the change.  I can't remember the numbers, but I remember noticing
that my alternator was working harder on the old battery.  The
internal resistance of a battery increases with age, and that acts
like extra load on the alternator.  So don't be afraid to wait a
little, but don't wait too long or you'll be replacing the alternator
too!!

Good luck.
2003 OBS