[bismic]

Cheap batteries very well could be more cost effective than the expensive ones. That said, I like reliability and wouldn't want to "settle" for a 2 year life cycle. Also, the 7.3L is not nearly as demanding for good voltage as the 6.0L. On the 6.0L, you probably can get away w/ weak batteries for awhile if you have had your FICM upgraded, but a stock FICM won't last long if it doesn't have good voltage all the time.

For quite awhile I bought Motorcraft batteries because the original ones I got w/ my trucks lasted very well. Then I learned that the replacement batteries you buy from a Ford dealership were not the same quality as the ones that the truck was equipped with from the factory.

You can't beat the Odyssey batteries or the X2Power IMO, but you had better get them on sale ... lol!