Had a similar situation last year—battery died at the grocery store, pouring rain, and roadside assistance was quoting me 90 mins. Got lucky when someone nearby had cables. Still haven't bought a portable starter though... are the cheaper ones reliable enough?
I've wondered the same thing about those cheaper portable starters... seems like a gamble, right? I've seen some mixed reviews—some folks swear by them, others say they're junk after a few uses. Makes me skeptical, but then again, even an iffy one might be better than nothing when you're stuck in the rain at the grocery store (been there too, unfortunately).
I guess the real question is: how often do you think you'll actually need it? If it's just for peace of mind, maybe a cheaper one is fine. But if you're regularly driving an older car or live somewhere with harsh winters, might be worth spending a bit more. I haven't pulled the trigger yet either, but every time I see someone stranded, I reconsider... maybe it's time to finally bite the bullet.
I've had one of those cheaper portable starters for about two years now, and honestly, it's saved my butt a couple times. Sure, it's not perfect—battery doesn't hold charge as long as it used to—but it's gotten me out of a jam more than once. If you're commuting daily or your car's getting up there in mileage, I'd say just spend a bit extra for something reliable. Peace of mind is worth the extra 20-30 bucks, trust me.
Yeah, I've always been a bit skeptical about those portable starters. Had one myself, and it worked fine the first year or so, but after that... not so much. Still, can't deny it did bail me out once on a freezing morning when my battery died. You're probably right—spending a little extra for reliability makes sense if you're commuting daily. Might have to reconsider getting another one now.
Had one of those portable starters myself, and yeah, it was a lifesaver... until it wasn't. Funny story—mine decided to quit on me right in the middle of nowhere during a fishing trip. Ended up flagging down a guy who jump-started my car with his ancient pickup. Ever since then, I've just stuck with good old-fashioned jumper cables and a roadside assistance plan. Sometimes simpler really is better, you know?
