I've got a 2002 C5 & use a battery tender on the car if left more than a week or so. C5's are well known for parasitic battery drain if not used for 2 or 3 weeks. My Optima Red Top has been on the car for 12 years without any issues.
Definitely this. My C5 battery lasted 7 years with occasional use with a CTEK attached.
Oh and talk to (and buy your battery from) Tayna batteries, they're very helpful!
Starting with the C5 GM added more electronics and computer controllers
They need voltage even when car is off to maintain functions that have saved memory settings
Because of that there is a small current drain when parked and even GM suggests using a battery tender/maintainer
and parked for multi weeks the battery could be discharged enough to prevent starting or what was stored in memory is lost
Too hot or cold weather will discharge the battery sooner so in my case I hardwired to battery 2 wires that go outside the C5 so no need to open/close the hood to hook a battery tender to
GM specs the C5 battery as 615 CCA, but you could choose one that is higher than that
It is a lead acid, flooded type and has side terminals
This though makes it very hard to connect a charger or tender and also if wanting to add other fused 12 volts circuits
I choose instead a GM ACdelco that has side and top posts
I then add terminals to the top posts for my needs
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