I remember that in old cars the battery didn't last, the worst used to be a mkII Cortina where you were lucky to get much over a year out of it - but it was always horrible to start on a morning from 2 years old when my Dad got it. I had various bangers from the 70's where you might possibly get 2 years.

Fast forward and my Wife's 1984 Polo owned from new which we kept 19 years usually managed 6 years between batteries.

The battery on my 2003 pd Skoda Superb (Varta!) lasted util way beyond my ownership ended in 2015 lasting quite a few years after with the new owner. No stop start, and it was a huge battery.

The battery on my tsi 2014 Superb (Moll) bought in 2015 only lasted until 2020 but it has stop start and the charging system to support these is something else (eg overcharging on the overrun) and obviously the starter motor is used much more. The first lockdown wouldn't have helped but I was quickly driving again as I had one of those jobs...

I know I represent a minute statistical sample, but I don't recall ever getting less than five years out of a battery. My current Mazda CX-5 (petrol), registered in May 2014, still has its original battery and exhaust.

Edited by FP on 06/02/2024 at 23:04

Its just not practicle to go around a compound removing and refitting batteries or having miles of wiring trailing around the place keeping a bank of trickle charger ticking over, if someone had thought to disconnect the battery it might have survived the duration, that's what happens in professional storage compounds.

In the same circs i might have suggested i take the battery home and keep it (them there's two on Landcruisers) charged until the parts arrived and they were due to start work on the vehicle and nipped the battery back.

As for costs, replaced both on the Landcruiser some 18 months ago, circa £180 the pair if i recall, last pair lasted 7 years before showing signs of weakening, might have got another year or so but a non starter must not happen.

Time to dig those reading specs out.