******* Motors Chat Thread *******

Battery needed for 162 Diesel Tiguan in North Dublin. Factory battery lasted 10 years varta

Voltage logger shown in picture shows dropping to 9.2 volts during cranking.

Not looking to spend a fortune,car has stop start which I disabled about 9 years ago. Lots of very short runs with one long run once a week.

So many options out there.

Speaking of finding cars, it's getting increasingly hard to find something nice in the used market that doesn't have a lot of mileage upfront or silly prices - yea, I know… in other news, water is wet! :D

As is a regular pastime, I frequent the usual sites looking to see what I might change my A7 for this/next year but options are thin. Sure, there's plenty of newer A7s but I like to at least get a newer interior when I change (but conscious of the increasing levels of "enshytification" in even previously premium brands).

Regular readers will know I've always promised myself an A8 partly because it's probably the only way to keep most of the toys my A7 and previous A6s had, but even those are getting harder to find (thank you Brexit!).

An added complication of my advancing years though is that my back isn't in it anymore to be getting in and out of low-slung cars and in a world of SUVs it's increasingly a pain to be in a sporty saloon as well (eg: when beside one at a junction turning the other way, or just in general traffic nowadays).

I've spent some time with a 2016 1.7 Tuscon while my A7 was getting looked at and have to admit - it's not a bad place to be - auto, cream leather, good visibility, and surprisingly responsive for the size/engine….. have browsed the bigger Sante Fe, but could I give up the Quattro, 3.0 TDI and Audi layout?? (eg: couldn't adjust to the Tuscon's implementation of cruise control).

There's loads of other 2.0 TDI options (no I won't be going electric - nowhere to charge it for one thing!) but again, I do value the power and comfort of the bigger 3.0. It's just never stressed whatever the situation.

But that leaves limited options - especially if I want something that addresses all the above.. basically a 2016 onwards Q7, but as I said at the start they ain't cheap and have lots of mileage in that 2016-19 bracket.

Any alternatives I haven't considered that wouldn't drive me demented and make me wish I had just stuck with the A7? Must be auto, well equipped, good on the back but easy-ish on the wallet. Suggestions appreciated!

That's the thing though..

Power, toys,layout... Check

Visibility in an suv world and long term "compliance" with my back.. Not as much

Plus even though it's superior to my previous 2010 A6 LeMans in almost every way (more efficient, more modern interior, a few more toys), I've never fallen in love with it the way I did with the A6. Don't know why - the A7 is the prettier, sportier version after all!

I've even been looking at similar era (2016+) 7 series which I have to admit, do look nice, and I generally do not like BMWs at all!

I keep coming back to the Q7 as the obvious solution (unless I want to drop to 2L which opens up a lot more choices even within the VAG stable) but I had a 09 one for a few days at one point and while it was like driving a tank, a fuel tanker following me is what I really needed! I'm sure the newer ones are more efficient though?

Maybe they'll undo Brexit before it becomes a need rather than thought to change and we'll get all the high spec cheap premium cars again!

Mate bought a 2015 730 D and paid for a mechanic to give it a full pre purchase check over. Got it for €15k ish and after a few months he has had to spend a small fortune on bits like the suspension. Cracking car to drive but like most luxury yokes a potential money pit.