Two months ago our MkV Golf was given a major service by a VW dealer and the battery got a good bill of health (tick in the green column).

This morning it failed to start and after an hour or so top-up from a charger, taking it to Kwik-fit got it diagnosed as having a measured battery EN(A) of 281 vs a rated value of 570. They suggested a replacement...

Could it have degenerated that far in a couple of months? It was the original battery on an '08 plate.