Thanks for the welcome.
Although the local independent looked after our other cars, they didn't touch the A8. That was always serviced etc by the Audi dealership, Inchape. At some cost too!!
Good car, perhaps underrated, but one of the reason to get back into a GTI was that over the years, as the cars I drove became larger and "more luxurious", the more remote they were from the "driving experience". Comfortable, yes, fast, yes, but fun, not so much!
I could get very misty eyed here, and perhaps I may start another post on why I like to MK5 GTI so much, but lets just say, driving it makes me smile (when the steering assist is working, that is!) and that is a good thing.
I agree with you it is useful, if not essential, to have a garage that has good knowledge of VWs. I think that with the independent's "general" knowledge, combined with the detailed knowledge of the subcontracted auto electrician, that I am "covered".
All that said, glad though I am that it is now fixed, I am still bemused as to why a new battery caused the problem in the first place. Perhaps I should forget about that and get back to smiling!