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Ended up taking it back to the main dealer that did the warranty work incl. the 60ah battery replacement a few years back. After explaining the issue and asking if they had anything beefier "can you fit a Hilux battery in there?" they found a 65a Toyota battery (£85) and offered to fit and test the alternator gratis (all good), while I waited which was more convenient than doing it myself and having to book a slot at the local tip to dispose of the old one. Not 100% sure but it sounded as if the 65a is now standard replacement; so stock 40a, uprated to 60a, and now uprated to 65a. My Covid usage sounds identical to @GravelRash but outcome more similar to @NJay 's last comment. Trickle charge would be the obvious solution, but not practical where I live, so I've bought a solar panel to keep the power greedy little sh@t topped up when not in use. It's been making me nostalgic for my GT-Four - four months travelling, left on the drive, started first time. Thanks for the help!

@NJay Thanks for taking the time to explain. The boost charger I have has USB / 12V in for charging (either any standard USB connection or off a car cig lighter when running) and USB / 12V out (for charging you phone etc. or running 12V peripherals) It's basically a big battery with jumper leads. I'll have a look for a larger arrayed solar panel as well then, we probably don't get anymore sun than you do down in Hampshire. Cheers

@NJayThanks for this, could be the solution! Do you happen to know if there are any reasons why you couldn't use a cigarette lighter version, or even the USB connector version? the odb2 port strikes me as a bit harder to use on a regular basis. Actually thinking about it the NOCO Boost I mentioned has a 12V 2000A battery with a cigarette lighter adaptor, so I guess in principle I could use that to trickle charge as well? Just slightly worried about breaking the 86's electrics. @Church good point, I suppose i could try it and if the battery is too far gone, get a new one. Appreciate the responses

Had the car about 3 years, don’t use it much, battery died, it was replaced for the beefier unit under warranty. Don’t use the car more so since Covid, new battery now dead everytime I use the car. I bought a NOCO booster which is great, albeit a faff as I have to lift the bonnet everytime I start the car - it might as well have a bloody winding handle 😂 The other thing is I have to leave the car unlocked (fine where I live) because when I do properly lock it elsewhere, and the battery inevitably drains, then it results in me looking thoroughly dodgy with bonnet up, attaching a weird looking device with the tw@tting alarm going off until it decides I’m not trying to steal it... Even with less use, I’ve not had a problem like this with any other car I’ve owned, so the reality is I’m probably going to have to sell it, even though I do like it, as it’s just not practical. Before I do so I wondered if there’s any practical none faff workaround? I don’t mind disabling the alarm (as long as I can lock it) pulling a fuse or relay or some other workaround to stop the drain, but I don’t want to be lifting the bonnet everytime I want to drive the car. Cheers in advance!