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I fear its wasted advice Richard. The OP has not been back since we gave him advice he did not want to hear.

Have you just bought this vehicle? If so, take it back for a refund as it can not pass an MOT test in its present condition. However if you want to repair it yourself read on. Did you get the toe-in checked when the tyres were renewed? Toe-in is the small angle at which the front wheels point inwards. If it is wrong you can get the vague floaty steering you describe. You also need to check all the steering and suspension joints for slackness with the assistance of another person. One of you should wriggle the steering wheel side to side about a quarter of a turn while the other goes under the car and feels each joint. Really loose joints can also be seen to move, but feeling with your fingers is more sensitive to tiny amounts of play. Any joint with the slightest amount of play needs to be renewed, after which the toe in should be adjusted. While you are it, jack up each front wheel in turn, grab firmly at 9 & 3 o'clock, and rock to and fro while looking and feeling for slack in the wheel bearings. Any loose bearing should be renewed. The coolant warning could be caused by air in the system expanding as the engine warms up and pushing the level up in the reservoir. Is there a visible level change when warm? As for the alternator pulley, test it yourself by releasing the belt tension and rocking the pulley. If it moves it needs to be renewed.

Hello Michael, I can well understand the need to save the pennies, but in reality, your logic is flawed in terms of covering low mileages, so the oil ‘quality’ isn’t so important. Short journeys represent slow warm up, more stops and starts, more rev variations than a car travelling much greater distances under optimum operating conditions on the motorway. You will be more dependent on oil quality than most. You looked at Castrol, since Audi stamp Castrol on the oil filler. OK, as I understand it, Quantum (recommended by VAG) is a brand name under the Castrol empire - so you peace of mind there? Cheaper than your Castrol price? I paid around £30 for 5ltrs of Quantum so £60 buys you 10 ltrs for your 8.2 litr need. Mannol? Price of that for 5 litres? I don’t know but I’m sure you do, so you can do your maths and equate it a a saving of x Costa coffees over a year of motoring. As asked - let us know the difference. On the plus side, I think I recall Stevey on here using Mannol in his taxi - a good test bed. Personally, I think you are armed with enough information to make a decision on this, but pardon the comment - you appear to be procrastinating, and in danger of disappearing up a certain orifice! Just work out your cost savings and decide if those savings are worth the x cups of coffee which will no doubt be bought with the price difference. Bear in mind that your labour costs are free, so invest the savings in the best materials. Apologies Michael, but……. Kind regards, Gareth.