rkytop_bob

I take a newsletter from Clark Howard's consumer action center and he said . According to a USA Today story, cars that call for premium gas in the owners manual do not even need to use premium gas. Its all a marketing ploy. They also said it may be bad for your car. Porsche engineers admitted that thier cars must be able to run anywhere in the world, so regular gas is OK. So Clark says , unless you've got a exorbitantly-expensive car with a super turbo engine stick to regular.
You can see this for yourself @ http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2003/08/12.html
We all should look at this with an open mind. It could save us a lot of money over time.
Best Regards.............Bob

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Yes but Clark Howard is a SUPER TIGHTWAD and many of his ideas are absurd - sure they may save you money, but they're also a hassle.

As far as saving "a lot of money over time" - for a typical 20K mi. a year, you're gonna save about $100. Big deal.

LS4fun

Not even enough for a good lapdance!

Letsride

GS4... my man

007

money saved is money earned....

LexFather

YEah your car will run. Instead of 300hp, u will get280hp, a rougher idle, worse gas mileage, more knocking and pinging. So in the long, hell short run, you just screw youself.

Besides Clark Howard drives a I-4 Honda Accord with Altezzas.

tomtnc

I beg to differ! I bought a dozen guys at a bachelor party a lap dance for $100. OK, she did have a moustache but that's besides the point....

Straight6

iTrader: (2)

i disagree... there's a reason for racers using higher octance.. because it makes a difference...
i like to have the piece of mind knowing that my car only gets nothing but the best..

LS4fun

What was his name?

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Yes, and eventually we'll all be dead. Live a little.

LB Lex

Our cars can survive running on 87 octane, and we can survive on bread and water...

Synergy

I tried 87 octane once...and let me stress ONCE. I clearly heard pinging under WOT and it scared me back to super....stay clear from anything but super unleaded!

jtanoyo1

We have a saying among the audiophiles about the quality of the source that you invest in your audio system (ie: normal CD quality vs the much more expensive SACD quality):

"if you put ***** in, all you will get out of is just that, a whole lot of *****."

I think this rings true with our cars. We pay a premium for our cars. Gas companies pay millions of dollars to do research to provide us with the best quality of gas that money can buy. I would kill to have the Japanese 100-RON gas. Why do you think the Japanese turbos only need a ceramic turbine, while the US needs a stronger steel turbine? Try driving a Japanese-spec Supra TT or Aristo V300 in the US with your local pump gas 91RON on high boost and watch your car implode.

I am already having trouble with my Aristo because the bad quality of our gas here. I am really considering of "tuning down" my aristo just to be on the safe side!!!!!

If all this still doesn't convince you that the article is complete bull, just believe in your own butt dyno. Go to a gas station, fill up your car with the cheapest possible 87 gas, drive round the block, then empty it and fill it up with the 94 Sunoco (u still have those in the US or no?) and feel the difference yourself. You don't need a dyno to know that your car will appreciate you feeding it with better gas.

just my 2 lousy, tightwad cents.....

GlobeCLK

iTrader: (5)

WHY? Unless you're stranded in the middle of Arizona somewhere with the nearest 91+ octane pump 300 miles away, you better have a good reason why

chanmannyhc

I agree with you guys 87 and 93 is a big difference. I would put 93 due to less knock but 93 and 94 the difference is all in your head. I have to state this maybe people will call me crazy but
"higher octane does not produce horsepower!"