Do I need the expensive gas???

stepper_dude wrote:
 > You bought a $40,000 car and want to save $5-$10 a week by running
 > cheap gas?? Pack a lunch one day a week and put in the right stuff!
 >

This is a common response that seems rooted in some sort of snobbery, of
which I would reply:

Yes, but the $40k paid for a car (with particular attributes) that can
not be had at less money. If there are no benefits of the costlier
grade of gas and it cost >$500 per year for life to spend that money
would be foolish. That is why the question is so often asked.

If the car calls for the higher grade there is a benefit and the correct
stuff should be used. If it doesn't (as with all 3 of BMWs that call
for 89AKI) then using the highest grade, unnecesarily, is just throwing
your money away.

-Fred W<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

The issue is whether one can/should use a grade LOWER than recommended by
the manufacturer.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
---

"Malt_Hound" <Malt_Hound@*spam*yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:wradnV9_SZ_JCtPfRVn-vg@adelphia.com...
[...]
 > If it doesn't (as with all 3 of BMWs that call for 89AKI) then using the
 > highest grade, unnecesarily, is just throwing your money away.
 >
 > -Fred W<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

You're better off spending the money on the premium gas and instead, spend
your time to check your tire pressure every week and use the cruise control
as much as possible to gain the computers fuel economy capability. It can
maintain a constant speed better than you and thus can optimize your fuel
consumption.

rtt



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 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

Another thing. If your car requires 91 and the gas station pump only
offers 89 and 93. Can you fill it half with 89 and half with 93? 89+93
/2 = 91.
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

Robert La Ferla wrote:
 > Another thing. If your car requires 91 and the gas station pump only
 > offers 89 and 93. Can you fill it half with 89 and half with 93? 89+93
 > /2 = 91.
 >

sure, but is it really worth the bother to save what amounts to $1. (10
cents x 10 gallons, assuming 20 gallon total fill).

-Fred W<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 21:23:18 +0100, "Dori A Schmetterling"
<ng.RemoveThis@nospam.co.uk> wrote:

 >I just don't get it. You have spent a fair amount of dosh on a fairly new
 >car. You have clear instructions from the manufacturer what fuel to use for
 >optimum performance.

  It's human nature. In Rolls-Royce forums, they have recurring
debates on how to use cheaper, non-factory oil filters to save about
$20 a year.
  Emanuel
--
1983 Porsche 911 Guards Red/Black
1983 Porsche 944 Guards Red/Black
1983 Porsche 928 Guards Red/Black<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

E Brown <epbrown01.RemoveThis@att.net> wrote in
news:oamd51l8h11uqtqki0cih5gmgeq00stghg@4ax.com:

> On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 21:23:18 +0100, "Dori A Schmetterling"
> <ng.RemoveThis@nospam.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>I just don't get it. You have spent a fair amount of dosh on a fairly
>>new car. You have clear instructions from the manufacturer what fuel
>>to use for optimum performance.
>
> It's human nature. In Rolls-Royce forums, they have recurring
> debates on how to use cheaper, non-factory oil filters to save about
> $20 a year.
> Emanuel

You don't get rich by spending money needlessly.
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

"joe Millionaire" <joe.TakeThisOut@millionaire.com> wrote in message
news:Xns979F5B0B6F3A9joemillionaireco@140.99.99.130...
>E Brown <epbrown01.TakeThisOut@att.net> wrote in
> news:oamd51l8h11uqtqki0cih5gmgeq00stghg@4ax.com:
>
>> On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 21:23:18 +0100, "Dori A Schmetterling"
>> <ng.TakeThisOut@nospam.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>I just don't get it. You have spent a fair amount of dosh on a fairly
>>>new car. You have clear instructions from the manufacturer what fuel
>>>to use for optimum performance.
>>
>> It's human nature. In Rolls-Royce forums, they have recurring
>> debates on how to use cheaper, non-factory oil filters to save about
>> $20 a year.
>> Emanuel
>
> You don't get rich by spending money needlessly.

The non-M BMW engines will run fine on regular, albeit the ECU will roll
back the timing and performance and mileage will suffer. When the premium
"premium" was 20% of the cost of gasoline, this might have been a reasonable
sacrifice for the lower fuel cost. With Regular running close to $3/gal,
$3.20/gal for premium (roughly 7% more) the issue isn't as clear.

I've yet to see an analysis where this was broken down into dollars and
cents (at what cost benefit does the performance sacrifice make economic
sense).

If you're middle class and want to acquire wealth, you're better off buying
a nice used Honda or Toyota (for cash) which will cost considerably less
than a Bimmer and will also cost considerably less to maintain. The price
difference between regular and premium is a relatively minor issue on the
overall cost of car ownership.

R / John
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

"John Carrier" <jxc2 RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:YtidnUrFfdCbZ6rZnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>
> The non-M BMW engines will run fine on regular, albeit the ECU will roll
> back the timing and performance and mileage will suffer. When the premium
> "premium" was 20% of the cost of gasoline, this might have been a
> reasonable sacrifice for the lower fuel cost. With Regular running close
> to $3/gal, $3.20/gal for premium (roughly 7% more) the issue isn't as
> clear.
>
> I've yet to see an analysis where this was broken down into dollars and
> cents (at what cost benefit does the performance sacrifice make economic
> sense).
>

It would be nice if BMW would publish automobile power figures at different
octanes. My new Beemer (R1200RT) specifies 110 hp using 93 pump octane, and
101 hp with 87. So if the 8% drop also is consistent with gas mileage and
is consistent with auto engines, then the additional 7% is well worth it -
but that's a lot of "ifs"!

Tom K.
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

"John Carrier" <jxc2.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:YtidnUrFfdCbZ6rZnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@comcast.com...

> The price difference between regular and premium is a relatively minor
> issue on the overall cost of car ownership.
>
Exactly, but people in the U.S. see gas at $3.00/gal. and freak out.

Road & Track (May, 2006) tested a Camry V6 (26.3 mpg) and a Camry Hybrid
(37.3 mpg), and concluded that it would take about 100,000 miles before the
estimated $3,000 hybrid price premium was recouped (The hybrid is 1 second
slower to 60 and in the 1/4 mile).

Tom K.
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

"Tom K." <tkorth1 DeleteThis @spamspamcomcast.net> wrote in message
news:jeWdncZrA-0jhqXZnZ2dnUVZ_uWdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
> "John Carrier" <jxc2 DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:YtidnUrFfdCbZ6rZnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>> The price difference between regular and premium is a relatively minor
>> issue on the overall cost of car ownership.
>>
> Exactly, but people in the U.S. see gas at $3.00/gal. and freak out.
>
> Road & Track (May, 2006) tested a Camry V6 (26.3 mpg) and a Camry Hybrid
> (37.3 mpg), and concluded that it would take about 100,000 miles before
> the estimated $3,000 hybrid price premium was recouped (The hybrid is 1
> second slower to 60 and in the 1/4 mile).

Yes, but you feel so good knowing you're minimizing your consumption of a
finite resource. Oh! Wait! The guy next door just brought home a brand
new Excursion. Between the two of you, you average 18 MPG!!!

R / John
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

On Sat, 08 Apr 2006 12:56:50 GMT, joe Millionaire
<joe RemoveThis @millionaire.com> wrote:

>> It's human nature. In Rolls-Royce forums, they have recurring
>> debates on how to use cheaper, non-factory oil filters to save about
>> $20 a year.
>> Emanuel
>
>You don't get rich by spending money needlessly.

True, but frugality would preclude buying a Rolls-Royce in the
first place. According to "The Millionaire Next Door," most of the
wealthy drive Camrys and Lincolns, iirc.
The real issue is this: BMW's are the "ultimate driving machines."
Why pay a premium for the car's performance and then blunt it with
cheap gas, or cheap anything for that matter? It's working towards
contradictory goals.
epbrown
--
"Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people will settle for the car." Chris Titus
2003 BMW 325i Black/Black, 2003 BMW Z4 Black/Black
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas??? 

"joe Millionaire" wrote
>
> You don't get rich by spending money needlessly.

Penny-wise and pound-foolish?

Taking into account higher fuel consumption with the lower octane,
you're certainly not getting rich either way.

Pete
 >> Stay informed about: Do I need the expensive gas???