Topic: I'm Tired of Getting Screwed

[99 Silver]

Both of my cars need premium fuel.  I can run mid grade in the Infiniti, but you can feel the difference and mileage suffers.  The Miata is a turbo - so premium is a must.

I filled up at Shell tonight and Premium was thirteen cents a litre more than regular.  It used to be a lower markup over regular but has been creeping up.

I checked online and the markup in Michigan is in the order of .20 per gallon which would be about 5-6 cents per litre.

Next time I buy a car I will pick cars that can run on regular.

This pisses me off, as does the ridiculously high freight and PDI charges for new cars in Canada.  It's probably due to the lack of vigorous competition in Canada.

[RunsinLight]

I feel and do the complete opposite. I never read the prices of gas and enjoy using premium fuel. I would almost consider it a requirement for a car purchase.

[HeliDriver]

I use premium because my car needs it, but I'm also happy to get the extra detergents Shell says they put in their V-Power (premium) gas. There's often a triple Airmiles bonus for getting the good stuff, too.

It's funny, but I'd also be a bit disappointed if my next car didn't require premium. I just feel good about using it, but still stick with regular on cars that don't need it.

[1TSX]

I am not happy about cars needing premium fuel. It doesn't make me "feel" good that the car needs it, but if it does, it gets it.

[Mitlov]

Both of my cars need premium fuel.  I can run mid grade in the Infiniti, but you can feel the difference and mileage suffers.  The Miata is a turbo - so premium is a must.

I filled up at Shell tonight and Premium was thirteen cents a litre more than regular.  It used to be a lower markup over regular but has been creeping up.

I checked online and the markup in Michigan is in the order of .20 per gallon which would be about 5-6 cents per litre.

Next time I buy a car I will pick cars that can run on regular.

This pisses me off, as does the ridiculously high freight and PDI charges for new cars in Canada.  It's probably due to the lack of vigorous competition in Canada.

I wouldn't let a single mpg make a difference in choosing a performance car.  Yet the difference in fuel cost between regular and premium is about the equivalent of 1 mpg. 

So what are you planning on replacing your Infiniti with?  Caddy CTS?  I think it's the only car in the segment that doesn't require premium. 

[tpl]

I have one car on premium and one on regular although Honda Owner has noted that the Fit will run better on midgrade.
I have never understood this thing about having engines that can run on tractor fuel. High compression and advanced ignition give better efficiency and usually require better anti-knock ratings for the fuel. Seems like a plan to me.

In other words I assume that the engine manufacturers are NOT in cahoots with the oil companies so I just use the recommended fuel. If the cost became a problem then I'd buy a diesel.

[airbalancer]

what I do not understand is why the diffence is always the same
At 50 cent a litre is was about a dime, when gas was $1.30 a litre the dieffence is about a dime

[Juke1]

I like Shell, I consider it a treat for my Altima and once in a while I get a tank of premium.  But Shell is so darn hard to get around here.

[inco]

As I sit on the fence of to be retired or not to be, I made a decision a while ago that I just didn't want to buy premium gas anymore. Sure it's not a big difference per tank, but over a year it adds up and gives me more discretionary funds to do other things - like vacation! Yowsa. 

This means that hiperformance engines and the cars that they are attached to are not in my mirror. Ok. I can live with that. I don't find driving to be the 'fun' that it used to be. Maybe I have become citified? 

However why do we really need two or three types of gas. Why not just make premium? I defer to the old adage of KISS - Keep it simple stupid!

Think of the money to be saved in production costs by only making the premium. The cost could come down and all engines could then benefit from the 'V power" hype. Level the playing field and give everyone a chance to experience the enjoyment of some of those cars that require the premium fuel.

Of course there still would be diesel fuel, but think of how much easier it would be for some people who never quite get it - trying to decide on regular, premium or mid grade. Some will appreciate the lack of choice.

[ovr50]

I have no problem with having to buy premium gas. In fact, in the M3, I run Cheveron 94 which is a couple pennies over the premium price. The amount of difference I would save in a year IF I could run regular would maybe buy me a vacation in my tent in my backyard...!! The annual difference is in the low hundred's. Not a big deal IMO.

I get much more fun out of a car like the M3, over a more "pedestrian" car that it's worth every penny and more.

YMMV. 

[blur911]

Most of my vehicles require premium.  I have a Canadian Tire gas advantage mastercard which gives me up to $0.10 liter off at Crappy Tire gas bars.  Makes it much more palatable.

[Turbo Bob]

As I sit on the fence of to be retired or not to be, I made a decision a while ago that I just didn't want to buy premium gas anymore. Sure it's not a big difference per tank, but over a year it adds up and gives me more discretionary funds to do other things - like vacation! Yowsa. 

This means that hiperformance engines and the cars that they are attached to are not in my mirror. Ok. I can live with that. I don't find driving to be the 'fun' that it used to be. Maybe I have become citified? 

However why do we really need two or three types of gas. Why not just make premium? I defer to the old adage of KISS - Keep it simple stupid!

Think of the money to be saved in production costs by only making the premium. The cost could come down and all engines could then benefit from the 'V power" hype. Level the playing field and give everyone a chance to experience the enjoyment of some of those cars that require the premium fuel.

Of course there still would be diesel fuel, but think of how much easier it would be for some people who never quite get it - trying to decide on regular, premium or mid grade. Some will appreciate the lack of choice.

Inco you are old and wise... 

Seriously what a great idea, can you imagine the costs savings if every gas station only had one type, and every pump only needed one hose and no choice...

[1TSX]

I like Shell, I consider it a treat for my Altima and once in a while I get a tank of premium.  But Shell is so darn hard to get around here.

Why would you do that? It makes no difference.

[HeliDriver]

I like Shell, I consider it a treat for my Altima and once in a while I get a tank of premium.  But Shell is so darn hard to get around here.

Why would you do that? It makes no difference.

The octane boost may not make a difference, but there's more to the fuel than that.

You can dismiss it all as marketing hype if you want, but here's what Shell has to say about the extra benefits of their premium fuel:

"Shell V-Power gasoline contains the highest concentration of our NEW Nitrogen Enriched Cleaning System, a unique, patented improved formula exclusive to Shell. With five times the amount of cleaning agents required by the Canadian national standards for detergency in gasolines, Shell V-Power gasoline provides maximum protection, seeking and destroying engine gunk left behind by lower-quality gasolines even faster than Nitrogen Enriched Shell Bronze gasoline.  Sustained use removes the gunky build-up from your vehicle’s intake valves and fuel injectors, making your engine cleaner and protecting it from developing additional build-up."

http://www.shell.ca/home/content/can-en/products_services/on_the_road/fuels/shell_vpower/

[wing]

I've actually seen this in action and it is quite remarkable!

[99 Silver]

Both of my cars need premium fuel.  I can run mid grade in the Infiniti, but you can feel the difference and mileage suffers.  The Miata is a turbo - so premium is a must.

I filled up at Shell tonight and Premium was thirteen cents a litre more than regular.  It used to be a lower markup over regular but has been creeping up.

I checked online and the markup in Michigan is in the order of .20 per gallon which would be about 5-6 cents per litre.

Next time I buy a car I will pick cars that can run on regular.

This pisses me off, as does the ridiculously high freight and PDI charges for new cars in Canada.  It's probably due to the lack of vigorous competition in Canada.

I wouldn't let a single mpg make a difference in choosing a performance car.  Yet the difference in fuel cost between regular and premium is about the equivalent of 1 mpg. 

So what are you planning on replacing your Infiniti with?  Caddy CTS?  I think it's the only car in the segment that doesn't require premium. 

I haven't got to the point of what to buy yet - probably next fall.  I've driven the previous generation CTS and didn't care for it.  IMHO - OK handling, 3.6L engine was mediocre with poor sound and a terrible interior.  I understand the new CTS is much better though.

I make a living contracting various construction projects and to be successful you have to be sharp on costs.  I don't like it when I think I am being taken advantage of.  But, as OVR says it's not that much money - in my case about $500 per year for both cars.

Shells new premium formulation looks interesting and perhaps they have increased the price spread because they think the market will pay it, but I never had any problems with my cars on the old formula.

I think I will check out a couple of other brands to see what their premium spread is.

[99 Silver]

I've actually seen this in action and it is quite remarkable!

Wing - tell us what you saw.

[Turbo Bob]

I've actually seen this in action and it is quite remarkable!

I agree.  Evo did a test of this a few years ago and ran a few cars on cheaper fuel for 3 months, stripped and photographed the parts.  Then ran them on V-Power for 3 months and did they same.  The difference was astonishing.  Even if your ECU can't take advantage of the increased octane, the cleaning properties alone can be worth it.

[vdk]

I've actually seen this in action and it is quite remarkable!

I agree.  Evo did a test of this a few years ago and ran a few cars on cheaper fuel for 3 months, stripped and photographed the parts.  Then ran them on V-Power for 3 months and did they same.  The difference was astonishing.  Even if your ECU can't take advantage of the increased octane, the cleaning properties alone can be worth it.

What's cheaper fuel? Costco? I don't think you'll have any gunk build up with their regular.

[Mitlov]

I haven't got to the point of what to buy yet - probably next fall.  I've driven the previous generation CTS and didn't care for it.  IMHO - OK handling, 3.6L engine was mediocre with poor sound and a terrible interior.  I understand the new CTS is much better though.

I make a living contracting various construction projects and to be successful you have to be sharp on costs.  I don't like it when I think I am being taken advantage of.  But, as OVR says it's not that much money - in my case about $500 per year for both cars.

Shells new premium formulation looks interesting and perhaps they have increased the price spread because they think the market will pay it, but I never had any problems with my cars on the old formula.

I think I will check out a couple of other brands to see what their premium spread is.

I haven't been inside a first-gen CTS, but I have driven the second-gen, and interior quality was right on par with the C-Class, 3-Series, and IS in my experience.  I liked the sound of the 3.6L--I thought it sounded much better than the muted-and-dull C300--but your mileage may vary.

I wouldn't give up on an entire genre of cars just to get regular fuel.