Premium unleaded - worth it?

Mr_Thrifty

Just purely out of interest, if the high octane stuff is of no benefit to 99.99% of normal road users, why do the petrol stations bother selling it? Are they just preying on mugs who "only want the best for their precious vehicle"? If that's the case, then this is surely one of the most cynical multinational rip-offs ever! I guess they would say they're promoting consumer choice, but if it doesn't do anything for the vast majority of normal road users then surely this is just another example of how they're ripping us off by preying on our ignorance? Especially when they use words like "premium" when in fact it makes literally zero difference whatsoever?

GolfBravo

For the same reason why Tesco sell £2 Nurofen and £0.20 generic ibuprofen - two identical products, the only difference is millions of pounds in advertising, and billions of pounds in extra profits. People don't want generic products, people want branded products that pretend to understand our needs and wants. Consumers expect products to do the emotional work for us.

forgotmyname

As above i have checked the pain relief creams and tablets. A lot of the stuff has exactly the same ingredients. Why spend £3.80 on a box of 20 tablets when they do an own brand plain box eith 100+ in it. for the same money.

Some cars use it, Some people think they are getting more power or better economy. Paying extra puts that into their mind as they drie off also.

Rolling road tests will usually prove otherwise.

fivetide

Following the theme, why do you need five blades not four blades? six blades next despite having assured you when they went to two blades it was the smoothest shave you are ever going to get.

Domestos producing several different varieties of the same thing to kill the germs in your dunny but in reality all you need is some bleach etc etc.

Good old commercialisation and advertising, nothing more.

5t.

NeverEnough

GolfBravo wrote: »

For the same reason why Tesco sell £2 Nurofen and £0.20 generic ibuprofen - two identical products, the only difference is millions of pounds in advertising, and billions of pounds in extra profits. People don't want generic products, people want branded products that pretend to understand our needs and wants. Consumers expect products to do the emotional work for us.

Branded medications are not the same as the generic medications sold for pence - the branded equivalents generally have a much better bio availablility / absorption than a cheap generic thrown together in a dubious "factory" set up with absolutely no research, no proper laboratory services etc. THe active ingredient may be the same, but with reduced absorption, it certainly won't be as effective as any patient reliant on pain medication will tell you. Some of the quality control of the cheap generics is also very suspect- I have seen numerous generic products where the capsules actually contained nothing - that's right - none of the powdered ingredient which should be there.

So branded drugs certainly have their place and its up to the end user which one they wish to buy.

Same goes for fuel.

I am happy to buy the super premium fuel for those of my vehicles with big engines which appear to run better and with better fuel usage when run on super premium. Those who do not wish to do so - easy - don't. Doesn't give the Bullying Internet Warriors on this thread or elsewhere the right to constantly attack and sneer at those who DO.

NeverEnough

fivetide wrote: »

Smugness? Really? (That for reference was sarcasm, the first post was simply polite. You asked about experience with performance cars.


I thought my response initially was quite polite. This post has been written to follow the tone of yours.

5t.

My my you do seem to need an anger management course, don'tyou?


For what its worth, I will not be intimidated by "brave" internet warriors like you, hiding behind their anonymity. I will say what I like and speak as I find - what are you going to do about it?

The tone of your post was offensive and some of the content biased and inaccurate.

Luckily I don't need a Subaru remapped in order for it to use petrol - will leave that to the local chavs instead.

EdGasket

If your car is coming up to the MoT and is borderline for passing the emissions, the trick is to put a can of emission reducer in a full tank of Premium, Branded petrol (not supermarket junk), drive for half an hour then get it MoT'd with the engine still hot. This technique can reduce emissions significantly on worn engines/cat converters and by enough to pass the MoT so long as there is nothing seriously wrong.

Paradigm

fivetide wrote: »

It will make next to no difference. I have had high performance cars that have used it and even had my Subaru mapped for Tesco 99 to use it properly.

It might keep things a bit cleaner with a slightly cleaner burn but as for improving mpg it will be neligable at best. Likewise performance.

It depends on your driving, round town you're unlikely to see any difference but take it on the M/way for a good distance at M/way speeds & there should be a marked difference in performance & economy.

fivetide wrote: »

As I already said, you will not notice an immediate difference. You'd need to use the stuff for months before the ecu, assuming it can take advantage, tweaks the engine to make any difference at all.

5t.

Not if you reset the ECU which can be as simple as removing a fuse for a few minutes.

neilmcl

NeverEnough wrote: »

Branded medications are not the same as the generic medications sold for pence - the branded equivalents generally have a much better bio availablility / absorption than a cheap generic thrown together in a dubious "factory" set up with absolutely no research, no proper laboratory services etc. THe active ingredient may be the same, but with reduced absorption, it certainly won't be as effective as any patient reliant on pain medication will tell you. Some of the quality control of the cheap generics is also very suspect- I have seen numerous generic products where the capsules actually contained nothing - that's right - none of the powdered ingredient which should be there.

So branded drugs certainly have their place and its up to the end user which one they wish to buy.

Have you any "real" evidence to suggest that supermarket own brand over-the-counter medicines are supplied from "dubious "factory" set ups with absolutely no research" and are not as effective as their branded equivalents as well as having dubious quality control?

forgotmyname

When i read the labels and the ingredients match word for word then i can only assume its the same product.

Your saying ones bound with a refresher (sweet) type material coating and ones bound with the material used to make gobstoppers?

If they are its not mentioned in the ingredients. Want me to test that in some water at body temperature? [:)]

Which dissolves 1st cheap one or proper brand?