Going from Super Unleaded to Unleaded

aj23_2

AdrianC wrote: »

Ah. It's all about the pose value. Gotcha.

Not pose value at all, that's your misunderstanding. I bought it because it's what I liked. Jesus, can't win with some of you. What are you trying to imply about buying an S3 at 22? Jealous? I'm done with the idiocy of most comments from this thread. Just ask a normal, sensible question and as usual people go off on unrelated tangents.

LandyAndy

aj23 wrote: »

Well how could they be? it's just the computer working it out. If you're doing 70mph, one assumes you believe you are because the speedo says, no?

Sigh. I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.

In any case the speedo has to be accurate by law.

DoaM

The problem is ... your post #7 actually quoted post #2, and said it didn't answer your question when it clearly did!

AdrianC wrote: »

So the question is whether the car is set up to ONLY use Super, ONLY use Premium, or adapt for the two. Are there warnings on the filler cap and all over the manual not to use Premium? No? Then we can rule out Super-only.

Your inability to understand what was posted doesn't make the post incorrect.

MEM62

aj23 wrote: »

Not really. Clearly most of you don't have performance cars. You don't buy one to speed everywhere. I mean, you can if you want to get caught, get points and get banned. Be my guest. When you have a decent, powerful car, you don't need to prove anything. Everyone else can see what it's capable off by the car itself.

Also, I didn't say I couldn't afford it, but at the same time I'm not going to drive around in third revving at 6,000rpm just because I can afford it. It's a combination between being sensible and and enjoying what you have and not being too wasteful, or being wasteful because you can be. Plus, it's not good for the car to constantly drive it erratically; you'll just need it repaired and serviced sooner and quicker. It actually shows a lack of care and respect.

You seem to be missing the point. When did I say I didn't enjoy driving my car? It gives me immense driving pleasure and quality.I still walk up to it and love it. I'd drive a Fiat 500 the same as I would a Ferrari. In fact, I used to have a Fiat 500, and I drive this the same (just in my S3, I can accelerate quicker, well, a lot quicker). There are very few opportunities to actually fully utilize what any car that can exceed 70mph can do. We are all supposed to abide by the same speed limits, regardless of power or speed we can achieve from the car we have.

"It must be frustrating when spotty 17-year olds come past your S3 in their Puegot 103s" - Again shows that you don't have a high performance car, and probably shouldn't have one. Are you saying that I shouldn't let a 17 year old past in an old banger to prove I'm superior in some way? Or speed off to show what the car (not me) is capable of? No, it's not frustrating. If they, or anyone, wants to overtake, the same way as when I overtake, they can. People can see my car, the badges, the 4 exhaust pipes (standard fitting). I don't need to prove anything. I've had this S3 since I was 22.

I'm actually pretty shocked by some of these comments. This is after all money saving site, and I asked a simple question about the effect of using a lesser quality fuel in my car and the effect it would have on the computer system and running. Not if I should be frustrated when a 17 year old overtakes me in an old car who has acne, what a generalization. I see more middle aged people driving more stupid than teens. Shameful.

How do you know I am middle aged? OK, I am but I am still 27 on the inside :-)

Correct, I don't have a performance car but I do enjoy the performance that my car has to offer. (And I have motorcycles!)

You are right, this is money saving website - that's the whole point. You have invested a lot of money in buying a performance car. You are paying S3 levels of tax, insurance, maintenance and all the other running costs associated with running a performance car yet, by your own admission, you are driving around at 60 mph. In the interest of money saving go buy a Ford Focus, save a fortune on running costs and use 80% its capabilities instead of 30% of the S3's. You can then buy another S3 when you can afford to put fuel in it. Or better still an M2 which is proper fast :-)

Gurj247

Based on my experience with a Subaru Impreza, yes the fuel does make a difference, for me I found that after regular use of Super (few tanks) my range increased ever so slightly and overall response was better than using regular unleaded.

Overall the price difference cancelled out between Std Unleaded and Super.

With an S3 I would assume it has been set up for use of Super Unleaded fuel primarily, but could probably cope with unleaded fuel fine. If I was the RS3 version I personally would not put Std Unleaded in the car.


If mileage / range / cost is an issue I would echo the suggestion from "aj23" about getting a slightly older Performance Diesel, this could provide the comfort / power you want available, but give greater range and thus over larger annual mileage (circa over 12k/annum) result in cheaper motoring costs.



I know of many people running re-mapped diesels from VW Gold GTD, BMW 3/5 Series cars etc that are getting more than std MPG but increased performance too.



Ultimately the choice is yours.

worried_jim

It's like Dark Matter has been teaching forum 101.

DoaM

Gurj247 wrote: »

If mileage / range / cost is an issue I would echo the suggestion from "aj23" about getting a slightly older Performance Diesel, this could provide the comfort / power you want available, but give greater range and thus over larger annual mileage (circa over 12k/annum) result in cheaper motoring costs.

There's one fundamental flaw with this comment ... "aj23" is the OP and didn't actually say that - it was Takmon.

almillar

aj23 - your question has been answered - check the filler flap, and check your manual. My wife has a TTS, 2ltr turbo, which says it wants 98, but accepts 95. This means it probably has a knock sensor and can adjust for the quality of fuel. so if you fill up when nearly empty, it should adjust quite quickly. Your car will be slower and less economical and maybe less responsive. My wife runs hers on 95 and I can't be bothered getting her to change. I've got a 350Z, which wants 98 but will merely make do with 95 - it's to be used to get you to the next petrol station, to fill up with the 'proper' stuff, and you shouldn't drive hard or rev above 4,000 RPM or so, so that you don't activate the variable valve timing.
I use Sainsburys super unleaeded - over the past 4 years it's consistently 2p per litre more than the standard stuff. And it's even cheaper than diesel now! I think it's a false economy to run a car like yours on 95 for the sake of 2p per litre.

Tokk

LandyAndy wrote: »

In any case the speedo has to be accurate by law.

Almost - it can't under-read by law, but it can over-read up to a point (ie: it can tell you that you're going faster than you are, but not that you're going slower than you are).

Most speedometers are deliberately set to over-read by a fraction

Tokk

aj23 wrote: »

Well how could they be? it's just the computer working it out. If you're doing 70mph, one assumes you believe you are because the speedo says, no?

No, because most speedo's aren't that accurate, they're allowed to over read (tell you you're going faster than you are) but they're not allowed to under read.

The calculation is done based on revolutions of the wheel calculated against it's theoretical circumference, so as your tyres wear your speedo over reads by more (because the circumference has shrunk relative to the theoretical size).

MPG calculations are based on the same basic data - if the car thinks the wheels are bigger than they are, then it thinks you've got further than you have, and over estimates the MPG.