Date: Sun, 08 Sep 2002 12:50:24 GMT From: Bob <uctraingNOSPAMnopsamanet.com> Subject: Re: New to Saab
On Sun, 8 Sep 2002 07:45:51 +0000 (UTC), "SimonJ" <Menopsam.net> wrote: >You will be fine with regular gas. >The engine management senses what type of gas you are using, and will give >you that little bit more performance with premium, but if you ain't gonna >push it, then regular will be fine. However, you may get better mileage with Premium, compensating you for any extra cost. Also, premium actually costs *very* little more in the USA on a yearly basis. When you use a lower grade (regular) gas, your engine will knock. (Actually, engines always knock a little, it's a question of degree). When the computer senses the knock, it will retard the engine a little to stop the knocking. You will get a little less performance, and you will need to step on the gas a little more to do whatever you're trying to do (enter a highway, pass, etc). So, you'll use more gas to get where you are going. Consider this example: Let's say you drive 12000 miles a year. If you get 26mpg, you'll use 462 gallons of gas. At a typical price (my area) of $1.39/gallon, you pay $642 for gas. Now, let's assume you use premium but get 28mpg because of the increased performance. You use only 428 gallons of gas. At a cost of $1.55/gallon (my area) you pay $663. per year for gas. The total difference in price for the year is $21. You can plug in your own numbers for costs and mpg after testing a few tank fulls of each. Note that even with *no* change in MPG, using premium only costs you about $60 per year. You can bump my cost and mileage figures quite a lot and still not pass $100/year. Considering how much you just paid for that car and that wonderful turbo engine, $100/year is an infinitesimal amount. Bob
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