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Aug 14, 2008 8:02 pm US/Eastern
Premium Gas Not Always Necessary For Luxury Cars
The price of gas continues to drop. The local average for a gallon of regular gas dropped again overnight. The price is now $3.78, but we found six local gas stations selling gas for as low as $3.69.
The average price of premium grade gas in Pittsburgh is nearly 30 cents higher than regular at $4.06 a gallon, so it makes sense to avoid buying premium gas if you can.
The problem is that many luxury cars call for premium gas. The question is how can you tell if that's just an issue of performance or whether the car really must have premium grade gas?
If you use premium gas and think it's better for your engine, Consumer Reports says you may be wasting your money. If you drive a vehicle that gets 20 miles per gallon and you drive 12,000 miles a year, premium gas could cost you an extra $120 a year.
"Most cars are designed to run on regular gas," said Rik Paul of Consumer Reports, "so using premium doesn't do anything except cost you about 20 cents more per gallon."
Upscale luxury cars like the BMW or Mercedes-Benz often call for premium, but you might be surprised to learn that the Smart for Two, the Nissan Maxima, and most Acura models also require premium gas.
"If the owner's manual says premium is recommended you can often use regular with no problem," said Paul. "In some situations, this slightly reduces power and fuel economy, but you might not even notice."
However, if the owner's manual says that premium is required or premium only, Consumer Reports says stick with that grade.
If you're in the market for a new car, a little soul searching about what you really need could save you a lot of money.
Buying a small wagon or hatchback instead of an SUV could save you $1,600 a year. A minivan versus an SUV saves $900 a year. A compact pick up versus a full-size could save $500 a year.
What about hybrids?
This is when it's really important to do the math. A hybrid could cost you thousands of dollars more than a gas-powered car, so it could take you years to recoup the cost in gas savings. But the higher the gas prices, the shorter the time it takes to recoup that extra cost.
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