Have you looked at the Performance fuels feature on the 5th gear website ?

Impressive results for Octy vRS drivers I should think !

I saw it and I already swear by Shell Optimax. I can definately feel the difference between it and standard 95RON fuel. The test confirmed that it realy can give more power if the car can use it and I reckon the Octy RS certainly can

On ordinary unleaded the Golf produced 172bhp.

On Ultimate, it produced just a little more - 174bhp.

But on Optimax, the Golf GTI put out 177bhp.

And torque for an Imprezza:

Supermarket fuel gave the lowest torque with 232 ft lbs.

Ultimate produced a much healthier 248 ft lbs, and

Optimax was even better, producing 258 ft lbs.

Is it worth it though for someone with an untuned FSI engine? The price difference is steep where I live since there is nowhere near the same competition on RON98 [cheapest - 95p/l :eek:] as there is on RON95 [cheapest - 86p/l].

There would really need to be a notable performance / economy difference for me to fill up on RON98.

Cheers

I have tried Optimax in my old (normally aspirated) BMW, and in various motorbikes and didn't feel any difference. But it does make a definate difference in my Octy RS. Whether it is worth the extra money is down to personal choice. I don't do too many miles so am happy to pay the extra for it.

Modern engines do know what fuel is in there and can adjust themselves for it, but like I say, the extra go may be undetectable or just not worth paying extra for. All you can do is try it and make your choice.

Tesco 99 gave 190bhp in my Octy pre remap, now 240bhp, instead of 180/probable 225 on 95RON... Cheaper than Optimax as well, just a b*gger finding a Tesco that has it...

I also find Super much better but can't find anything over 97 down here - is there any way of locating 98 or 99 in a given locality? I'd like to give it a try, if only out of curiosity.

Is there also a "placebo RON" grade of fuel available? I'm sure that would be the best one.

Is there also a "placebo RON" grade of fuel available? I'm sure that would be the best one.

Don't think this is a placebo effect [how do you arrange a double blind test for fuel !?] The car is definitely "made" to run on Super, BUT will run on Regular without any harm, except slight drop in performance - it says!

Usually it is the other way around - a car is made to run on 95. and using 97 upwards won't benefit it. I assume Skoda could produce some kind of performance comparison for their claims?? Also, according to this forum, the higher cost is offset a bit by better mpg.

I dont see any way near enough increase in MPG to justify the 4p/l increase in price.

just wait until optimax is replaced by shell vmax - 100 ron... coming to a garage near you soon!

I have played with all the different diesel fuels on offer too. I only use Shell, or BP as a result. Supermarket fuel reduces mpg, and increases smoke. At the other end of the scale, BP Ultimate diesel is much more expensive, and provides no noticable difference whatsoever. If anything, mpg is again down on normal diesel.

Not scientific i know, but just my view.

just wait until optimax is replaced by shell vmax - 100 ron... coming to a garage near you soon!

:woohoo:

I have played with all the different diesel fuels on offer too. I only use Shell' date=' or BP as a result. Supermarket fuel reduces mpg, and increases smoke. At the other end of the scale, BP Ultimate diesel is much more expensive, and provides no noticable difference whatsoever. If anything, mpg is again down on normal diesel.

Not scientific i know, but just my view.[/quote']

F*ck me , are those 'Go Faster' pink slippers, bet you run quick with them on.

Steve

just wait until optimax is replaced by shell vmax - 100 ron... coming to a garage near you soon!

How do you know?

You got inside information or something?

just wait until optimax is replaced by shell vmax - 100 ron... coming to a garage near you soon!

Not according to shell it's not. I and a few others emailed them this week and all got a stock reply back about optimax being suitable for the UK, and no plans to import vmax.

But does the performance go increasing? I doubt it!

Re mpg increase being small, well I guess so, but I only do about 8000 a year now.

But does the performance go increasing? I doubt it!

Re mpg increase being small' date=' well I guess so, but I only do about 8000 a year now.[/quote']

The performance will only increase if the car's ECU map can take advantage of the extra RON.

Chris