So premium or regular?

[njusko]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and do not currently own a Redline but am looking for my next car and as of right now it is coming down to an SRT-4 or an Ion Redline and some of the things that the Redine has going for it is that it says on the Saturn website that it requires 87 octane gasoline and has much lower insurance prices. However, looking around the forums it seems that people are putting 91 octane gas in their redlines and was curious as to is that what the manual says it requires or is that just preference for a slight increase in performance? Also, if there is anyone else who lives in Jersey I would like to hear about the average insurance costs for the Redline (do they bracket in with the other ion quad coupes or do the insurance companies actually recognize the Redline as its own individual model? I ask because I went to Geico.com and after entering the VIN number for one it didn't have the model listed). So basically, does the Redline REQUIRE 91 octane gas or is that just driving preference and is the insurance relatively doable for this model of car, any informative posts I thank in advance.

[XeroState]

This has been a topic before and I am not sure if it was ever answered, but here is my opinion. I have filled my RL up with 89 octane since day 1 (with 1 expection of 91 for the hell of it). I have had no problems with knocking, and on a daily driving stand point I have not noticed any loss in power (though I am sure there is, it just isn't noticable unless your at a track or are timing). I have never put 87 octane in and I will not, not because I don't think the car can run on it(I believe it would run just fine) it's just that I am the type of person who'd rather be safe than sorry (control freak here).

[urbanmonkeygod04]

Well I'm one of those lucky bastards who lives in good-octane-gas heaven; I put 93 in my car, just because I've known PLENTY of people who've but 87 in their F/I cars and had problems. I mean, I guess you can, but you can't expect to race around in it, because the computer will retard the spark for 87 octane, but you'll be having retarded spark. I don't really know why the manual says 87 octane is OK . . . they have an insert in there that's like "instructions for driving at 100+ mph" for chrissake!

Edit: Xero State, you live in Canada, so I'd put 87 in my car too out there, gas costs an arm & a leg up there!

[XeroState]

Originally Posted by urbanmonkeygod04

Edit: Xero State, you live in Canada, so I'd put 87 in my car too out there, gas costs an arm & a leg up there!

Oh ya, its 96.6 cents per litre (canadian litre) for 89 octane. Our tank is 50L. And since I won't take my car to the track for some time I have no real reason to put gas that costs 101.6 cents per litre in my car unless I start to run into problems. I mean, you gotta save money some how and when your a 'spirited' driver, you tend to go through a bit of gas with our cars...lol, go boost!

[SpikemanII]

Always the good stuff. I know it's expensive, but why risk it with shitty gas. IMHO!

[Vita]

if you can't afford the extra 20 cents per gallon, i wouldn't buy this car, oil changes cost more, insurance isn't bad though, a 2002 chevy tracker 4 door 4x4 costs more to insure than the redline.

and they say you can run on regular gas, but it's recommended to run on 91 or higher, which it was designed for.

also, you've found out how to start a thread, yet cannot distiguish between the general discussion forum, and picture/media section?

either way, you should run 91 or higher as it was designed for, and insurance is cheap right now, though that isn't to say that one day the insurance companies will raise it, but since it's such a low production vehicle, we're less likely to have statistics raise it, but on the flip side, a few people making mistakes that raise premiums will be reflected as a greater percentage of the "population" of redlines. though i am no insurance agent, i'm sure it'll go up eventually from where they are now. it also depends on what insurance you go through. we use state farm and i pay 520 or so for 6 months

[urbanmonkeygod04]

Yeah, it DID just completely strike me when I was looking at this thread that it was in the wrong area by a long shot . . .

He shoots, he scores!

[XeroState]

Originally Posted by Vita

if you can't afford the extra 20 cents per gallon

Yes but you have to relize that some people like to spend their spare money on their kids or wife/husband or gf/bf or just having fun with friends. So that 20 cents a gallon adds up over a year. I would recommand going 91 or higher, but like I have said, I have run 89 since day 1 and have not had any problems what-so-ever. It heavily depends on who you buy your gas from. Some places their 91 is the same quality as someones 87 (now, the octane is different, but their still is crap in it). And yes Saturn says you can run on 87 octane, it'll just have less power and unless you are an avid street/track racer I honestly don't think you'll notice it.

[Vita]

true, but for the long term reliability of my engine, i'd prefer to use what it was designed to use, which in the long run will likely outweigh the spare change saved by penny pinching 2.00/tank

[XeroState]

Octane does play a major part in long term reliability, but there are many other factors, such as driving habits, weather conditions, aftermarket parts not fitting right (mainly engine parts which leak) and others. But the only way to answer this question is to take to cars right from the factory, fill 1 up with 91 or higher the other with lower and drive them the same till they drop dead (weee, thats a long drive...lol). We won't be able to answer the question if a lower octane actually hurts our engine for some time as our cars are new and no one has enough miles or years on the car to tell, so there is no point in argueing that one is better than the other. At this point in time, its personal perference.