I don't care what you say...

[tom4bren]

"It's not "trouble", I've never had issues running on regular either. Its just way better with premium. Starting up is better, idle is better, and pick up is WAY better. You should give it a try."

That & an electric fan conversion - I may never have to fill up again

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

entering 9 years of ownership...I ran premium up until my trip to Moab last May. I was "forced" to run lower octane because some of the stations didn't offer anything over 87.

Now thats ALL I run as long as I'm not going to be doing any "aggressive" driving. If I was to run an autocross or something I'd play it safe & fill up with premium for the sake of being supercharged...if I was stock I'd NEVER run premium again.

Maybe my driving style, terrain, or VX's personal taste is different than most???? Maybe the regular in my area is better than most??? But, I've never heard a knock or ping whether I run regular or premium and I swear mine gets worse gas mileage when I run Premium.

Since I changed my fuel pressure regulator years ago, mine starts at the touch of the key whether its cold or warmed up irregardless of regular or premium.

I used to be one of you guys when it concerned this topic. No Longer.

My truck with 5.2L V8 & real duals (Magnaflow's) & Headers (Gibson) with chrome "carburator" style 360 deg. open air filter just started pinging on regular the other day.....the cause....tiny (pinhole) vaccuum leak on cruise control hose. If my cruise control hadn't quit working I'd never have found it. Replaced hose & no pinging what so ever floored going up steep hill with regular in tank.

Do whatever works for you...me...I'm running regular unless something changes.

[mdwyer]

I was "forced" to run lower octane because some of the stations didn't offer anything over 87.

The story goes that you don't need the octane rating at altitude. Throughout most of Colorado you can't get 93 proof. The pumps here have 82/85/91.

The VX doesn't seem to mind what I put in it, but the Subaru throws check-engine lights if I put cheap stuff in -- it claims the catalytic converter isn't working.

In any case, the price of gas has gone down so much that I'm willing to splurge again. It feels really strange to refill the car for less than $20 again...