When gas was $1.21, mid-grade cost $1.31, and premium $1.41. Now gas is $3.21, mid-grade is $3.31, and premium $3.41. The 20-cent upgrade from regular to high-octane premium has remained in place, despite the overall increase in cost. Percentage-wise, it’s a much better deal today than it was 10 years ago.
Regular gas has gone up 165%, but premium has only gone up 140%. In the first example, premium gas cost 16.5% more than regular. In the second, just 6.2% more. So now that it costs “less,” do more people buy it?
No. From what I could find, aside from a few fluctuations, premium gas usage has held pretty steady at around 9-10% of total unleaded fuel sales. I think people for the most part are looking to fill up as cheaply and safely as possible, looking at the absolute cost instead of which fuel grade offers the most bang for the buck.
Certain cars recommend or require high octane fuel, which is not necessarily “premium” in any way other than having a higher resistance to premature combustion. I think these drivers represent the vast majority of premium gas purchases. The other purchases are from people who are convinced it helps their cars run better. I would have expected these customers to push the premium gas purchase-rate beyond the 10% mark now that it’s a “better deal.”
Of course if your car doesn’t need it, paying even $0.01 more for premium gas is not a deal at all.
I can remember buying premium gas… or maybe mid-grade… one time. I had a BP coupon that required a higher grade to be eligible for whatever the discount was. And you know what? Placebo sure is a strong influence; that ’86 Celica ran like a dream for the next 350 miles!
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
