95 / 98 RON ???

[Jack829]

Greetings S3 lovers,

My S3 is due in a few weeks and I'd like to know whether it is worth continually using a "better" grade fuel such as OPTIMAX or can I run it on your common or garden unleaded without any side effects. While I'm here I might aswell ask whether the BOSE sound system I've ordered makes much difference? Any advice to a future S3 owner is appreciated.

Jack.

 

[AlexStanley]

[ QUOTE ]
Jack829 said:
Greetings S3 lovers,

My S3 is due in a few weeks and I'd like to know whether it is worth continually using a "better" grade fuel such as OPTIMAX or can I run it on your common or garden unleaded without any side effects. While I'm here I might aswell ask whether the BOSE sound system I've ordered makes much difference? Any advice to a future S3 owner is appreciated.

Jack.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Jack

Some contentious issues here!

- Optimax vs. Unleaded: The general concensus is to stay WELL away from Supermarket petrol - it's full of rubbish /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif You will find some people on here that use Optimax religiously, and others (like me) who just use regular unleaded and then pop a tank of Optimax in every now and then. So I think it's just a case of sucking-and-seeing /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Personally I can't tell the difference between normal unleaded and Optimax, but other people say they can - up to you really...

- BOSE: I have it, and I wouldn't be without it. To my ears, it's much better than the standard set-up. However, others have gone for the standard set-up and then spent a similar amount to the BOSE upgrade on aftermarket products and got a better sound that way. Having never heard any of these I can't say whether I would find them better or not, but having said that the BOSE in my S3 does just fine for me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hope that helps...

Alex.

 

[tomsinclair]

Where I am I have no option but use standard unleaded and the car performes perfectly well.

The Bose sound system is a good sound I find and I have changed the head unit from the Chorus to a Kenwood mask and the sound difference was greatly improved. The Chorus is made by Grundig and not a patch on the Kenwood. I definately recommend Bose as I also have Bose in the house.

 

[audi_girl]

Go for Optimax every time...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

And as far as BOSE is concerned.... I don't find the sound quality very good, but it is a lot better than an Audi non-BOSE.... depends how important sounds are to you!

 

[Gambba]

I have to strongly disagree with Alex's statement of Supermarket fuels being full of rubbish........Supermarket brands do not differ from that of the major oil companies and in a lot of cases I'm sure are made by these major brands!! 95 Ron Fuels differ by very little between brands, only in the additives a certain manufacturer adds, nothing else.

Do you see Safeways (UK) doing their own research and refinement? They just sell the stuff.

Optimax is undoubtedly a better fuel, the higher octane rating it has means it has more power for the same amount of fuel compared to standard unleaded, it also boasts superior cleaning abilities over the standard. Cleaning is important to keep the rubbish (tar etc.) that there is in fuel from gunking things up, valves, piston rings etc.

 

[Khufu]

well I WORK in a Q8 site and I dont buy the fuel. I used to work for Esso, and happily bought that fuel but now I get optimax even thought I only have a 1.8 sport. As said, its the post refinary additives that makes the difference.

 

[GolfTTish]

Silvers3UK
I guess you don't like jags then. All I can say is don't try race one off the lights in your 'oh so high tech' S3. And how's a 400hp/400lbft 4l 32valve supercharged V8 a lazy low tech engine. Drive one then criticise.

I'll have to check the article again tonight, but from memory the BM and jag had mostly been run on supermarket super, pre optimax.
I'd also consider 0.1-0.2 secs on 3sec increments quite an improvement. That corelates to about a 5% increase in power.

The Type R had been run on 95UL so the difference was more marked.

Run mine on optimax 95% of the time with SUL when I get caught out. There is a significant difference in performance compared to 95, both in feel and against the clock.

 

[rhubarb4]

Silvers3UK
I guess you don't like jags then. All I can say is don't try race one off the lights in your 'oh so high tech' S3. And how's a 400hp/400lbft 4l 32valve supercharged V8 a lazy low tech engine. Drive one then criticise.

I'll have to check the article again tonight, but from memory the BM and jag had mostly been run on supermarket super, pre optimax.
I'd also consider 0.1-0.2 secs on 3sec increments quite an improvement. That corelates to about a 5% increase in power.

The Type R had been run on 95UL so the difference was more marked.

Run mine on optimax 95% of the time with SUL when I get caught out. There is a significant difference in performance compared to 95, both in feel and against the clock.

Bit of an old post I know but was bored started flicking throught the oldies to this.

So my question is, is there a noticable difference between Unleaded and Super Unleaded or is it neglegible.

 

[1animal1]

i switched to Vpower 2 months ago, get better consumption even though its more £'s, and the car seems to run ever so slightly better..... only gave the stuff a two tank trial as was unconvinced it could have much effect.... never going back to 95

 

[Nilz]

V Power all the way, i started using it a couple of days after i got my S3 and i wouldnt go back to normal unleaded, it costs slightly more, but it has its benefits, as i get about 60 extra miles off it compared to normal unleaded, albeit most of my driving is on the motorway, so its EVEN better...the car also feels more responsive with it.

 

[TFSI]

V power all the way It does seem to give better MPG and it runs sweet and you get a free Ferrari

 

[1animal1]

i have just started collecting my second set lol......

 

[Nilz]

Haha, forgot to mention them, i have completed my 1st set, and am 2 cars away from my 2nd set, hopefully they will be worth millions in a few years....lol

 

[S3Steve]

V Power for me as thats what mine was mapped for.

 

[voorhees]

robbing ******** have put it up two pence a litre since last week ***

 

[themanthatcan]

V-Power for me as well..in fact I've used nothing else since I got the car.

Has anyone else been lucky enough to get 2 Ferraris with one tank fill-up? I did the other day cos the guy behind the counter liked my car :thumbsup:

 

[bl_1969]

My 2 cents...

Got my 2003 A3 TQS In October last year, was using standard unleaded without issue in U.K.

Drove it out to Eastern Europe and the whole place has RON100... Not Netherlands or at least I did not see it. Germany, Czech Republic does tho. So anyways, it's also cheaper here so started using Shell V-Power Racing (RON 100) and the difference is amazing. I get better MPG, like seriously better MPG. The car seems to run a bit quieter, and there is a marked difference in power. Then went back to U.K., got it Revo remapped, drove back out and when on the good stuff it really does go! I would not use anything else.... but I have to when I hit Netherlands and U.K. tho

Winter is cold cold here (Czech) so that has been helping too with the performance. Summer is coming in, had the air con on last week and I reckon I will see a decrease in performance... at least thats what I have read and been told.

I would recommend Shell, read somewhere that 5th gear program done a comparison and they to saw a benefit to it, especially with turbo's.

There you go, thats me said my bit.

 

[Ian W]

V-Power for me as well..in fact I've used nothing else since I got the car.

Has anyone else been lucky enough to get 2 Ferraris with one tank fill-up? I did the other day cos the guy behind the counter liked my car :thumbsup:

Got two last week, put 59 litres in but the lad gave me two as im always in there

 

[scott_johnson]

OPTIMAX... Better consumption than v-power!!! tried and tested ppl!

 

[S3 Rav]

love V-power. increase in performance was there seemed smoother ( although dont know how much is psychological) but def better mpg.
i got 2 ferraris in one fill up!!

 

[Ian W]

OPTIMAX... Better consumption than v-power!!! tried and tested ppl!

V-Power is just the renamed optimax isnt it

 

[bl_1969]

Yeah, I think they just ditched Optimax and renamed it to V-Power, at least that is what I have read on some other forums. I am no aficionado though.

If in doubt about it (whether it's worth it or not), you could always run the car till empty, fill up with the standard stuff and take note of MPG and performance. Use the whole tank... then fill up on the premium V-Power or V-Power racing if thats in the U.K. yet and see whats what. I definitely get better MPG and as mentioned by some other people, seems smoother drive but that could just be the placebo effect I suppose

 

[Nilz]

As mentioned before, i have got a lot better mpg on v power compared to normal unleaded and i always use Shell Petrol.

Also, i also believe that Optimax has been renamed to V Power - i think it was something to do with the Ferrari branding....

One more thing, i just about get one car, as they never have any in stock, might try my luck with 2 next time as i always fill about 55ish litres, so not far off!!!