Did anyone else see the fifth gear petrol comparison on yesterdays show?

They tested Optimax and Ultimate against standard supermarket fuel on a new Clio, Golf GTI and Subaru Impreza and compared the bhp and torque figures (resetting the ECU each time to stop it getting used to a particular type of fuel).

If I remember correctly it made no difference to the clio whatsoever, about 5bhp extra and 10lb/ft torque to the Golf and the Optimax gave about 15bhp and over 20lb/ft torque more to the scoobie.

Their conclusion was Optimax was better than Ultimate for performance gains and that it only really made a difference to hard pushed engines already geared for performance rather than economy.

My question is what do you guys think it would do the the ST?

I would assume it has a similar effect on the ST engine as it does on the GTi. Maybe 3-5 bhp increase, but no more than that. I'm not pushing for performance on my day to day driving (as late for work as I usually am), so i fill up with the normal (read 'affordable') stuff. Even for Santa Pod and the rolling road, i have used standard grade 95RON. I have used BP Ultimate in the past, and only felt a slightly better urge up the rev range. I didn't experience anything more from Optimax over the BP Ultimate

All I used to run my Focus on was Optimax from new, and it seemed to make a big difference over a long period of time, the car was just faster, i dont know if its just my driving style but i was damn quick... recently I have not been able to afford to fill up on Optimax anymore so have reverted back to the 95 and since my Focus has been for its Major service, it has also had an ECU change and pumps out 80-100miles per tank more!!! Amazing hey!!!

It used to do between 280 and 320... now it does 380 to 410!!!

I don't think Ultimate or Optimax would make much difference in the ST.

I know from when I had my Scoob that most Impreza Turbo drivers use Optimax and rated that higher than Ultimate. A ot of that was due to the higher octane rating. The Jap imports are used to running on 100ron fuel so the nearest you can get here is Optimax at 98 and then use an octane booster. However, the UK Impreza owners all swore by Optimax.

as discussed the fuel will only make a difference if the cars mapped on the high octane fuel and when compared to 95 ron crap.

i am getting a custom map soon via a unichip and am gonna get it set up using sainsburys super unleaded 97ron fuel. that way should i fall upon hardship... i can revert to 95 ron and hopefully not get any major damage.

Just watched the piece on Fuel again, there was no difference what so ever between the 3 Fuels used on the Golf GTI, 172 BHP on them all, i suspect the GTI has a more refined Engine than the ST & therefore the only effect these more expensive Fuels will have on the ST is a bigger Fuel Bill!!.

i agree go to tesco's or sainsburys and you get money off if you have a club card ect.... i got £15 this month and i only use it for fuel mainly

yeah ino and when you first buy ur ST u should get £ 75 on ur nectar card also can be used at the sainsburys petrol station

89.9 for unleaded, yay the prices are coming down at long last, more racing around coming up

lol hummmmmmmmm, bet i'll do a mile quicker than u

Yep the prices are indeed finally falling back down. The other day when I filled up it was 88.9p.

It doesn't seem long since it was verging on £1.

Filled up in Watford yesterday 87.9p