Originally Posted by
DenverBrian
New cars are so thoroughly computer controlled that you could probably use 84 or 83 octane gas and STILL not get knocking.
To be fair, you could get suboptimal (peak) performance and even reduced mileage as a result but I'd imagine the increase fuel consumption may be more than offset by reduced fuel cost. I just wish all cars were like the Jaguar Mark I XJs which had dual fuel tanks that one could select with a switch. High octane gas for climbs and low octane for slow cruising on the highway and other low HP/load driving!