What car should I buy?

[lumberjim]

What are you saying? That they lie about their prices, or that the gas at other stations burns slower?

If gas is listed at 87 octane, isn't that regulated? Are the pumps not inspected by the state and certified? I see those little stickers on there that have annual updates. How do you conclude that the gas purchased at 3.19 actually cost me 3.42?

[tw]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

What are you saying? That they lie about their prices, or that the gas at other stations burns slower?

Wawa gasoline gets no additives necessary for serious mileage increases. (Ethanol and octane is irrelevant here.) They are selling on dollar per gallon; not dollar per mile. Nobody was lying. An informed consumer cares less about dollar per gallon. But most feel all gasoline in same rather than learn facts. An example of what Kahneman says.

All cars are equipped with devices (ie trip odometer) to learn this. Most everyone cannot be bothered because gasoline is so cheap.

Studies even decades ago noted these difference. One from BMW only listed five approved gasolines: Exxon, Shell, Chevron, Texaco, and Amoco. It only reviewed national brands. Sunoco (a regional brand) may also have these additives. As previously noted, I am careful about accuracy before posting. I don't use Sunoco; so cannot confirm what is only a suspicion.

This summer's MPG numbers were 36 to 39 using only Shell and Exxon. On a Honda only rated 28 MPG highway.

When someone borrowed my car and filled with WaWa, mileage dropped to high 20s. It took four tanks of the 'good stuff' to restore my MPG.

Wawa did not lie. They count on consumers using 'system one' thinking. Even using an odometer is too much work. Presented is, to you, a hypothesis. For you to *know* means experimental evidence (numbers) is required. As I also needed before I could agree with those Exxon executives and BMW study.

Best gas price in that area (Route 70?) were Exxon near Ponzio's and a Shell on Admiral Wilson Blvd. My experience suggests many consecutive tanks are necessary to restore mileage to what is should be.