Originally Posted by
AlphaMicra
Actually, this is bad information. Not only is high octane fuel more expensive, it's engineered to detonate at higher compression levels. Our Micra engines are not high compression, so high octane fuel doesn't burn correctly. The result is that your mileage and performance will suffer.
Again, another myth, although the synthetic oil probably won't hurt anything, there's really no benefit in our low compression, non-turbocharged, naturally aspirated, simple 1.6L engines, but if you got money to burn, go at it. Just don't be disappointed that your Micra doesn't perform better or last longer than a Micra with proper oil changes with regular oil. To demonstrate what it could really cost, Mr. Lube charges $38 extra for a synthetic oil change. We need to change our oil every 8,000 km. If we did that every time on the mark, then at 200,000 km, we would have changed our oil 25 times at an extra expense of $950. Thinking about 400,000km? It's possible that a Micra on synthetic or regular oil could make that mark, but with synthetic, you're now out $1900.
Between synthetic oil changes and high octane fuel, the benefits of driving this economy car evaporate pretty quickly, which leads me to wonder, what's the point?