"LRod" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:25:39 -0500, "Leon"
wrote:

Many years ago premium was commonly 50% more expensive
than regular. Today it is about 8% more expensive.

I don't know what "many years ago" is to you, but it takes me back to
my yout of the '50s, when regular was commonly 22¢ a gallon or
thereabouts. We were never premium users, so I can't say with
certainty that it wasn't 11¢ higher but I'd be very surprised if it
was. When I was doing my commuting during the '60s regular was still
relatively low, ranging from 28¢ to 34¢, but I am fairly certain
premium (or any gas) was not over 40¢ then.

When I was 19 and still living in Corpus Christi I vividly recall paying
19.9 for regular and premium was 29.9 at the local Shamrock station. I was
able to enjoy that one time. Normmally the gas in the early 70's was 22-25
for reg and 32-35 for premium.



I remember well the gas lines of the '70s and when the price started
creeping toward $1, but premium was never $1.50 until much later. Even
closer to now as we've gone past $1.50, $2.00, $2.50, and $3.00 I
don't ever remember seeing premium at half again as much.


See above, I never could understand how some could afford to pay 35 cents
for premium. Keep in mind that Corpus Christi had and has lots of
refineries.



It would be my assessment that the 8% you quoted to 10 or even 15% is
actually closer to the historical record. I can't imagine it was ever
"commonly 50% more expensive." That doesn't jibe with my memory.

Sorry you can't temember but it was.... I was in the automotive business
even then going to school and working part time, I kept a close eye on all
those prices. Pennziol 30W was 32 cents per quart, Havoline was 28 cents
per quart. Uniflow 10-40 was 34 cents.



Of course even when Sunoco had pumps with about six or more selections
of grade (remember 260?) I'll bet there wasn't as much as a 50%
premium from lowest to highest grade.