Originally posted by Cris'pus:

I'm not sure about those assumptions but I know that their petrol octane level is about 10 point higher in all grades. So all cars (even 1.0L Lupos feel like little rockets) and perhaps lead to less engine durability and less higher mileage vehicles on the road (they "esplode" from higher compression)



I'm not sure about that. Many vehicles that my friends used to drive back in blighty were 160,000 with no problems. Check the clock on a taxi there too, unless you're in a black cab, it's bound to be around 250,000 - 400,000!!
I personally drove two cars which were over 200,000 when I got them, running nicely. My brother-in-law, in fact both of them, always had really high mileage cars, over 200,000 with ease. The highest mileage I've personally attested to was in a either a Vauxhall Cavalier or a Mazda 626 (can't remember which it was now), but I distinctly remember it being about 460,000 ish!

Personally I have never known anyone in the UK to have an engine explode. Sometimes the head gasket needs to get replaced, but otherwise the engines have always run. This is just from personal experience though.

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