Bioethanol fuel mix - high octane

[jphealy]

I'm picking up my first GTI ('06 mkV) in the next week, and I'm wondering what fuel I'm going to feed it.  For the last number of years, high octane petrol (ie above 95RON) has not been available in Ireland, as it carries a heavy levy from the government.  However, since 2007, Maxol (a petrol station chain in Ireland) have introduced what they call E5 as their main "unleaded" fuel.  E5 is a mix of 95% petrol and 5% bioethanol.  It is suitable for all petrol engines.  Anyway, the octane for this fuel is apparently 99.2RON.  They get around the levy because of the green aspect.

So my question is, is this E5 my best bet if all else that's available is just regular 95RON?  Or should I be steering clear of the bioethanol mix for some reason?  Surely there is something similar available in the UK.  Does anybody have any experience of this?

[bobotheclown]

my first port of call would be local VW garage and ask to speak to a senior technician for advice.

[jphealy]

Good idea.  Out of interest - what does the owner's manual say about fuel?  Does it advise a certain octane rating?  Can't look this up myself yet as I don't have my car just yet!

[topher]

I think the manual makes mention of bio ethanol fuels.. can't check 'till I get home though.

[LaserBlue]

erm mine says 98RON+, same as on my filler cap.

so erm you dont have a shell garage

v-power all the way 

[bacillus]

I see no problem using it as Tesco 99 RON petrol has ethanol and most folk who use it either like it or lothe it.

[jphealy]

We have Shell, Tesco, Esso and all those, but they don't import higher than 95RON into Ireland, as far as I'm aware.

[clive]

Probably not practical but you can get 97RON in north of the border.  I'm sure I have bought super unleaded in the south (Donegal?) but it was expensive.  I'd speak to VW Ireland to see what they have to say, from memory the manual states that 98RON is recommended but 95RON is o.k. given that it will result in reduced performance & fuel economy.

[synnea]

Yeah, I have been cheesed off on many occasions that the highest we can get in N Ireland is RON 97. I wanna try VPOWER and also that tesco 99. Maybe some day they will bring it over....

[AlanD]

VW recommend you user "super" 98+ fuel (its also in the owners best interest to use it as the FSI engine works much better on the higher octane fuel). Bobo has said the most sensible thing, I don't think anyone here is really qualified to answer that question. Speak to a senior chap from VW and see what his views are.