Originally posted by NorCal DC4
Oh...
h: Let me back up a bit.
Up until 1998, Premium fuel in CA was rated at 93 RON, selling at about $1.89/gal [ :wtc: ] As more and more premium fuel went into the tanks of literally thousands of Lexi ,where it does little in term of performance, the refineries decided to "cheap out" and simply lower the amount of high-end stocks used in manufacturing premium fuel, lowering the octane rating to 91. Simultaneously, the average prices have risen dramatically to over $2.10/gallon.
Thus, as octane levels have dropped, so has the amount of compression / boost that can be run by real enthusiasts. Hence my disappointment at the situation.
Is that a better explanation? 
Wow, I can't believe you actually believe that Lexus caused the switch to 91 octane? How do you explain why the rest of the country still have 93 and even 100 octane fuel? What about all the other cars that uses premium fuel? Lexus is only a fraction of all the car that run high octane.
What does the gas prices have anything to do with it. 87 octane was affected too you know? You ever thought 9/11 might have caused the increased in price as well?