Results of the SVO Car Care Survey

OWNER:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

1. What type of gasoline do you use most often: Regular (87 octane), Mid-grade (89 octane), or Premium (92-93 octane)?

 

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

PREM

MID

2. Do you have a brand preference?

Answers included Chevron, Texaco, Phillips, Exxon, Shell, Citgo, Mobil, Diamond Shamrock. One owner used the cheapest available (MapCo).

3. What is your SVO’s approximate miles per gallon?

 

20/28

—

20/26

—

17/28

/23

20+

22/30

22

23/

23

20

16

20

4. Do you use standard motor oil or synthetic?

 

SYN

SYN

SYN

SYN

STD

SYN

SYN

SYN

SYN

SYN

SYN

SYN

SYN

SYN

5. What brand and weight do you use?

 

Mobil 1
5W30

Pennzoil
10W30

Mobil 1
5W30

Castrol
5W50

M’craft
10W40

—
10W40

Amzoil
10W40

Texaco
10W30

Mobil 1
5W30

Mobil 1
10W30

Mobil 1
10W40

Mobil 1
5W30

Mobil 1
5W30

Valvoline
20W50

6. Do you change weights with seasons?

 

—

—

15W50

no

no

no

10W30

—

—

no

5W30

no

no

no

7. Have you ever used oil or gas additives in your SVO?

 

104 or STP Octane Boost

MolySlip

no

injector cleaner

no

 injector cleaner

octane boost; injector cleaner

injector cleaner

—

STP injector cleaner

no

104 Octane Boost

Slick 50

no

8. Do you have brand preferences for air and oil filters; if so what are they?

 

Fram
K&N

Fram
K&N

Fram
Fram

Fram
K&N

M’craft
M’craft

M’craft
M’craft

Wix
K&N

M’craft
K&N

M’craft
K&N

Purolator
K&N

—

Fram
K&N

Fram
K&N

Fram
K&N

9. Do you have a brand preference for spark plugs; if so what is it?

 

Splitfire

M’craft

Bosch

Bosch Platinum

M’craft

M’craft

M’craft

Bosch Platinum

—

Splitfire

—

Bosch Platinum

Bosch Platinum

M’craft

10. What brand and size tires are you currently running on your SVO?

 

Goodyear GT2’s
225/50

Goodyear NCTs
factory

Eagle GT +4
235/50
VR16

BFG Comp TAs
225/50 (front)
245/45
(rear)

Bridge-
stone RE71
225/50

Nitto
stock

Firestone SZ50
225/50/16

National
205/50
(front)
Goodyear 235/55
(rear)

NTW
generic

"garbage"

mixed when car was bought

Patriot Sport G1VR
225/50/16

Goodyear GSC
225/50/16 ZR

BFG Comp TAs
225/50/16
VR4

Dunlop D40/M2
225/50/16

11. Have you run other tires that you preferred more (or less)?

 

—

—

—

no
but Michelin XGTs okay

 G’backs road noise and harsh ride

GS-Cs

Dunlop D40/M2 okay but prefer F’stones

—

BFG Comp TAs
225/50/16
ZR16

G’backs
stock

interested in Cooper Cobra ZHP

Goodrich
Pirelli

no

no

12. What brand of coolant do you use? How often do you change it?

 

Any
—

Prestone
2 yrs.

Prestone
—

Prestone
1 yr.

Any
1 yr.

M’craft
1 yr.

Amzoil
2 yrs.

Texaco
—

—
—

Prestone
1 yr.

Sierra
1 yr.

Prestone
1 yr.

Prestone
1 yr.

Prestone
1 yr.

13. All things considered, how would you describe the appearance of your SVO on a scale of 1-10? (On a good day when she’s all cleaned up!)

 

5

8

9

7-8

10

5

8-9 (ext.)
5 (int.)

7

8

9

4

3

7

3

14. Name the exterior and interior car care products you use and comment on why you like them.

 

—

Mother’s wax;
Mequires polish/
cleaner

ArmorAll
Gunk bug/tar
remover

Blue Coral;
mix of ammonia, vinegar, water

Beats-um
-all wax;
Lexol leather care; Son
-of-a-Gun;
Tirewet;
Simple Green

Mequires

Clear Guard

Armour All

Mint Condition car wash, vinyl and leather cleaner

Mequires; Zymol leather care and interior protect-
ant

Mequires wax/clay;
Quik Detailer

Eagle 1

Eagle 1

Tuff Stuff

15. Do you use special products made specifically for wheel and tire care? If so, what are they?

 

—

—

—

Westley's
Bleach
White;
Blue Coral
Wax

TireWet

Mother's
silicon
spray

Simi
chrome
metal
polish

—

Mint
Condition
Trim &
Tire Pro-
tectant

no

Bleach
White;
Son of a
Gun

Eagle 1

Eagle 1

Mother's
Alum.
Polish

16. Do you a) bathe and baby your SVO or b) barely have time to wash it?

 

—

—

baby

baby

baby

baby

barely

barely

baby

baby

baby

—

barely

—

17. Have you ever entered your SVO in a car show? Did you win?

 

—

—

no

no

yes/yes

no

no

yes/no

no

no

no

no

no

yes/yes

18. What kind of auto coverage do you carry on your SVO?

 

liability

—

full

full

appr. value

full

—

liability

full

full

full

full

full

liability

19. How much is your six-month premium?

 

$420

—

$290

$413

$257

$600
inc. 3 teens

$300

$75

$150

$270

—

$376

$376

$80

20. What company insures your SVO?

 

State Farm

—

USAA

Amica

Parish M’sports

AAA

USAA

Zurich

Parish

State Farm

State Farm

Allstate

Allstate

Geico

21. Have you ever filed a claim for damage done to your SVO? Were you satisfied with the service and the result?

 

no

—

no

yes/yes

no

no

yes/yes

no

no

no

no

yes/yes

yes/yes

yes/no

22. Is your car a "daily driver"? What is the current mileage?

 

yes
130k

—
—

no
24k

no
111k

no
79k

no
39k

yes
165k

—
146k

no
105k

no
71k

yes
127k

yes

yes

no
110k

SVO colors and year model distribution included: 3 Black (1C) 86s; 2 Black (1C) 85.5s; 3 Jalapeno Red (2R) 86s; and one each: 84 Silver Metallic (1E); 84 Medium Canyon Red (2A); 85 Dark Sage (4E); 86 Oxford White (9L); 86 Dark Grey (1D). 14 owners responded to our survey. All owners were SVOOA members and were from: TX–10, CAN–1, TN–2, CA–1.