Is Premium Gasoline Worth the Extra Cost for Your Car

I have always wondered if I am just throwing money away by putting premium gasoline in my car. The manual says premium is recommended but not required. With gas prices being what they are, I am tempted to just switch to regular 87 octane.

Does premium actually improve performance or fuel economy enough to justify the price difference? I have heard that modern engines can adjust to lower octane fuel, but I do not want to cause any long-term damage or lose out on power when I am merging onto the highway.

I have seen some tests that say for most cars, there is almost no benefit to using premium unless the engine is specifically tuned for it. But my car has a turbocharger and I have heard those really benefit from the higher octane.

What is your experience with this? Do you notice a difference in how your car runs or your miles per gallon when you use the good stuff? I would love to hear from some car enthusiasts.