As someone who has worked for 6 years at NAPA as well as independent auto parts stores and have had long, candid conversations with petrochemists and sales representatives from Honeywell (FRAM/Defense/Canadian Tire/Pennzoil), Dana (WIX/NAPA/Kralinator/Delco) and ArvinMeritor (Arvin/Purolator/G.A.P.,), I can tell you that there is NO difference whatsoever as far as the internals of OEM-replacement filters. With regard to specialty filters like Fram Racing, Purolator PureOne, etc., there is a difference. Think of this from the company's perspective. Oil filters must meet or exceed OEM requirements of the vehicles for which the manufacturer recommends. In the case of WIX/NAPA Gold, the silicone-rubber anti-drainback valve is superior to the nitrile rubber valve on the Kralinator/NAPA ProSelect/Silver, but the OEM requirement is only for a nitrile rubber valve. In everyday use with oil changes done at intervals of less than 10,000km, both valves function perfectly. The silicone-rubber valve is made orange in colour to look pretty and make you think you're actually paying for something when in reality, you're paying for overkill. In the case of FRAM, the Defense filters are listed as a second line at a lower cost but have the exact same warranty as the RAM filters. The only difference between the two is paint, marketing and the "easy-grip" is not found on the Defense, Pennzoil or Canadian Tire filters. Think about this from a corporate perspective. If you were making two lines of filters, would you go through the time and expense of stopping the line and retooling just to make an inferior product or would you just do one production run, paint and market them differently and save the time and money? I think we know the answer. It wouldn't make good business sense to stop production because it would cost the company more money to make a product with a narrower profit margin. This is why you NEVER see comparisons of Fram vs. Defense or NAPA Gold vs. NAPA Silver/ProSelect/NASCAR. If they ever did a test like that and published it, nobody would ever buy first-line filters again. The other side of this racket is the oil itself. There are mechanics who swear by Pennzoil, mechanics who swear by Valvoline, mechanics who swear by Quaker State, Castrol, Havoline, Mobil, etc. Either the vast majority of mechanics are automotive morons or they just respond differently to the different marketing strategies of the oil companies. Consumer Reports once did a test of 75 different brands of oil, this test included synthetics, semi-synthetics, virgin conventional and re-refined conventional. They put these oils into the toughest street-legal test imaginable for oils, New York City Taxicabs. The cabs were driven day and night in stop and go traffic with the oil changed every 10,000km (6,000 miles) instead of the recommended 5,000km/3,000 miles in order to get worst-case scenario results. After 100,000km/60,000 miles the taxis were pulled off of the road and the engines were taken apart to test the wear levels on vital engine parts. Their result that the range of wear levels across all 75 brands and types from what could be called the best to what could be called the worst was thinner than a thin, glossy magazine page. They also concluded that no oil brand or type consistently produced more or less sludge or varnish than any other. Their final recommendation: Change your oil at regular intervals and use whatever grade of conventional oil your manufacturer recommends. Regardless of their claims, no oil (conventional or synthetic) will make your engine live longer than the cheapest oil on the shelf. My 1993 Honda Civic that went 300,000km before I burnt a valve which was more a result of towing a U-Haul twice the car's size for 8 hours through mountainous terrain. Even then, the engine still lived for 6 months. I always used the cheapest oil and filters I could get my hands on simply because I had the inside information. Next time you go to a shop, look at the oil and filters in their bays. I guarantee you that you won't see any specialty filters and you'll see the least expensive oils that meet OEM requirements. This is the reason that all those Castrol Syntec and Mobil 1 commercials never compare themselves against other synthetics, only conventionals. It's because their "torture tests" that break conventionals down and not synthetics are more brutal than what oil goes through in a Formula 1 Grand Prix Race! I'm pretty sure that we're all safe in the knowledge that not only will we NEVER drive at 200mph, our engines are not even CAPABLE of imposing that level of stress on oil without destroying themselves in the process! LOL Here is a link that might be useful: Synopsis of Consumer Reports Oil Test

"Safety" is far too overplayed in todays world.. In the comfortable and efficient operation of a motor vehicle ,there are other important aspects to consider. One is ergonomics, the pedals must be positioned in relationship to the feet allowing quick and easy pivoting from the throttle control to the brake. If a man must lift his whole leg in order to control his vehicle, then it becomes tiresome and too much time(measured in micro-seconds) is spend in the braking process. But of course the two pedals must not be too close together. Today's cars with their adjustable pedals, seats and steering do allow for more comfort and greater ease of operation... Stop and go, go and stop is too repetitious and tiring, so I switch feet sometimes, poising the left foot over the brake control- but of course never riding the brake..

Faron - since your DW and DD don't want to stay at 4S, take a look at The Hudson Hotel. I think it may definitely peak the interest of your DW & DD. It is a very happening, chic place. A place where you are apt to run into a celebrity or two during your stay. The Hudson has been used for more than a few movies as well as an episode of the S&ATC HBO series and Gossip Girl. While they do not advertise, the hotel is always full. Only in the middle of the hot summer when everyone on the island of Manhattan has escaped to the Hamptons will you find an available room at the last minute. I think it may be just the place to celebrate a 21st birthday in style. Anyhoo, I am attaching a link. Check it out with your DW. It is a bit pricey, but I try to get there at least once a year. I have nothing to do with The Hudson, make no money by endorsing them, just an obsession to go back as often as I can do so. In fact, after looking at their website, I do think my own DD's 21st might be celebrated there. I think the entire vibe of The Hudson is perfect for celebrating a 21st birthday. The Hudson is situated directly across the street from the Time Warner Center, which houses the Shops at Columbus Circle, and a short walk from Central Park. You could walk down W. 58th and not even know that it is a hotel unless you've had the good fortune of a stay. However, behind the long neon light and arborvitae standing in urns, lies a gem! Can't wait to hear about your final plans for the celebration of your DD's 21st birthday. Here is a link that might be useful: The Hudson Hotel

I went to the San Jose Macy's yesterday (The Wed. after Thanksgiving). Lots of pre-Christmas sales. You might expect the store to be fully staffed, at least with some extra seasonal help. I found a jacket I wanted to try on, but all the doors in the closest fitting room were locked and NO employee anywhere in that section of the store. They were all, apparently manning the cash registers elsewhere. I found a mirror on a support post and had to put down my packages and try it on right there. Interestingly, there was a woman on the other side of the post doing the same thing. We had nowhere to put our existing coats, so we both laid ours on top of the rack of clothes nearby. Tacky. Now, that is something I might expect to do in a Target or Walmart, but not in what is supposed to be an upscale store. Where is the sales staff?? They have people there to take your money, but no one to help you find a certain size or color or anything like that. They used to remove the wrinkles on the clothes before they hung them on the racks, but now you can see all the fold marks from where they pulled them out of a box and just hung them up. It makes even some of the nicer items look cheap. I bought a new jacket, and had to press it at home before I could wear it. Then, after standing in line to make my purchase in yet another department, the clerk didn't want to honor my 15%coupon because when I tore it out of the newspaper ad, the last line of the bar code was missing. She fumbled through a drawer of newspaper coupons and came up empty. Luck for me, I had the rest of the two page ad stuffed in my purse, so we were able to scotch tape the torn part to the original. I guess I was the first person to use the coupon that appeared everywhere in their sale ads... I could've used my Macy's card, but then they like to send you a bill in the mail that is due in less than a week and subject to a BIG service charge if it is late. I've had a Macy's card sine 1976 and I only use it if there is no other way to get the extra discount. I have watched the quality of their stores and customer service decline over the years, especially the last 5 years or so. -Babka