Volkswagen of America, Inc. helped celebrate Barbie® doll’s 50th Birthday by customizing the ultimate Barbie® dream car. From inside and out, Barbie® doll’s New Beetle convertible has been meticulously detailed. The interior is custom white leather, the floor mats are hand stitched, the lined door pockets and armrests are pink quilted leather , even the dipstick is painted to resemble her favorite lipstick. No Barbie® doll dream car is complete without plenty of rhinestone accents and a motorized vanity in the trunk. Even the paint was labored over to create the perfect pink color for Barbie® doll’s car.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Mattel and create a customized New Beetle convertible to celebrate Barbie’s landmark birthday,” said Laura Soave, General Manager of Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Like the New Beetle, Barbie has made a remarkable impact on pop culture history, and still remains a cultural icon today”.

These celebrities look like they love this special edition New Beetle, and it’s hard not to appreciate all the special details. It truly is a remarkable car, and perfect for any woman who wants to feel like a modern day Barbie®.

What is the purpose of oil in my engine?

Well, we pretty much know that it’s a lubricant for the moving parts. Oil protects your engine from wear and tear by reducing friction and preventing corrosion of the engine parts and seals. Without oil, your car engine would quickly over-heat resulting in irreparable damages. Oil doesn’t wear out, it just gets dirty. Some motor oils are better than others. Let’s explore some of them.

Understanding Motor Oil.

There are two types of motor oil: synthetics and traditional petroleum-based. Most motor-oil producing companies manufacture, refine, and market both types. Here are some of the most popular brands.

The Synthetic Family:

Valvoline Synpower, Pennzoil Synthetic, Quaker State, Mobil 1 SuperSyn, and AMSoil.

The Traditional Family:

Castrol GTX, Mobil Drive Clean, Pennzoil Purebase, Quaker State Peak Performance.

Both families are manufactured from crude oil that’s pumped out of the ground. The most recent research indicates there are pros and cons in both families; but before we start comparing, let’s talk the talk.

Motor oil is produced and tested on a number of different factors which terms are explained below.

SAE Ratings.

The SAE grade of a motor oil means that it is rated on viscosity. Viscosity is the resistance of a liquid to flow at certain temperature. The thicker the oil; the higher its viscosity. For example, motor oil that is graded 0w-30 is thinner than oil graded 20w-30, which is thicker. Make sense? (Just nod). Viscosity of oil to stay flowing in extreme hot and cold temperatures is a major characteristic. Why is this important? For those of you who live above the Mason-Dixon Line, you know what a cold winter means when it comes to starting your car! This leads us to the next testing factor: The Cold-Crank test, the ability of the oil to stay fluid enough in below-freezing temperatures so you can get to work. (Yuk!)

Which type of motor oil is best?

The research indicates that both can be used in your vehicle. The contention is that the synthetics are better for the newer cars, and the traditional petroleum-based oils are better for older model cars. Let’s take a look at some of the pro and cons of each family:

• Synthetics go through highly advanced refining processes that give them higher purity. qualities, thereby delivering superior protection for today’s higher performance engines.
• Synthetics excel in extremely cold weather conditions.
• They are more expensive than traditional motor oil.
• There are no proven advantages or disadvantages to using them.
• They allow for longer periods of time between oil changes, nearly up to every 6,000 miles.
• They can be used in both gasoline and diesel engines.

On the other hand,

• Traditional petroleum-based motor oil still gets the job done.
• They are economically priced and keep you on the move for a lesser price.
• They are not easily disposed of and are not biodegradable; but they are recyclable.
• Your oil changes will only last between 3,000 and 4,000 miles.

All in all, it boils down to six of one and half-dozen of another. But, it may make a big difference if you live in Alaska or the Arizona desert. So, the next time you have to go see the lube guys, ask what they are pouring into your crankcase when you’re not looking.

HOW DOES A HYBRID WORK?

Some people are a bit uncertain about buying a Hybrid because they really don’t have all the facts about how a hybrid works, which can promote some doubt regarding the future of automobile transportation. The hybrid concept is not a new one. Toyota has been using and perfecting hybrids since 1998. Actually, hybrids are really quite easy to explain. The beauty of a hybrid over gasoline engine cars and all-electric cars is that they have two motors that power the car: one electric motor and one gasoline motor. The electric motor is charged by alternators that are attached to the wheels and charge the batteries, providing continuous power to wherever and whenever it is needed. Hopefully, this information will dispel any fears of “running out of juice” and leaving you stranded.

So where does the gasoline engine come in? It pretty much doesn’t. That’s the beauty of the hybrid. The on-board computer controls the car, and all you have to do is steer past the gas stations. Now, how cool is that?

HOW SAFE ARE HYBRIDS?

Of the top-ten selling Hybrids, they all achieved safety ratings at the high-end, ranging from 8.6 to 9.8. Research indicates that Hybrids are safer over-all because of the additional weight and protection of the battery packs.

IS A HYBRID COMFORTABLE AND HAVE ROOM FOR MY STUFF AND THE KIDS?

Hybrids provide a very comfortable and quiet ride. Sometimes, you can’t even tell they are running! Hybrids come in compact and mid-size models. Lexus even makes a SUV body style Hybrid. The Honda Sport CR-Z was rated the best car for women and the Toyota Prius got the blue ribbon for best family Hybrid. The Hybrids with the largest passenger interior per cubic feet are the Hyundai Sonata and the Infinity M. The Honda CR-Z comes in as the smallest.

HOW MUCH DO HYBRIDS COST AND IS MAINTENANCE EXPENSIVE?

Prices for a Hybrid can range anywhere from $112,000 for the Lexus LS 600h L to around $18,000 for the Honda Insight. Regular maintenance on a Hybrid is about the same as that of gasoline-powered cars. In fact, the oil doesn’t need to be changed as often. Also, the “big” battery pack is good for about 8 years. If you choose to replace it, the replacement cost can run anywhere from $5,000 or higher. The flip-side of this coin? Look how much you saved in gas over those 8 years as a Hybrid owner! Be sure to Ask Pedro if you have any additional technical or maintenance questions.

1. A hybrid is economical and easy on your pocketbook. A hybrid can get up to 51 miles per gallon. No gasoline engine can do that! Period.

2. A hybrid is Eco-Friendly. A hybrid will ensure that your children and their children will inherit a cleaner environment; and we all want that for the future of our planet!

3. Convenience options. A hybrid car offers just as many convenience options as a non-hybrid car, and possibly even more. The onboard computer offers exceptional performance when it comes to the dashboard and your comfort zone. In fact, the convenience options are powered by their own battery separate from the main battery pack that powers the car engine.

4. They are quiet! A hybrid is quieter than any gasoline engine-driven automobile. In fact, it is so quiet that at first, it takes a bit of getting used to because there is no “vroom, vroom” sound to be heard that we are accustomed to when riding in a gasoline-powered car. It only takes a push of a button to start the car. Once you get used to the quietness of the ride, a hybrid can deliver!

5. Safety. Hybrids actually have to be built safer than their gasoline counterparts for one simple reason: the protection of the batteries.

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