Why Cars With Cylinder Deactivation Can Experience More Mechanical Problems

From the August 1991 issue of Car and Driver. At 204 mph on the Nardò test track, you can either worry about the mountain of paperwork it takes to ship a body home from Italy, or you can try to enjoy your­self. We recommend the latter if you are lashing the world’s fastest production car, a Lamborghini Diablo, to its top speed. Intense, stressful serenity describes the Diablo at 204 mph. The world barrels by at nearly 300 feet per second, the big V-12 screams at a high-pitched bellow, and you sit virtually motionless behind the wheel. You gaze at a point maybe a quarter-mile ahead, which slows the moving scenery to a pace that your eye and brain can absorb. The long view also gives you a few critical seconds to avoid any problems—because at 200 mph, a sudden swerve might not be the only thing you execute. Fortunately, we found no emergencies on the vast test track near Brindisi in the heel of Italy. We were the exclusive occu­pants of a circle 7.8 miles in circumfer­ence, an ideal 200-mph environment. The table-smooth pavement is 52 feet wide and the outer lane is banked 12.5 degrees, which means you don’t even have to turn the steering wheel until you exceed 150 mph.

Joel was previously an editor at Autoblog for nearly a decade, covering cars from humble economy hatchbacks to high-end sports cars. He has extensive driving experience with plenty of track time, and even dabbles in motorcycling. Joel has shared his experiences in the car world not just in text, but also on podcasts and web videos.

It's all dashboard lights and touchscreen warnings these days For decades, the vast majority of cars had a very simple tool to help owners properly maintain their car. That tool was a dipstick, and it enabled a quick, objective look at whether or not an engine or transmission had enough fluid inside for safe operation. Today, many cars don't offer that same simple tool to their owners. Instead, they offer digital displays that are often hidden deep in touchscreen menus. That can feel like a real step backward for DIY drivers. There is, however, a reason behind the change.

A lot of British slang doesn't seem to make a lot of sense at face value, but there is always a reason for it. Terms like 'Chelsea tractor' or 'sleeping policeman' are examples that no Brit would blink an eye at, and alongside them sits the 'jam sandwich.' Among the many key differences between American and European police cars, or in this instance, specifically British ones, is that police vehicles from a very specific era in Britain picked up the nickname 'jam sandwiches.' The reason is simple.