So Long, Sajeev: The Piston Makes Its Last Slap

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

After a decade-plus of being TTAC’s foremost expert in Panther-bodied Fords, as well as the go-to Texan for any of your questions about OBD II or old-car designs, Sajeev is moving on.

He’s found a full-time home with another outlet, and we wish him well. He’ll be missed.

I’ve always found Piston Slap and Vellum Venom to be interesting reads, and not just because of Sanjeev’s Sajeev’s writing style. His in-depth technical knowledge has helped millions hundreds of TTAC readers with their problems. Problems ranging from how to handle an oil leak in an aging Mercury Sable to rev-hanging issues with an MR2 to how the rise of EVs will affect the repair market.

Our traffic numbers and the number of comments on each post suggest you have, too.

Technical advice columns are sometimes written in fairly dry tones, so Sajeev’s wit has been appreciated, along with his wisdom.

Alas, nothing lasts forever, and with Sajeev moving into another role elsewhere, we bid a fond farewell to both him and the Piston Slap column.

Will Piston Slap and/or Vellum Venom return with a new author, perhaps under another name? Maybe. All I can say at this point is stay tuned. We cannot, after all, comment on future product.

Fourteen years is a hell of a run. If you’ve ever had a vexing problem solved by Sajeev’s advice, or if you simply liked to spend part of your Fridays reading about Panther Love, raise a toast and wish him well in his next venture.

[Images: Sajeev Mehta]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Cprescott Cprescott on Mar 02, 2020

    I found the questions asked to be worthless and asked by people with no common sense. I won't miss this feature at all. I'm sure Sajeev has better things to do than to try to save idiots from themselves.

  • Blackcloud_9 Blackcloud_9 on Mar 02, 2020

    So long, Sajeev and good luck in your new role. I appreciate the time you answered my question. You did it quickly and gave me good advice.

  • Legacygt It was more than 20 years ago that the Bangle designed BMW sedans started looking a little bit awkward. But the lineup today is chock full of downright ugly vehicles. This is one of them.
  • Jeff It does state in this article that Europeans as well as Americans have cooled on EVs. I can see push back from consumers on the 2035 deadline for EVs in Europe and in states like California. I have no problem with manufacturers offering EVs but many for at least now don't want EVs. Maybe GM instead of planning to do away with the Malibu to make more EVs should have offered the Malibu as only a hybrid like Toyota is offering the Camry for 2025. It would cost GM a lot less to offer a hybrid Malibu and it would outsell any EV that plant would produce. I even think GM would increase sales of the Malibu as a hybrid only and more competitive pricing.
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X I fell asleep looking at that image.
  • Verbal Rented a Malibu a while back. It was fine, if a bit gutless.I get that Detroit wants to go all-in on high profit margin SUVs and blinged-out MAGA trucks. Everyone has known for decades that they can't compete on price in the affordable sedan space. So now all of Detroit's sedans are gone except for a couple of Cadillac models.But you'd think that just one of the domestic brands could produce a fun, competitive and affordable sedan. Just one? Please? Anyone? Bueller?
  • 3-On-The-Tree I wouldn’t even use Ford as a hearse for fear of being late to my party.
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