array problem..

Hello.

Code:
$car_id = "14";
$car = "ford";
$engine = "v4";

$arr = array($car_id => 14, $car, $engine);

this gives me this array:
car_id = 14,
0 = ford
1 = v4

Can I force my array to give the element the same key name as the php variable it was assigned to? I would like it to look like this:

car_id = 14,
car = ford,
engine = v4;

But I don't want to type car => $car . It is because I wan't to make the array text shorter for my php code...

this gives me this array:
car_id = 14,
0 = ford
1 = v4

You are mistaken. It gives you:
Array ( [14] => 14 [15] => ford [16] => v4 )

I really dont see a problem with:

$car_id = "14";
$car = "ford";
$engine = "v4";

$arr = array('car_id' => $car_id, 'car' => $car, 'engine' => $engine);

Can I force my array to give the element the same key name as the php variable it was assigned to?

No, unless you are using variable variables to begin with, you cannot do that.

It is because I wan't to make the array text shorter for my php code

Then why do you have the $car_id, $car and $engine variables to begin with?

hmmm.. I will try to do this another way. Thank you for your help.