Phil Is Back! So What's Next?

After a year MIA, my beloved MX-5 is back in action. So what's next?

28 Sep 2017

After months of being nothing more than a driveway ornament, Phil is back on the road, complete with a new heart. I really couldn’t be happier, and judging by the positive comments on Instagram, enthusiastic waves from you guys on the road and questions on the channel and website, so are you. Which is awesome, because Phil really is the car of the people - attainable, relatable, easy to wrench on and fun to drive. Hell, three of us in the Car Throttle office drive MX-5s, so we really are practising what we preach.

Getting back to what I said just now about ‘questions on the YouTube channel and CT site’, the most FAQs are ‘when will we be seeing Phil on YouTube?’ and ‘when are you doing the V6 conversion?’

The first question I can answer very easily. We’ll be filming Phil next week, ready for release in the next two or so weeks. Exactly what we’ll film, I’m unsure, so if you have any suggestions, or if there’s anything you’d like to know more about, then fill the comments section to breaking point. I’ll read everything!

Regarding the V6 conversion - the Rocketeer kit, which owner Bruce tells me is now producing +40hp and more torque - is in the pipeline, but there’s no time limit on that.

My priority now is not to break Phil again, and there are areas of rust - on the A-pillars, for example - that need to be tracked down, arrested and given the death penalty.

The paintwork is also terrible, and I’d like new engine mount bushings, suspension polybushes and body braces to tighten things up a little (a lot). Phil rides nicely on H&R coilovers, but sounds like a double-decker bus over potholes; I should probably also spend a day tightening body panels and replacing missing nuts and bolts from previous ‘repairs’ over the years.

Anyway, that’s a small update for you guys on what’s going on next. As always, keep the love for Phil coming. He thrives off the attention. And rust…

Until the next update, here’s the latest Phil video, which shows the new engine being installed with the help of my buddy Gareth (everyone needs a Gareth).

Comments

Don’t do a V6, do a V5 conversion ;)

just film Phil’s first drive with it’s new engine and have fun, I’m sure viewers like me will be happy to see you happy.

Phil is awesome, drive safe

You should widebody it! Also, hi Alex!

Hi back. And I don’t think widebody is for Phil

You need track specific wheels ASAP. Those wheels are heavy and reducing unsprung weight will improve everything about the car. Just play it safe and get RPF1s and Pilot Sport Cups or whatever tire. And I believe your car has everything ready to be a good basis for anything, now it’s just a matter of fine tuning every little detail.

Rpf1’s wont look good on a mx 5.

Have you done a brake upgrade yet?

Yep, EBC discs and pads.

First of all wash the car, then check for rust, fix the rust, give it a new coast of paint and install a short shifter. You just got it fixed so start of in small steps.

short shifter has been installed for 2 years ;)

Great to see Phil up and running again! To celebrate you should blast some Phil Collins while driving about in it (although you’ve probably did that already)