Phil Is Back! So What's Next?

After a year MIA, my beloved MX-5 is back in action. So what's next?
Phil Is Back! So What's Next?

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.

Phil Is Back! So What's Next?

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.

Phil Is Back! So What's Next?

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).

Remote video URL

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Comments

Anonymous

claps excitingly

09/29/2017 - 11:42 |
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Danny S

If you really want this as a long-term car, strip everything off the it, acid bath it to dissolve the rust and go from there. Then you’ve got a perfect base for new paint as well.

09/29/2017 - 14:08 |
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Jefferson Tan(日産)

BRING IT TO THE NORDSCHLEIFE!

09/29/2017 - 16:34 |
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Anonymous

Looks like Phil took a vacation. lets see what he can do!

09/29/2017 - 19:04 |
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Anonymous

My Phil video idea:
‘£1500 of fun: Fiesta ST or MX-5’
Get Phil and a Mk5 Fiesta ST on track, show what both cars are good at, talk about running costs, do timed laps (with whatever handicap Phil needs for turbo power) etc etc.

I would watch the hell out of that for sure.
(Yes I know Phil has more than £1500 put into him but only nitpickers would care)

09/29/2017 - 19:11 |
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Matt Thompson

How long until..
‘I broke Phil… Again x2’

09/29/2017 - 21:20 |
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Stubaru

What about sticking ANOTHER turbo to the car and run it on full boost?

Jokes aside, I want to see an aero kit or something on the Miata. Needs more aggressiveness

09/30/2017 - 04:46 |
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Anonymous

Phil needs a new paint job

09/30/2017 - 11:15 |
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Anonymous

Shame you didn’t bring Phil to the national rally last Sunday. Would have been funny to have had him judged under “lightly modified”!

09/30/2017 - 11:27 |
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TheGuyThatTailgatedULastNight

Poor miata pls just not take him around the ring again:d

10/01/2017 - 10:05 |
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