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Mars Red Ph1 Number 416 Moves Home
- Thread starter MarkK
- Start date
Hmm, Veesixitis eh? I do recognise the symptoms I'm afraid.
After a run of about 150 miles yesterday in the Mars car I'm starting to get to know it, and it really is a superb car to drive. I think that I mentioned above that it has an on / off throttle and a fairly heavy and fierce clutch, and feels sharper and more focused than the Ph2 because of that. No signs of any rear-end wayward behaviour either, and I pushed it hard on a few corners making the tyres complain. I wouldn't try that in the wet though, at least not on the road.
What is becoming very clear is just how different the car looks to the Ph2, and in reading about the cars, it seems that they have very few components in common.
The bodyshell is different, and the way the panels are attached to the shell is different. The side pods, front wings, spoiler, bumper and aerial are all different. The front is obviously very different, as is the dash, instruments and interior. The wheels are different, and there are substantial differences in the engine, exhaust system, gearbox and rear suspension and subframes.
Most of this is very obvious, but add it all up and you really have two almost entirely different cars. I'm starting to think that it really is an understatement to consider them as a Ph1 and Ph 2 of the same car, as one is a completely re-engineered version of the other.
I guess that the cosmetic upgrades to the front, the lights and the interior were to bring the car in line with the current standard Clio. But I somehow doubt that the performance and handling re-engineering were to overcome any shortcomings of the 'Ph1' V6, but more to make the car easier and smoother to drive, with a little more power of course.
So Andy, if you are thinking about getting Vee number 2, I would urge you to get the other Phase car to the one you have. That way you'll have two different cars that are somehow strangely familiar! I certainly couldn't choose between the two cars now, but I really am fascinated with the differences.
Mark
After a run of about 150 miles yesterday in the Mars car I'm starting to get to know it, and it really is a superb car to drive. I think that I mentioned above that it has an on / off throttle and a fairly heavy and fierce clutch, and feels sharper and more focused than the Ph2 because of that. No signs of any rear-end wayward behaviour either, and I pushed it hard on a few corners making the tyres complain. I wouldn't try that in the wet though, at least not on the road.
What is becoming very clear is just how different the car looks to the Ph2, and in reading about the cars, it seems that they have very few components in common.
The bodyshell is different, and the way the panels are attached to the shell is different. The side pods, front wings, spoiler, bumper and aerial are all different. The front is obviously very different, as is the dash, instruments and interior. The wheels are different, and there are substantial differences in the engine, exhaust system, gearbox and rear suspension and subframes.
Most of this is very obvious, but add it all up and you really have two almost entirely different cars. I'm starting to think that it really is an understatement to consider them as a Ph1 and Ph 2 of the same car, as one is a completely re-engineered version of the other.
I guess that the cosmetic upgrades to the front, the lights and the interior were to bring the car in line with the current standard Clio. But I somehow doubt that the performance and handling re-engineering were to overcome any shortcomings of the 'Ph1' V6, but more to make the car easier and smoother to drive, with a little more power of course.
So Andy, if you are thinking about getting Vee number 2, I would urge you to get the other Phase car to the one you have. That way you'll have two different cars that are somehow strangely familiar! I certainly couldn't choose between the two cars now, but I really am fascinated with the differences.
Mark
You've hit the nail on the head there Mark.
More's the pity that parts aren't interchangeable because the replacement components might have been cheaper and easier to source.
It does give a compelling reason to have 'one of each'.
Maybe we need a support group for Veesixism?
''I've been a Veesixic for 8 years and been battling with Veesixism ever since. It's cost me my marriage, my house...''
More's the pity that parts aren't interchangeable because the replacement components might have been cheaper and easier to source.
It does give a compelling reason to have 'one of each'.
Maybe we need a support group for Veesixism?
''I've been a Veesixic for 8 years and been battling with Veesixism ever since. It's cost me my marriage, my house...''
I think that the hard graft to get the underbonnet area so clean and shiny was done many years ago by the 2nd owner, who apparently spent many hours doing this sort of stuff. No magic product I'll bet...just a lot of work to flat the paint and some polish to bling it up!
The air-con pipes have been polished as well which lifts it all.
Mark
The air-con pipes have been polished as well which lifts it all.
Mark
Kev, the 2nd owner, has been in touch, and kindly forwarded some documentation that he recently found for the car. He confirmed that whilst the car had regular oil and filters changed, it had never had it's cam belt changed whilst he had the car...from 2004 to 2014. So when Fred at BTM Performance changed it for Ivan in 2014, it was the first fitted since new, and that's 20,000 miles and 12 years. Apparently it still looked like new as well!
Perhaps we needn't be quite so worried about changing the belt at 5 years on the dot?!
Colin, I asked Kev about what products he used and how he achieved the amazing finish on the car. He confirmed that he polished and detailed the car 'hundreds of times' in the 10 years he had it, and he used Meguires Gold Class wax, Meguires Trim Detail and Solvosol metal polish for air con pipes .... and many, many hours of hard work. His work still shows in the detail, with the tucked away bits like the 'A' post and under the bonnet still looking stunning, as well as the rest of the bodywork of course.
Kev also mentioned that the side pods were painted silver by the first owner, before the Ph2 car came out. TWR must have seen it then!
And Ivan says that Fred modified the gear lever selection by using a standard Traffic Van selector cable connector, modified to match the Ph2 dimensions. It certainly works as the gear selection feels exactly the same as the Ph2 car. Is this a standard, known mod for the Ph1? If not, then maybe it should be added to the list of things to do to a Ph1 car when the cam belt needs doing and the engine is out.
Mark
Perhaps we needn't be quite so worried about changing the belt at 5 years on the dot?!
Colin, I asked Kev about what products he used and how he achieved the amazing finish on the car. He confirmed that he polished and detailed the car 'hundreds of times' in the 10 years he had it, and he used Meguires Gold Class wax, Meguires Trim Detail and Solvosol metal polish for air con pipes .... and many, many hours of hard work. His work still shows in the detail, with the tucked away bits like the 'A' post and under the bonnet still looking stunning, as well as the rest of the bodywork of course.
Kev also mentioned that the side pods were painted silver by the first owner, before the Ph2 car came out. TWR must have seen it then!
And Ivan says that Fred modified the gear lever selection by using a standard Traffic Van selector cable connector, modified to match the Ph2 dimensions. It certainly works as the gear selection feels exactly the same as the Ph2 car. Is this a standard, known mod for the Ph1? If not, then maybe it should be added to the list of things to do to a Ph1 car when the cam belt needs doing and the engine is out.
Mark
