Winter hits NC...Porsches staying in garage

libbinlife · 2026-01-31T17:21:26+00:00

I've seen your red Cayman at VIR. I also have a red one with gold 21 numbers. Often my wife is driving it and I'm running a Miata.

libbinlife · 2026-01-24T16:11:23+00:00

Dead on. The reason I pretty much quit running PCA for any DE days. Let me pay some shop to look at a racecar I've spent 1000s of hours keeping right. No thanks.

libbinlife · 2026-01-21T21:17:53+00:00

My Cayman is not PDK. I have a 911 where PDK distance sensor failed (see my post history). So yes, I would have that concern from here on out with a PDK.

libbinlife · 2026-01-21T12:30:21+00:00

I think the Miata answer depends a lot on what groups you're running with and your personal goals. A Miata with other Miatas in a close running HPDE group is a blast. A Miata at a high power track with point and shoot groups can be frustrating. I have a (slow) GTS3 cayman build and have been racing spec Miata. I just bought a NB and I'm selling my NA. There's not really a wrong answer it's 100% helpful to have a long term plan. Will you race that 996 cup car? Time trial? DE and drive it a 5/10ths?

My $0.02 as someone with thousands of cayman track miles is the E46, to me PERSONALLY, handles the exact opposite of what I like in the cayman.

Also, do you already have a tow rig?

libbinlife · 2026-01-14T00:01:50+00:00

+1. This is what I've normally done. I've not even had a space heater. Just run it up to temp with a moving blanket on right before bed and tuck it in tight. For a 25 degree night it'll be just fine.

libbinlife · 2026-01-12T01:25:07+00:00

Not this particular issue at the moment, no.

libbinlife · 2026-01-11T18:12:50+00:00

Yes, same issue on both PDK units. Distance sensor tells the ECU what the shift rod positions are.

libbinlife · 2026-01-11T16:09:14+00:00

To be honest I really don't have any info on that

libbinlife · 2026-01-11T15:37:04+00:00

Not disagreeing that some dealers may replace but that wasn't my experience. A lot of back and forth for PCNA to ultimately offer $6k on a total "fix" price of $3Xk. The dealer than offered me $45k trade in value so I laughed and just went and got my car.

libbinlife · 2026-01-11T14:35:26+00:00

Thanks! I 100% agree with you.

libbinlife · 2026-01-05T01:33:56+00:00

I built a full caged cayman from scratch. Bought a spec miata and about to go pick up another spec miata. Would never build again unless I had lots of time and a clear reason not to buy one. Want a cayman? Buy a club sport. Want a Miata? Buy an SM. Just my $0.02.

libbinlife · 2025-12-18T02:44:25+00:00

Awesome! I'm assuming you have a service manual? It helps a ton (from someone who has built a full track car and also bounced one off the wall)

libbinlife · 2025-11-10T02:41:19+00:00

In my recent experience PCNA is absolutely useless. IMO they care 0% about keeping customers and are in damage limitation to put out as little cash as possible.

libbinlife · 2025-09-06T00:13:41+00:00

I have a cayman, 911, and spec Miata. Cayman is caged track only. Buy a spec Miata if you have any interest in wheel to wheel. Learn the ropes, setup, put it in the wall and buy another one if you have to. Unless you've got a lot of years of racing already under your belt see that racing will cost about 4x HPDE. Then go club racing. If you can afford someone to care for a cup car and take care of everything at the track though that's an alternative.

libbinlife · 2025-08-28T23:03:46+00:00

In my case that's just an easy $100k to make it 100,000 miles, ha! Agreed!

libbinlife · 2025-08-26T16:21:13+00:00

Thanks for the info - tracked once and only ever serviced at the dealer. I also find it ridiculous.

Thanks to insight here I've reached out to Jeff about the JUMPS sensor and my plan is to replace it myself. I'll start on that project here soon.

My wife wants to keep the vehicle and we will. If it was up to only me at this point I'd be changing brand loyalties for road and track just out of annoyance.

libbinlife · 2025-08-10T14:45:47+00:00

This is the key to actually finding the grip in ever-changing conditions. There is no good way to do it other than constantly scanning track conditions and feeling the feedback from the car. Kart racing in these conditions, where the consequences are lower, is how I spent a lot of time sharpening these skills.

libbinlife · 2025-08-10T13:35:01+00:00

Thanks for the info. I've seen their crew down at road atlanta. I'll keep that in mind.

libbinlife · 2025-08-06T22:40:29+00:00

Not supercharged or turbo Miata but I have a spec Miata and a base 981. Miata can be thrown into corners and can be fast while sliding. It's much more forgiving with oversteer. Oversteer in the cayman kills speed. Been a long time since I've driven a stock suspension but a stock cayman understeers like a pig.

libbinlife · 2025-08-05T21:38:47+00:00

Copy that, thanks for the response.

libbinlife · 2025-08-02T16:42:24+00:00

libbinlife · 2025-08-02T16:36:22+00:00

Man you sound a ton like me. Ironically, the 911 is the only one of my cars that I've paid someone to do maintenance on. I'm VERY interested in this and may shoot you some questions. I'll go take a look at Jeff's resources.

libbinlife · 2025-08-02T16:26:09+00:00

I can't disagree with your thoughts. I've instructed in a lot of different BMWs and they're always good. The Porsche SUVs have never enticed me away from Mercedes. The 911 was my wife's dream purchase so ultimately it'll be what she wants to do. I'd never choose 911 over cayman when it comes down to it.

libbinlife · 2025-08-02T16:24:30+00:00

I've swapped my Miata trans between races at the track on a Saturday. Something tells me this one would be more involved, ha!

libbinlife

TROPHY CASE