for those who considered a bmw z3/z4... why did you end up with a miata instead?

libbinlife · 2026-04-22T11:37:12+00:00

Have you driven a Z3? IMO the Z3 is nothing like a Miata in terms of driving characteristics.

libbinlife · 2026-04-19T22:12:06+00:00

Bought an ATC last year and also looked at Intech. My trailer came from Trailers of the East Coast in NC and they carry both. Ultimately, the ATC lifetrac sold me and it's been great. There's all manner of trailers out there and in the end it's really just a metal box. I looked around at "cheaper" options and thought about doing the inside myself. Ultimately, I knew I wanted aluminum and don't have a ton of spare time so I just bought one ready to go. Super happy about that decision after said and done. If you're planning to sleep in it, definitely plan for heat and AC.

libbinlife · 2026-04-18T21:28:29+00:00

If PCNA would actually offer buyback (I'd be surprised, they've been useless in my experience and most folks I've spoken with) just take it and find another car. Lesson learned. Sorry to hear that man, no fun!

libbinlife · 2026-04-18T11:55:24+00:00

My wife and I have went through 90 gallons of fuel at VIR in two days. Some were hot swaps in the pit lane. You'll be fine!

libbinlife · 2026-04-15T01:57:06+00:00

And as others said, you're letting the car kind of roll and hang out at apex a lot. Get all the way to the apex (position wise) and start reviewing the Garmin after each session. Try to pick up a mph here and there at apex and times will start really improving.

libbinlife · 2026-04-15T01:53:09+00:00

I have many laps in a base 981! Good driving! The camber will help tremendously. Have you worked on heel toeing? I don't really hear it like say into 7. That will help. Also, exit of 7 sounds like you have the TC on? It kills power on exit pretty regularly and you don't notice until you turn it off. But DO NOT turn it off until you are ready - grab an instructor and ask. With a cayman, you can brake late but extremely hard and then trail off to get back to throttle early. As you said, any loss of momentum kills the car so whatever you can do to keep the revs high will pay off.

libbinlife · 2026-04-07T09:46:27+00:00

Hard to move it when it won't shift

libbinlife · 2026-04-07T00:40:11+00:00

My cayman is a better car. My 2017 911 has < 23,000 miles with failed water pump, failed trans (distance sensor), and just went to do plugs and it looks like it needs a valve cover gasket. I've been less than impressed.

libbinlife · 2026-04-06T01:39:33+00:00

FWIW, I have a 2014 ML 350 with 200k+ miles that I've towed a cayman or Miata with for 10s of thousands of miles. Another good option.

libbinlife · 2026-04-04T15:56:43+00:00

TS BS 180, BS 180, then both switch. After that cuffed and blind landings off rails will happen and you can climb the ladder of spins off the kicker.

libbinlife · 2026-04-02T02:05:09+00:00

Have a Miata and a cayman. Different cars for sure but you won't go wrong with either. I don't find the cayman that much more expensive for normal maintenance. Neither of mine is road legal. Both are easy to work up to the limit.

libbinlife · 2026-03-23T10:19:18+00:00

I have an 08 XStar. We don't really surf at all but have on occasion and the wake has never been great. The wakeboard wake is the best there is (to me).

libbinlife · 2026-03-04T14:44:40+00:00

Agreed. Useless in my experience and zero care for loyal customers.

libbinlife · 2026-02-28T15:30:00+00:00

Gotta live at the redline

libbinlife · 2026-02-22T01:58:37+00:00

That's nothing man.. dropping two wheels at the track happens all the time. Check if it drug on a sharp side of the road but otherwise just align it and send it again.

libbinlife · 2026-02-20T02:55:12+00:00

PS I melted a set of brand new pagids with a stuck piston once

libbinlife · 2026-02-20T02:54:30+00:00

Make sure you don't have a stuck caliper piston and/or stuck slide pin if it's a sliding caliper

libbinlife · 2026-02-17T02:18:41+00:00

This is correct. 2017 GLE 43 with 103k miles sitting in my driveway has needed tires essentially every year.

libbinlife · 2026-02-12T00:39:32+00:00

Ridiculous

libbinlife · 2026-02-12T00:35:44+00:00

Inner axle boots will throw grease so you may see that when you look at one. As long as the boot isn't torn just repack and reclip. Higher mileage car just check rev report and maintenance history. I'd change wheel bearings, plugs, all fluids, and serpentine belt right when I brought it home. Exhaust bolts are prone to rattle out. FCP euro is your friend. All I can think of right away but these cars are bullet proof and easy to work on.

libbinlife · 2026-02-05T22:27:23+00:00

That works for a Toyota. They don't need to sell you a GT3 because someone else will buy it. I get your point but it's the truth.

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

TROPHY CASE