[aeronca65tl]

Hello All:

I've replied here a few times but should probably do a proper intro posting:

I'm in New Jersey and just retired (college prof).

My car will be a 2018 “Plain Jane” white, base model Cayman with PDK.
Ordered my Cayman from an NJ dealer the first week in August with planned delivery of early November in Atlanta.

We’re hoping to do the PEC in Atlanta if timing works out (we would fly down and drive it home). Right now, it looks like my car will arrive on the planned date, but the first PEC slot is early December (I just spoke with the scheduler in Atlanta). There is some chance that the date could be moved to mid-December which is too late for us (due to holidays with our large family and grand kids). I have about another week to confirm or cancel the PEC but we’re really hoping to do it if we can squeeze it in.

The Porsche replaces an NB Miata which has been the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ll admit I’ve been tempted by the new Miata RF, but in the end, the Cayman has more appeal to me (plus I already have three other roadsters). I owned a 356 for a brief time in the '60s, (and it barely ran), so I consider this my first real Porsche.

I’m married with kids and grand kids and I’m a long time road racer and vintage roadracer here in the eastern US. I have a bunch of in-car racing videos on Youtube (search "aeronca65t racing").


If the PEC thing works out, my wife will help me drive the Cayman home from Atlanta. We have some other long tours planned in the car in '18.

 

[PorscheCaymanGuy]

Hello All:

I've replied here a few times but should probably do a proper intro posting:

I'm in New Jersey and just retired (college prof).

My car will be a 2018 “Plain Jane” white, base model Cayman with PDK.
Ordered my Cayman from an NJ dealer the first week in August with planned delivery of early November in Atlanta.

We’re hoping to do the PEC in Atlanta if timing works out (we would fly down and drive it home). Right now, it looks like my car will arrive on the planned date, but the first PEC slot is early December (I just spoke with the scheduler in Atlanta). There is some chance that the date could be moved to mid-December which is too late for us (due to holidays with our large family and grand kids). I have about another week to confirm or cancel the PEC but we’re really hoping to do it if we can squeeze it in.

The Porsche replaces an NB Miata which has been the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ll admit I’ve been tempted by the new Miata RF, but in the end, the Cayman has more appeal to me (plus I already have three other roadsters). I owned a 356 for a brief time in the '60s, (and it barely ran), so I consider this my first real Porsche.

I’m married with kids and grand kids and I’m a long time road racer and vintage roadracer here in the eastern US. I have a bunch of in-car racing videos on Youtube (search "aeronca65t racing").


If the PEC thing works out, my wife will help me drive the Cayman home from Atlanta. We have some other long tours planned in the car in '18.

It will be interesting to see how you like the 718 Cayman S given your extensive experience in road racing! Have you had the opportunity to drive a Cayman S yet?

Hopefully the PEC works out and you upload some footage of it for the rest of us to see

 

[aeronca65tl]

It will be interesting to see how you like the 718 Cayman S given your extensive experience in road racing! Have you had the opportunity to drive a Cayman S yet?

Hopefully the PEC works out and you upload some footage of it for the rest of us to see

I've always been a small-bore racer. My current racer (MG Midget) has about 80 HP on a good day. I also raced Formula Vee and SCCA/ITC......both low horsepower classes. My current street MG is a 948 cc with about 40 HP.


My old NB Miata (with 140 HP) felt like an absolute rocket to me!


So I'm betting the 300 HP 2.0 base car will work out fine. I hope they let me drive the 2.5 liter "S" at PEC, but truth be told, it'll probably scare the dickens out me!


And yes....if PEC works out I'll bring the video camera with appropriate mount.

 

[Yipekiye]

My advisor at PEC didn't seem particularly interested in letting me open it all the way up. I felt like I went faster at a HST event last year. But the PEC is still well worth it, the various hazard maneuvers and other tricky driving were great, the entire facility was amazing with the historic cars, showroom etc. You will have a ball. You will drive a car that matches what you are purchasing, so if you buy a Base, you drive a Base. If you pay for a separate drive like someone off the street, you can drive anything there.

 

[aeronca65tl]

.........You will drive a car that matches what you are purchasing, so if you buy a Base, you drive a Base........

Thanks. That's basically what my sales associate said. And that would be fine with me (though I wouldn't turn down a ride in a faster car if offered!)


I look forward to any track training with a mid-engine car that I can get; after so many years of driving front-engine cars, I know there are things to learn.
I've done a little instructing (at NJMP & Pocono) and it's NOT my favourite thing to do. So I'm empathetic to anyone who sits in the passenger seat and does driver training. It can be scary. Derek Bell often says he's a terrible passenger and I can relate.

 

[Gallatin]

Hello All:

I've replied here a few times but should probably do a proper intro posting:

I'm in New Jersey and just retired (college prof).

My car will be a 2018 “Plain Jane” white, base model Cayman with PDK.
Ordered my Cayman from an NJ dealer the first week in August with planned delivery of early November in Atlanta.

We’re hoping to do the PEC in Atlanta if timing works out (we would fly down and drive it home). Right now, it looks like my car will arrive on the planned date, but the first PEC slot is early December (I just spoke with the scheduler in Atlanta). There is some chance that the date could be moved to mid-December which is too late for us (due to holidays with our large family and grand kids). I have about another week to confirm or cancel the PEC but we’re really hoping to do it if we can squeeze it in.

The Porsche replaces an NB Miata which has been the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ll admit I’ve been tempted by the new Miata RF, but in the end, the Cayman has more appeal to me (plus I already have three other roadsters). I owned a 356 for a brief time in the '60s, (and it barely ran), so I consider this my first real Porsche.

I’m married with kids and grand kids and I’m a long time road racer and vintage roadracer here in the eastern US. I have a bunch of in-car racing videos on Youtube (search "aeronca65t racing").


If the PEC thing works out, my wife will help me drive the Cayman home from Atlanta. We have some other long tours planned in the car in '18.

From a current college prof to a retired one--welcome to the Forum!!! I am sure you will find this a friendly and informative place with people who bring a plethora of car experience to the conversation.

 

[aeronca65tl]

From a current college prof to a retired one--welcome to the Forum!!! I am sure you will find this a friendly and informative place with people who bring a plethora of car experience to the conversation.

Thanks! This is my first week "off".....and already I miss the students.
I taught mostly mechanical engineering and math for 36 years in a community college and I really liked the students.
I'm continuing to help out with our local SAE chapter. And three of my former students are now racing with me, which is great fun.

 

[Viffermike]

Hello All ... The Porsche replaces an NB Miata which has been the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ll admit I’ve been tempted by the new Miata RF, but in the end, the Cayman has more appeal to me (plus I already have three other roadsters).

First: welcome!

Second: You mentioned the new Mazda RF above. I have a buddy who is an auto journalist; he had an RF for a week this past week, and I went on a drive with him (first proper set of twisties for Alli, my two-week-old base Cayman). I drove the RF a little bit ... and lemme tell you, there is almost no comparison between the two. Though it's well balanced for a FWD, the RF leans a lot, understeers, and (as you're keenly aware based on your track activities), has to be absolutely thrashed to be quick in -- momentum is really key. The 718 is just sublime, barely leans at all, understeers/oversteers at will, and has so much torque down low that you'll need to learn how to pedal modulate differently ... or, just do what I did: keep up with the RF at 8/10ths in a car pushing mayyyybe 5/10ths.

Here's a pic of Alli and the RF from the drive:

Finally ... I noticed on another post of yours that you used to ride an Aprilia. I rode an SL1000 Falco for nearly three years; SUCH a great literbike. I like to tell people that an Aprilia was like a Ducati, just better ... >

 

[aeronca65tl]

Excellent! Sounds like I'll be pleased!


I know the Miata is a decent car but it's built on much more of a budget than the Cayman so the reduced ability is no surprise.


One thing I worried about with the Cayman was the increased 500 lbs. of "road hugging weight" over the Mazda. But other than the Miata, most other cars I looked at weighted even more. I've always been a fan of Colin Chapman's "add lightness" dictum (I own a Super 7). But I guess with all the features of modern cars, it's tougher to get cars as "skinny" as they used to be. Some of us remember when the first Ford Mustangs weighted only 2600 lbs.....I guess those days have passed.


Sorry but I haven't owned any Apilias (maybe mixing me up with some else here?). I *am* a bike guy and have the scars to prove it! (I raced off-road enduro for 10 years). And we were just at the Antique Bike Event at Rhinebeck, NY (my buddy bought a Lambretta while we were there.....not quite a sport bike).

 

[Hockeyislife]

Just ordered a Cayman S. Pretty stripped with 6 MT. I have an M3 pretty loaded so I just wanted something to rip around in without all the bells and whistles. Can't wait. I didn't want the test drive to end.

 

[aeronca65tl]

........I just wanted something to rip around in without all the bells and whistles........

Ditto. Most modern cars have enough "extras" as standard that even a stripped down car is pretty well equipped in my view.
My MGB only has an AM radio and it's a luxo-barge compared to my Super 7.

 

[Sonny]

Viffermike,

The Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is a RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) vehicle, not a FWD (Front Wheel Drive) vehicle.

 

[Viffermike]

Viffermike,

The Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is a RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) vehicle, not a FWD (Front Wheel Drive) vehicle.

Yep: typo there, and I can't correct my post ... thanks!

 

[4802]

Viffermike,

The Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is a RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) vehicle, not a FWD (Front Wheel Drive) vehicle.

Yep: typo there, and I can't correct my post ... thanks!

I actually gave Mike a heads up on his typo very shortly after he'd actually made it. Unfortunately the window for correction is so ridiculously short he simply couldn't do anything about it. Am I the only one who finds this annoying? I know I should proof read more at the time but it's easy to make a typo, omission, or simply word something incorrectly & it would be nice to be able to rectify something & not only have 10 minutes to do so. If you haven't done so after a few hours then fair enough but the existing matter of minutes is a bit OTT. I'm kind of surprised it took so long for anyone to actually comment on the forum though.