The Cayman Club - Blogs

Remus point of consideration

grrlsix — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:25:45 GMT

and now the point of consideration.

we've driven her (i have in front of a bunch of video recorders, microphones, etc. of all things - coming soon,)
we've each had her out on our own,
we've listened to the drone and the resonant growwwly purr, weighed them,
we've looked across at each other and smiled like 5yr olds at Xmas.

tomorrow we go out and record the sound of the new system via tail pipe mic, innercabin mic, steadycam drrrrriveby - and then later the addendum, AX side pocket mic.

tomorrow is the day!

grrlsix — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:05:13 GMT

only one more day to wait for the return of our Lottie. she has been done since yesterday, but schedules/traffic/work, etc. etc. and we wait.

- this tops when our ordered iphones were in.
- checks back from the government are great, but not as exciting.
- something like but not related to at all - when you order your favorite dish at a restaurant and wait for it, salivating.
- much better than picking up a kitty at the vet after an eye was removed - that was just, well, creepy.

there are all kinds of waiting, yes, but this one is filled with excitement, nervousness, and a bit of glee. tomorrow at 9am i'll be picking up our Lottie with her brand new grrrowllly Remus Sport exhaust. just listening to the sounds clips and i am licking my lips in antici...Pation...

and soon, an article!

* sound and video clips of Stock exhaust (cabin drone, drive by, tailpipe mic, AX) DONE
* TRG research DONE
* Remus exhaust research DONE
* exhaust article research (gen.) DONE
* contact Remus for attachment goodies (German install info wonderbar!) and photo permission DONE

* scan in Cayman Dyno from 5,000 mi. ago for comparison - todo
* acquire before/after Dynos from TRG (explaination please?) todo
* pictures of The Racing Group facility todo/DONE (need more/outside)
* TRG supplied install video and interview (of me, eeep.) - TRG todo
* sound and video clips of Remus exhaust - todo
* editing video to coherence - todo
* text text text - todo

first mod

Fast Break — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:51:34 GMT

don't usually blog with you guys, but i'm truly excited about my first cayman mod. Dropped of my 2006 cayman s at the tpc racing shop yesterday 9/2/08 to install their turbo kit, flywheel and clutch, and sway bars. Drove from p'cola fla to personally deliver it and evaluate the shop and crew. Tom and Mike were exceptional, they addressed all my questions and concerns quickly and confidently, no bs. What I saw were first rate installations in progress and attention to details in the lay out few exhibit. Counting the days till I pick it up later this month.

first mod

Fast Break — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:38:44 GMT

don't usually blog with you guys, but i'm truly excited about my first cayman mod. Dropped of my 2006 cayman s at the tpc racing shop yesterday 9/2/08 to install their turbo kit, flywheel and cltuch, and sway bars. Drove from p'cola fla to personally deliver it and evaluate the shop and crew. Tom and Mike were exceptional, they addressed all my questions and concerns quickly and confidently, no bs. What I saw was first rate installations in progress and attention to details in the lay out few exhibit. Counting the days till I pick it later this month.

Question: Car Numbers during DE

Ed Merry — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:51:13 GMT

How do you have car numbers on your CS that stay on during a Drivers Education and don't mar the paint?

Cleaning Exhaust Tips

KS-CS — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:44:22 GMT

I decided to spend a little quality time with my Cayman this week by hand-washing it. However, when I got done I noticed how tarnished and weathered the exhaust tips looked (after 2 1/2 years of neglect) compared to the rest of the car . . . kind of like taking a bath and not cleaning your . . . well, you know. :o

So, today I took some Brasso, and dragged out my Dremel tool with some polishing wheels and compound, and went to work on it. After about an hour, I got it looking pretty decent, though still not as clean and shiny as I would like. Based on some recommendations in the Cayman Care forum, I bought a can of Nevr Dull (sort of like baby wipes :) ) so I can try and keep it looking as clean as the rest of the car in the future.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

My first and last mod...

blueone — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:48:13 GMT

Alright, so I said no mods, and after three months I've already broken my promise to myself. Well, I couldn't resist. The stock Cayman S exhaust tip is not my taste. The cost of Porsche's chrome tip is outrageous, so after sneering at the stock tip for awhile, I ordered the Agency tip from Vivid Racing. I think it looks A LOT better.

Alright, now I can safely say no more mods. Just like my spouse, her diet always starts tomorrow.

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No love for the Cayman today.

Speedymike — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:13:02 GMT

I stopped by our local grocery store (a Food Lion) this afternoon to pick up a few items and upon returning to the car found what appeared to be an entire cup of coffee poured across the hatch. :(

The stream started just below the glass on the right side and went down and to the left to the spoiler. From there it appears the person poured the remaining coffee along the spoiler, as the entire lenght of the wing was full of coffee.

It certainly could have been a lot worse - the car wasn't dented or keyed - but what the heck did I do???

First DE is coming up!

Speedymike — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:21:04 GMT

I've recently been accepted into what will be my first DE with my CS and I'm pysched!

It will be at VIR on September 5th - 7th with the Potomac Region Founders Club. I've been to schools at VIR twice in the past with my A4, but it's been several years since my last time.

It's hard to believe I have owned my CS almost 7 months now, and I'm sorry it's taken me this long to get to a DE, but life intervenes sometimes, and I'm sure this is going to be a blast. :banana:

More to come!

Another Lesson Learned . . .

KS-CS — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:30:41 GMT

Well, it seems every time I go to the track I learn something new . . . often the hard way.

Hallett was hot as hell this past weekend, but I wasn't going to let that deter me from enjoying another track weekend - gotta have that fix at least once a month!

On Saturday, before it really got hot, I turned in my best lap time yet at Hallett: a fairly respectable 1:37 going clockwise. Everything went pretty smoothly, though the car felt down on power from the heat which reached over 102.

On Sunday, things were going well also - we had a long break between the 2nd and 3rd sessions, and when our group got called to the grid for the 3rd session, I discovered that my lightweight track battery was dead.

I think what happened was that the engine compartment cooling fan came on after I shut the car off after the previous session, and drained the battery. I had one of those rechargeable jumper batteries with me, but of course, it was dead too (I hadn't recharged it for some time :o ).

Fortunately, I did have my battery charger with me, so I missed one session, but managed to get it charged enough to start the car for the last session. Lesson Learned: in hot weather, keep the battery charger on between sessions!

As usual, I enjoyed the friendly camaraderie of the Hallett crowd, and was also happy to run with another Caymanite for a change: spec84 was running his CS in High Speed Touring, and racing his Spec Miata that weekend - quite a feat considering the heat. He was nice enough to let me follow him around the track for several laps to watch his line. Some pix and a little video of us playing follow the leader (I think he was going easy on me) below:

Chasing spec84 in his silver CS, with Jimmy S. closing in with his big, bad Viper.

Traffic jam at T2 - with spec84 on my tail

looking for sources

hunts4u — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:36:55 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am a new Cayman S owner.. Traded my audi s4 for it :) And my suburban for an H2 SUT truck in the same week..so I am a happy camper..

However, my Cayman does not have the Tire compressor, tool kit, tire sealant or passenger floor mat with it..where is a good source for these items..

Nonetheless, I scored on the Cayman S ...got a 2006 with only 6,700 miles on it in mint condition.. very fun to drive.

Thanks for any input.

Andy

The right tool for the job

blueone — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:20:08 GMT

As someone does that does his own maintenance, one of the jobs that I dread most, but I know has great value, is changing the fluids in transmissions and differentials. In manual transmissions (Is there any other kind?), transfer cases, and differentials, the fluid is unfiltered, subject to a lot of heat and shear action, and in many modern cars the fluid volume is being reduced to save weight and space. Yes, I know many manufacturers say these fluids are "lifetime". Well, when they guarantee these expensive assemblies for a lifetime I'll stop disbelieving their marketing claims. In manual transmissions the fluid often comes out with a sheen of metal particles you can see in the sun.

The procedural problem usually isn't draining the fluid, it's refilling it, because the fill holes are usually in some impossibly tight place, and you're lucky if you can get a hose up there, no less a bottle.

I've tried all sort of pumps over the years. The Mityvac, the one Griots sells, a marine pump or two, even those cheap plastic pumps that screw onto the tops of some fluid bottles, and they are all terrible. They break, or they slide around, or the pumps aren't efficient. The Griots pump, my most recent favorite, wears out quickly and stops pumping. The transfer type like the Mityvac red one and the Griots pump require that you stick one tube in the fluid bottle and the other tube in the fill hole, and then you're supposed to pump too. Fluid usually spills, and ATF or transfer case fluid has the consistency of olive oil, and gets everywhere. In cold weather the hoses get stiff and make the job miserable. It's a mess.

Then I found this pump:

Assenmacher ATF1003VW Drive Line Filler System for VW/Audi - ASSATF1003VW

OMG, well, there must be a God, because he surely designed this pump. He even put a spring in the hose so it wouldn't kink. Those tips shown in the picture are machined metal. The bottle is heavy, the pump is something suitable for Navy use, and it has a heavy-duty valve on the hose for quick shut-off. Pardon my heavy breathing.

Yes, it's expensive. But now I know what tools are like in heaven. And I spilled not a drop with it. And my wife's X3, with front and rear differentials, a transfer case, and a manual transmission is coming up for driveline service. Ahhhh....

Tool Kit

Blade-0 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:53:00 GMT

Can anyone shed some light on how/why the three tools were selected?
I have an open end whench, a phillips and another tool I can't figure out.

Any help? - Blade-0

Rotors Rusting After Washing

wylescoyote — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:54:43 GMT

When I wash my Cayman my rotors will rust (naturally). Sometimes I'll wash in the rain then pull into the garage to dry and finish. So running down the block to dry them off won't do - and there is construction in the neighborhood so that will add dirt to the otherwise clean vehicle. Any suggestions?

Removing the airbag stickers on a leather sun visor

blueone — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:45:22 GMT

Those US-mandated stickers are really ugly, especially on the over-priced leather sun visors. :) So I thought I try removing the one on the passenger side. Not a good choice...

The stickers pull up easily enough, albeit in pieces, but they leave a stubborn adhesive residue behind, even if you heat the sticker first. Most adhesive removal fluids warn you against using them on leather. Water had no effect. Dawn had no effect. 409 had no effect.

The only thing that did work, that I had around the house, was Griots Interior Cleaner. I sent an email to Griots asking them if their branded adhesive cleaner would work, and they recommended trying Interior Cleaner first. Since I had some I did. I eventually got 95%+ of the adhesive off, but it took a lot rubbing with a cotton towel, and that made me nervous. I'm not doing the other visor until I find a safer method.

At 2000 miles (coming up soon) I plan an oil + filter change, and change the transaxle fluid. Synchronizers don't like LSD friction modifier, so I'm going to use Redline 75W-90NS. My experience with other cars is that it's amazing how much **** comes out with differential or transmission oil. Porsche says 120K mile change intervals, but Blueone says, if you plan on owning the car indefinitely, get the break-in junk out at 2K, and then change the transaxle oil once every three years or 30K miles, whichever comes first. I like the CS enough it feels like an heirloom to me.

wheels and tires for sale

cop100 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:55:21 GMT

I have 19 inch factory rims painted flat black with new (500 miles) Michelins Pilot PS2 listed on the PCA site for sale. I also have new factory front and rear rotors, and front and rear factory brake pads for sale also on the PCA web site.

Superkhana (AX) run

4by4 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:50:17 GMT

55 MPH Speed Limit

mgd47 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:58:24 GMT

I've read on AOL, a Senator is proposing bringing back the 55 MPH speed limit. I'm against that and I wrote, the proposing Senator, my Senators, and my Congressman stating so.

Porsche Parade

Speedymike — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:30:16 GMT

Well, I'm back from Parade and I've got to say it was fantastic! It was even more fun than I thought it would be. The thing is, from a blogging perspective, the weekend was busier than I anticipated - and so was my return to work - so I didn't get to post running updates on our time at the Parade. Sorry about that... :(

I am also a bit sorry we could only attend for the weekend, but I've got to say meeting a number of CC folks including our very own K-Man S (and lots of other Porsche owners as well) was a great experience. We're hooked - we're seriously considering driving out to Colorado for Parade next year, and my wife is pretty sure she wants a 911 now! I'm not sure how we're going to swing that last bit though... :p

Some of the highlights of our brief time at Parade included the Concours (it was amazing to see that many sparkling Porsches in one place!), checking out the latest Cayman clear engine cover prototype (pretty cool, I've got to say), and hearing K-Man S's exhaust being demonstrated at least two blocks away. Wow - what a great sound!

Thanks to K-Man S, beez, and others for the hospitality and the stories. I've posted some of my pictures, but I'll include a few here as well. Be sure to check out the bumblebee attacking Ken's car, a.k.a "The Bumblebee"! :D

Oh yeah - I'd be remiss if I didn't do my part as ordered by Ken and encourage everyone who can to sign up for Croctoberfest this Fall! If the Parade was any indication of how these events go, it's going to be lots of fun!

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Off to Charlotte for Parade!

Speedymike — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:10:19 GMT

I'll be heading off to Charlotte later this afternoon to attend my first-ever Porsche Parade! I'll only be there for the weekend, but there's lots to see and do these first couple of days so I'm sure I'll be busy.

The car is all shined up and I'm keeping a wary eye on the weather. With the heat we've been having recently, a late afternoon thunderstorm is very likely. Well, at least the car is clean for now. I'm really hoping we don't get any hail! :eek:

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Parade is all about, and hope to meet several of the folks from this site while there. Should be fun!

I'll try and keep a running blog going of my time at the Parade. Stay tuned and feel free to look me up if you're there too!

Ridin' with the Man . . .

KS-CS — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:05:33 GMT

K-Man S, that is! :)

So . . . when I registered for the "Heat in the Heartland" DE sponsored by the KCPCA, I was a little miffed that they placed me in group 1 - presumably because I had done only 1 previous DE track day at Heartland Park Topeka (HPT) before. Since that first DE last October I've done 8-9 more track days, including 2 DE weekends, at Hallett, so I really thought I belonged at least in Group 2, but if they wanted me to start in 1 again, so be it.

My spirits lifted a bit the week prior to the event, when I learned that none other than the Cayman Club founder and spiritual leader, K-Man S himself, would be my instructor. I also felt a little apprehensive knowing that he likes the Cayman to show the other cars "a bit of what for" on the track, and as there was only one other Cayman S registered besides the two of us, I knew I would feel a little pressure to perform well.

Saturday went pretty well - K-Man S drove my car ("Tiptronic?!!") for a couple of laps to demonstrate the line; he also took me for a ride in his car for a few laps at his "7/10ths" pace ( :eek: ), which was pretty exciting. His car was throwing a CEL, which subsequently turned out to be nothing, but he was afraid to push it, which limited his own driving over the weekend.

I did well enough on Saturday (nobody passed me in my group) that K-man S had me promoted to the combined Group 2/3 on Sunday. After the first session on Sunday, he felt I was doing well enough to go it alone, so he signed me off to go solo. Because they combined groups we ran longer sessions: 30 minutes - by the end of a session I could tell I was starting to get mentally fatigued and a little sloppy at times, but it was great fun.

I don't know what my lap times were the first time I went to HPT, but just based on the fact that I am now frequently shifting into 4th gear, in places where I never got out of 3rd before, I know that I am a good deal faster. Some of this is due no doubt to the SRP and my Nittos (which are terrific on the track), but also due in part to K-man S' encouragement and my increasing confidence in the handling capabilities of the Cayman.

Some video highlights are included below (though I have to apologize for the poor audio - I'm still trying to figure out the best way to pick-up sound without wind noise, etc.)

I don't understand big, heavy, powerful sport coupes (or sedans)

blueone — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:43:28 GMT

A friend got a new M3 a few weeks ago. I saw it for the first time today. The Coupe. He foolishly ordered Jet Black, against my advice. It'll always look swirled, just like our Jet Black X3. With Red "extended" leather. A striking combination.

The seats are great. So is the steering wheel. Lots of power... winds forever. Awesome engine. The usual pretty good BMW shifter and horrible clutch, with what feels like the de rigor delay valve in it.

The car is absolutely awesome, except for perhaps the ugly Bimmer dash that doesn't measure up to what Ford does lately. And the entire time I was in it I kept thinking... so what?

If you putter around in the M3 it feels mostly like any other 3-series. It is big; about the size of a new Mustang. You can feel the 3700lbs, which is what a 5-series used to weigh. Perhaps it would make a good choice for a road trip, which the CS wouldn't, IMO, but otherwise I can't figure out what it's good for. It's too nice to park at a resturant or at the market. I wouldn't consider taking it to Costco. Or driving it in an Oregon winter.

The M3 also doesn't feel anything like a sports car. On a winding road it felt like a mid-size car trying to act like a sports car, and I didn't care. It didn't feel special at all. It's not the kind of car I'd save for nice days, or take it out for a drive to nowhere, just to drive. I wouldn't stand in the garage and stare at it, like I did with my old M Coupe, or I do with the CS.

So the M3 is yet another high power sedan or big coupe that I can't figure out what I'd do with it. The M3 is more competent than the CS in some ways... that engine... but I'd rather drive a Cayman down a winding road a lot more than the M3. I'm at a loss for how cars like the M3 or the C63 or even the GT-R fit. For going to the grocery I'd rather have a 328i, so I wouldn't care so much. For a drive I'd really rather have a Cayman.

Too bad that V8 doesn't come in the Cayman, though. That's a nice engine.

I can't get used to the ignition key on the left

blueone — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:18:39 GMT

Go ahead, laugh at the Porsche rookie, but I really dislike the ignition key on the left side of the steering wheel. I can't break myself of the habit of going for the right, and it annoys me everytime I try to start the car. I had to explain why Porsche put the ignition key on the left to one of my BMW buddies, and he just said "You've got to be kidding." I couldn't agree more.

Of course, I'm going to have a long time to get used to P-car left-side silliness, because the CS feels like a real keeper, perhaps forever. I can't imagine why I'd ever want to sell it. There's just something so right and fun about it. No other car has ever struck me this way. The M Coupe came close, but even $12K worth of mods didn't save it from being supplanted by a 2003 Z06.

I can't really imagine putting mods on the Cayman either. That's a BIG change for me. (I figure I've wasted enough money on mods over the years to buy a 911 C2.)

Oh sure, an LSD, some Fikse Chromas, the silver spoiler lips, maybe a tailpipe that looks a little better, they all tempt me, but they aren't compelling. Not to me. Not in the way the Mustang Cobra or Corvette or M Coupe upgrades were "must haves". Actually, I decided to put this in a blog so I could read it a few years from now, and either smile at my foresight, or chuckle at my foolish predictions. No mods. We'll see.

Wash Day Conundrum

KS-CS — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:41:32 GMT

It seems that every day when I click on New Posts, about half of them deal with some aspect of car care - washing, waxing, polishing, sealing, shining, yada, yada, yada. It finally got to the point where I was feeling guilty about the $8-10 per week I spend on the automatic car wash that I have been using for the last 10 months since I acquired my P car - though to be fair, I usually do buy the most expensive wash. :o

And, now that the weather has warmed (in fact it is downright hot already - thanks Al G.) I can't use the cold weather as an excuse to avoid washing the car myself. Finally, I broke down and ordered some Citrus Wash and a sheepskin mitt from one of our sponsors, and went out and bought a new hose and bucket, and some comfy microfiber towels with which to pamper my lovely CS. I had already purchased a clay bar and Speed Shine liquid from Griots, and some Meguiars NXT-2 wax, based on posts in the Forums.

So, on one balmy morning last week, I hand washed, clayed and waxed my beauty. I have to admit that it made me feel as good as the car looked afterwards - though after 3 hours of work, I was kind of pooped. My wife even got in the act briefly when she came out to try her hand at claying - a new experience for both of us. (See my post: "Menage a Trois") :)

The bad thing is that, now that I spent so much time making her look good, I don't want to take her out of the garage where she will get dirty again. :(

Thoughts about the clear bra

blueone — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:15:32 GMT

I've never put a clear bra on a car before. My friend Larry put one on every exotic he owns, and swears by them. My previous car, a Corvette C6 with a completely painted nose similar in design to the Cayman, was all chewed up from the Oregon roads. So for the Cayman I tried a clear bra. VentureShield.

While washing the car today I noticed the bra got its first mar on the nose. Without the film it would have scratched the paint, no doubt. So am I glad I got a clear bra?

In a word, no. I wish I could get my $750 back. The Cayman is a nightmare for bra installers, and the installation isn't quite what I'd like to it be. Not that I think I could do any better myself. And I like to put sealant on my car a lot, at least monthly, and getting the edges of the film sealant-free is a PITA. The mirrors look like they need a re-do. I hate that line on the hood.

I'm sure the paint will look better in three years with the clear bra than it would otherwise, but there was always an honesty about the scars. The clear bra reminds me of using carpet runners in the house. Yes, the carpet is being protected, but the house looks like its being saved for someone more important.

Next time, no clear bra.

Cayman or Porsche forum in Toronto?

Sensation — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:06:18 GMT

I bought a 2006 Cayman S in March 2008. It is black and I replaced the stock rims with the new Turbo rims to make it look like the Design Edition Cayman S (photo attached). I have two questions:

1. Is there a Cayman or Porsche forum in Toronto?

2. Can I get the Cayman S Design Edition decals for the side of the car?

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New 2008 Cayman

robaz38 — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:07:25 GMT

I started my search 9 months. Originally looking for a 2001-2003 boxster to just have as a fun car. Over the course of 9 months i realized that i really liked the newer interior of the 05 boxster. It was shortly after that i fell in love with the Cayman. I always wanted a white with some sort of tan interior. The wife wanted a tip trans. A few weeks ago i found the car i had been looking for, a 2008 Cayman. I bought this car from the fine folks at Park Place Porsche. The specs are natural brown full leather, tiptronic, painted center console, heated seats,Porsche Sport Exhaust, Cayman S 18" wheels, clear bra, I am not a big track guy(yet..) but i am very impressed with the 2.7L. Maybe in a few years i will talk myself into an "S".

I really enjoy the Caymanclub site. There is alot of knowledge and real appreciation for the Cayman.

Anyhow, i know how everyone loves to see pic's..
Here is my first attempt to post a blog with pic's.
:cheers:

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Strosek aftermarket equipment

Venture Guy — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:30:28 GMT

I'm considering using Strosek equipment (carbon rear spoiler, side skirts, exhaust) for my Cayman S
Has anyone had previous experience with this equipment and the NJ distributor Fred Opert Racing
thanks
Venture Guy

NEED HELP Purchasing Cayman

rosymathchicka — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:13:04 GMT

O.k. I'm a a first time Cayman buyer. I need help with the price quote because i have no idea what kind of offer can I ask the dealers for.

Here are the options I would like to have on my car.....

1. Automatic
2. Auto power seat
3. premium package plus (this includes bi-xion lights and navigation right?)
4. remote CD changer
5. I need steering wheel control (but I couldn't find that option when I built in online?)

Progress!

Itmerc — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:13:54 GMT

I called IA today to see if they could pry an update out of Aristocrat and they promised to call me back after doing so. 5 minutes later I got the best news I've had on this project for quite awhile... The cam timing issue has been fixed and the car is ready to go back to IA! :banana:

Reportedly they were able to retime the cams without having to drop the motor out so there shouldn't be any re-installation issues due to the custom nature of my beast.

On a side note I also had IA send my Pioneer Avic Z2 headunit back to Pioneer for repair/upgrade under warranty due to a known issue with overheating, lock ups at boot, and hard drive failure, BUT UPS apparently decided to use the package as a soccer ball and destroyed the screen in transit. :mad: IA dealt with UPS and Pioneer and the unit should be fully repaired and on its way back to IA in time to be reinstalled before I actually pick the car up at the end of next week.

Stephen and Karl are both still out of town but should be back to work next thursday morning and hopefully I can pick my car up on friday at COB... HOPEFULLY... Stephen still needs to fully reinspect things to include dynoing it to verify its performing right and the A/F ratio's etc are all to his liking. Once he ok's it I'm picking it up and taking it straight to Patrick in GA to start the body conversion. Woot!

Long overdue update

Itmerc — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:09:16 GMT

I've been keeping up with the thread but not doing so well keeping my blog updated. Sorry!

I've mostly been in a holding pattern waiting on Aristocrat/Porsche to accept that the cam timing problem was actually a manufacturing defect that they needed to remedy. IA notified Aristocrat of the problem as soon as the motor was in my car and running, and before I took delivery on MARCH 23RD...

They FINALLY had a qualified mechanic available to check the car out starting on Tues April 29th. Do the math on that response time... C_R_A_P...:mad:

The Aristocrat leadership sat down with IA on Friday May 2nd and admitted that the motor did in fact have a cam timing problem, that it was a manufacturing defect and that they were going to fix it though they used the words "work it in" whick clearly doesn't imply much urgency...:(

Unfortunately my read seems to be right...I appreciate that they are going to do the right thing and fix it but Aristocrat doesn't seem to be in any real hurry to finish the repairs and just yesterday (tues May 6th) a local CC member reported to me that they had seen my car just sitting out back... Its now been well over a MONTH since they were first notified of the problem and the car's been in their hands for more than a week now. Grrrr.... :mad:

Never lift in the corner . . .

KS-CS — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:54:04 GMT

Well, I attended my 2nd PCA DE event this past week-end at the Cimarron PCA Mayfast DE, at Hallett. It was a bit more informal than the KC region PCA I attended in October - more like the regular monthly High Speed Touring event at Hallett - no ride-along instructors except for the Novices (I was placed in an Intermediate group).

It was my first time riding on R-compounds (Nitto NT01s) and I have to say they were pretty impressive, except when the hot pressure gets much above 40 psi (which they did my first 2 sessions) and they become quite greasy. I learned that I need to start off with about 28 cold in the rear tires, and 31 in the fronts, to get them into the optimum hot range (38-39).

I also had my Softronic Race Plenum (SRP) installed, but unfortunately, hadn't received the software flash yet, so I don't think I have the full benefit of it; however, even without the flash there seems to be a noticable improvement in the higher revs. At least, I noticed that I was shifting into 4th sooner than I usually do, and seemed to be carrying more speed into the corners than usual. Of course, some of that may have to do with the new tires increasing my exit speeds.

It was also my first time to run with 2 other Caymans on the track. There were 2 guys from Tulsa sharing a silver CS that was pretty much running circles around the rest of the field. When I cornered one of them to ask what they had done to the car to make it so fast, he smiled and told me it was bone stock, and this was their first time driving it on the track. Turns out though, that they have both been racing Spec Miatas at Hallett for about 4 years, so they know the track and how to drive a momentum car, which Hallett favors.

There was also a fellow CS owner from St. Louis named Jerry (not a CC member), who has a lot of track time, both in his Cayman, and other cars. He was helpful in pointing out the main reason that he thought I was slower than he - I brake too early. When he was chasing me he noticed I would brake at least 1-2 sec. ahead of where he would on almost every corner, and this would allow him to catch (and out-run) me. He also encouraged me to try running without the PSM on, since I was getting some PSM weirdness on exiting two of the tighter corners.

While chasing Jerry in the next to last session, with my PSM off, I came into a turn a little too hot and made the cardinal mistake in a Porsche - lifting mid-corner. The rear-end kicked out and I was sure I was going to spin, but I managed to save it and keep going. If I had left my PSM on it probably would have been less dramatic, but this provided a good lesson for me. Unfortunately, one of my track buddies, David, who drives a modded 986 also learned the lesson the hard way in the last session on Sunday - he went off in T1 and hit the tire wall - more damage to his ego than the car (fortunately), but it helped to drive the point home.

Now repeat after me: Never lift in the corner, never lift in the corner, never lift . . .

Where the money goes

Speedymike — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:06:24 GMT

Today was the first day I have been able to hand wash and wax my CS (due to water restrictions in our city) since I picked it up at the end of January.

One of the things I did was to take the wheels off, wash them, and apply Wheel Wax. (As a first-time user I'm interested in seeing how well that stuff works...) Anyway, having the wheels off afforded me my first real chance to observe the artwork which is the mechanical bits of a Cayman.

My observation to an admiring neighbor was: "You may be able to argue about the sanity of spending this much for an automobile, but once you see the obvious quality of materials, craftsmanship, and just plain smarts of the layout, you cannot argue what the money goes into". :eek:

Honestly, to me the brakes, suspension, engine and transmission appear to have the quality of military hardware or space-bound craft. It's really remarkable, in my humble opinion.

It's just something else to admire about this wonderful car I am getting to know and love!

By the way, the car looks great after all the cleaning work - assuming you ignore my major goof of the day, which can be found in detail in the Cayman Care Forum. :o

:cheers:

Getting my Cayman today!!

Littlemerk1991 — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:39:22 GMT

So excited can not wait to leave for the dealership so I can go and pick my baby up!! All the months have been agonizing with the wait.. Only one more hour until I have my beauty... The specs are cobalt blue and interior sea blue. Bi xeon headlights, bose surround sound, heated seats, rain sensor, navigation, power seats, etc.. I will post pictures later... and put the rest of the specs later because I can not remember the rest of them right now.. Can not wait my first car!!! :banana::rolleyes:

Softronic Race Plenum Install

KS-CS — Thu, 01 May 2008 04:18:57 GMT

Whew.
My first major Cayman mod accomplished: installation of the Softronic Race Plenum/Throttle body (SRP). :banana:

Originally, I had planned to have it installed at a local dyno shop by the owner/tuner there, but he had too much going on this week, and I was too impatient to wait another week or 2 for him to be available. Oh well, so no before-and-after Dyno results to share - but I did save about $500 doing it myself!

I had read the Softronic and segue007's installation instructions so many times in preparation, that I pretty much had the whole process memorized. Since it was my first time venturing into the engine compartment, I decided to change my air filter first - it was pretty dirty at 20K miles - no problem.

As I started to tackle the SRP, I realized that my car (being a Tiptronic) looked a little different than the install articles I had read. The small engine bracket that apparently has little or no function in the Manual cars and is removed during the install, does have 2 other items attached to it in the Tip (besides the OEM plenum): the shift cable (only 1 in the Tip) and a 1/2" rubber pipe with a plug in the end. Since the latter was not mentioned in the installation articles, I was worried about what to do - so I sent a priority email to Scott Slauson (Softronic) for advice. His reply was to just zip tie the other (apparently non-functional) tube out of the way and go ahead and remove the bracket.

However, as I actually got around to removing the engine bracket, I realized there was actually another bracket attached to it holding some kind of electrical relay (again, not present on the Manual cars). After studying the situation for a bit, I realized I could just move the engine bracket back and to the side, and still maintain its function, while allowing room for the new plenum.

Problem solved.

The actual time I spent working on the SRP install was about 2 hours - not particularly difficult, but a lot of fussing with getting the hoses off and on, and particularly getting the oil separator hose aligned right. Now, just waiting for Softronic to send me the software flash - got a PCA DE this week-end, so that extra HP/Torque would sure be nice. :D

(w)ilburn On The Artsy-Craftsy And Andy Warhol

Porscheburn — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:11:04 GMT

Creativity invites all kinds of reactions, while the typical one is revulsion.

The reality that creativity invites revulsion is one that many people do not understand--unless there is some controversial art being discussed--as most people do not care about the start of the creative
process, only learning about things at the end, when there is that rare thing called acceptance.

Most creative stuff is just stuff, and the revulsion never dies.

But some of it passes through to the mainstream, and gets to be considered, great.

And people forget about the revulsion.

Hatred of the creative process is not a new thing.

It is as old as humanity.

(w)ilburn On "Winning In Court"

Porscheburn — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:03:13 GMT

If you think you can jerk a judge around with patently bullshit answers that are the equivalent of saying "Prove it!" while giving him the
finger, think again.

Judges are not stupid. They are cranky, conservative old men, infatuated with their own estimate of their abilities, with a jaundiced view of the rest of mankind, and drunk on the power they have exercised over others' lives, true - but they aren't stupid.

And courts are not just about old men in fusty wigs, funny clothes, and oak paneling. Behind that veneer lies power, naked and raw, with very, very sharp teeth. Cross them and that power will be brought to bear very forcefully indeed.

If you find yourself in court you have already lost � big time! Even if found innocent it will be a sentence of bankruptcy with perhaps your marriage, your career, and your future in tatters. That's the upside.

So make sure you don't find yourself there. But, if you do, I suggest presenting a very submissive and very respectful demeanor. Unless, of course, you'd like to go out in a blaze of glory, a hero to us all, as
you begin your long sentence.

:wall::wall:

(w)ilburn On Driving Caymantoxicated And Higher Office

Porscheburn — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:00:27 GMT

Ethanol is an excellent substance to tank up on. Just don't drive on it. It slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and it's illegal. In excess, it can make you giddy, stupid, mean, sour, depressed, and violent. It might even make you President. :cheers:

(w)ilburn On the English language

Porscheburn — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:51:07 GMT

The English language, and all other languages, change in time, adapting to new discoveries or changes in the socio-political and scientific environments. However, such changes should not occur just for the sake of changing, especially to replace a correctly structured term with jargon
invented by some snotty chat room dweller who got his hands on daddy's old computer before he was old enough to graduate grammar school. Just because his chat room partners, equally intelligent and educated found that term to be 'cool', it doesn't mean that the rest of society should follow suit.
I don't think such jargon should be taught in universities, nor should dictionaries not be re-written to reflect ghetto and chat room slang.

I can understand abbreviations, but there is absolutely no reason to change 'viruses' to 'virii'. English has enough plural exceptions, who needs
another one?

Get dat thru yer brainz, yo'!

Road Trip

brucehoskins — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:05:40 GMT

We are leaving next month on a road trip from Chicago to California on old Route 66 and returning thru Phoenix, Colorado etc. Any suggestions about the trip or the Cayman on a long trip?