Cayman S: the only car you'll ever need

OK, so I have owned my Cayman S coming up on 7 years now. I can safely say that this is a car that can do almost anything - except haul two more passengers in the back seat.  Other than that, I have used it for long road trips, fishing trips, camping, back road excursions, daily commuting, grocery store runs, auto crossing, Time Trials, and all kinds of track days with the SCCA, NASA, Trackmasters, and Hooked on Driving. In every case and in all uses, this car does everything well. It is the ultimate underdog at the track, yet can embarrass much higher power cars, much more expensive track cars, and just about anything on 4 wheels if the other driver isn't prepared for what is coming in the rear view mirror. Granted, I have modified this car, but that makes it a bit of a "sleeper" that defies expectations.

When I purchased it from a seller back east, he had just had TPC Racing install a full STage4 JRZ race suspension on it, as well as a limited slip differential and a Tubi sports exhaust with a nice ECU tune.  Since then, I have made a few more adjustments to the suspension and tires, along with deep sump and other oiling mods, and I upgraded the brakes to Girodisc rotors, Pagid pads, and Motul fluid. I also had the car color-changed with a full-car vinyl wrap to a green that mimics the green color of the 2007 Porsche GT3RS. Many of these changes have been shown in other posts on my blog. But the biggest change came in 2016 when I had Vision Motorsports completely rebuild the engine. It was bored out from the stock 3.4 liters to 3.8 liters, and a long list of modifications gave it better oiling, higher HP, higher torque, and far more track and daily street dependability. Chrome-moly pistons, new rods, race bearings, underdrive pulley, third radiator, custom crankshaft with oil channels, lightweight aluminum flywheel and racing clutch, etc. With an additional 45 HP and more torque across the band, this car punches above its weight class!

Here are some photos and videos from today as well as through time, commemorating what has been a car with more uses that you can imagine!

Here is a short video of the sound of the car on the street as it accelerates and when blipping the throttle to downshift, and one with some exhaust sound at idle and revs to about 5000 rpm.

And a few videos of the car in action at Sonoma Raceway and Laguna Seca. Some are older, when the car was still in its original black paint, some are newer.

Laguna Seca, 2014. This was before the engine rebuild.

Sonoma Raceway, 2017, after engine rebuild:

And a few more from both tracks:

Thunder hill Raceway, no external microphone:

And this is a full session (older version of car), produced with multiple camera angles by Jay Rosa at VisionWells:

The Gator being used as an SUV, and a pic of before it's color transformation:

I like Vinyl Wraps: 2012 McLaren 12C Turns Blue

If you've read any of my prior blog posts, you may have come across the fact that I have had two cars fully wrapped in protective vinyl film in order to make a temporary color change. (see "Green Car Movement - The Gator gets a new skin" and "Pink Mini Cooper joins the garage"). One update I should have posted (and may still do so) is that we had the vinyl wrap removed from one of those cars after 3+ years and the paint underneath was a fresh as it was when the car was new in the dealer showroom.   So, yes, I am a fan of the vinyl-wrap craze (not sure if I can all it a "craze", since many people are still unaware of the possibilities for cars and vinyl-wrapping). Anyway, here's the next chapter...

I've owned my 2012 McLaren MP4-12C now for two years and about 8000 miles.  I still love this car and its capabilities on track and on road trips. And although I love the black exterior combined with the saddle/tan leather interior, I was looking to give the car a little change to create a bit more drama.  So I decided on a "wardrobe change" that would clothe the car in a vibrant blue, like the great blues of many car makers (Mexico Blue or Fistral Blue from McLaren, Sepang Blue from Audi, Adriatic Blue from Porsche, Cobalt Blue from Aston Martin, etc.).  The color chosen for mine is Gloss Intense Blue from Avery Dennison, and the car was wrapped by the guys at  Elite Auto Films in Fremont, CA.  I wasn't sure how I would like the bright blue with the saddle color interior, but  having seen a few cars done similarly, I took the plunge.  The transformation is pretty amazing, and the ability to reveal more of the car's angles and curves made it worthwhile.  Plus - I have no problem finding it in the grocery store parking lot!

As always, the great thing about a good vinyl wrap is that it gives you infinite color options, it protects the paint from chips and scratches, and it is fully reversible once you are tired of the color. Join the vinyl revolution!