I haven't seen this before on the forums yet, but I have a weird starting issue. It happened twice already so I figure I try to find out what's going on with it.

I'm not sure if it is temperature related, but it has happened twice in the cold and in the morning. (Cold Start)

I push the clutch in and turn the key, and it doesn't start. Instead it makes this whiring grinding noise when I hold the key down. And the sound goes away as I return the key to the regular position. I try it again and the car started.

The same thing happened today. But it made the sound twice and the car started on the 3rd try. So what's the culprit?

 

Sounds like your starter solenoid is sticking a bit and isn't pushing the starter pinion gear far enough to fully engage the flywheel ring gear.

Cheap fix would be to try taking apart the starter/solenoid and cleaning it but I have never done that so have no idea if that's even possible.

But that's my guess based on your information.