Well, duh! I prepped my car (only a little) for an autox yesterday for an event I thought was today only to find out it's next Sunday. Got my magnetic numbers ready (change from AS to SS) since this is the first time with the CS. Pumped up the air all round by 2 lbs., got the tank down to 1/4, and TAPED the front clip corners to ward off cone marks. Came back home after I got there and found I had screwed up. The tape I used was 3M automotive duck tape which came right off, but left a lot of residue. After and hour of bug/tar remover, washing and waxing, the residue is gone. Is there a better tape to use? Something that does the job but doesn't leave the sticky goo or at least as much of it. I don't want to go the "bra" route (still have an unused black RX-8 bra in the garage if anyone is interested). I've autoxed cars for the last 6 years, Miata, RX-8 and Z4, without any problem, but the CS has more front-end than any of the others and seems to me to be prone to collect marks like the Elise a friend runs.

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'07 CS, Meteor Grey, stone grey, 19" Carrera Sport with meteor grey spokes/polished rim, headrest crests, bi-xenons, Bose, power seats, rain sensor, fire extinguisher, heated seats, dimming mirrors, FabSpeed Maxflo II catback
'06 CLS 500, white, beige
'04 Black Ranger Edge

If you're gong to use tape, use the 3M blue "painters'" tape. It comes up well, and doesn't leave much of a residue, if any. Clean the areas well before you tape them, or the tape won't stick to well, and/or the tape might grind the dirt into the finish when you apply it to the car.

brad

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21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Thanks. I have someof that stuff... pretty expensive. What about plain 'ol clear packing tape? I have some of that, too.

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'07 CS, Meteor Grey, stone grey, 19" Carrera Sport with meteor grey spokes/polished rim, headrest crests, bi-xenons, Bose, power seats, rain sensor, fire extinguisher, heated seats, dimming mirrors, FabSpeed Maxflo II catback
'06 CLS 500, white, beige
'04 Black Ranger Edge

Spend the money on the tape, not having to clean the glue off is worth it. I use it for numbers never had to clean after it.

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Is that 35mph corner 45, 55 or a ..... corner?

just dont hit any cones!!!

i agree with the others...if you'rs gonna be putting tape on, use the painters tape, it's worth it...my car has a coat of rejex on it, and "cone entrails" come off EASY...i dont have r-comps on the cayman yet, so i dont worry about taping the car up...

my vette has r-comps though, so i protect the sides from rock chips with clear shelf paper...doesnt leave a residue, and comes off easy...and since it's wide, covers a bigger area than using lots of strips of tape...plus it's cheap- ~6bucks for a roll, which will do my vette 1.5x...you could use it on the front too if you wanted...

here's a pic of it on the sides...

I've used the blue tape, it doesn't leave much residue, but it does shred as you drive. I went to Griot's Garage site & got spray on bra. Better protection, stays on until you peel it off (I've left it for 2 months once) and leaves no residue (as long as you put it on thick enough), but it does get pricey.

Greg

I think the packing tape would take some of your finish off... use the blue stuff if you're going to use tape, it's made to come off without disturbing whatever finish is underneath.

brad

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21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

another great thing someone told me a whilea go and i swear by now is to use a quick mist detailing spray right before you apply the tape. It easily stays on for auto-x but comes off so easy later with no residue

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Alex
08 cayman s #207
PCA club race stock "H"

Anyone use racing tape? It comes in a range of colors so it might look better that blue tape - unless your car happens to be Painter's Blue. )

You can get the blue painters tape at Home Depot pretty cheap. Just make sure your paint surface is clean before you start touching it.

I would think "Racers Tape" is just colored "duct tape" since its mostly used to put a car back together after a minor crash.