Red tape paint protection for a long road trip - LotusTalk

good2go · 10-06-2009, 04:31 PM

So, my buddies and I decided to do a guy road trip to Zion National Park, Utah..1000 mile round trip, last weekend. I needed some protection for the front spoiler area and the sides. However, I didn't want to use the sore-looking-thumb blue painter's tape or the spray-on protection.

Looking around a local Home Depot, I found a 3 Day Red Stucco Tape that was easily removed with minimal residue. 2"x60 Yds for $6.79. Taped the front end and side of my Elise which blended well and work out great on my Ardent Red Elise.

So, from now on, I will definitely use the Red Stucco Tape for the track and long trip. The Elise drove like a champ and the tape held up superbly through gusty wind during the Utah-Arizona-Nevada-California drive.

The Zion Mount Carmel Highway 9 is an amazing zig-zag road which is exactly what the Elise was designed for. The 2-mile long pitch dark tunnel into the mountain was very cool also! Here's some poor quality Blackberry photos of the Utah roadtrip last weekend.

Your web browser and the Maps site are incompatible

Just another paint protection option for those with AR Elise/Exige.

txdude · 10-06-2009, 04:36 PM

Can't wait until I get home to see those pics! I have an AR too, but I'm on a gov laptop & can't view those photos--just in time for my trip to TX next weekend. I had to retape my car with the blue stuff 3 times when I picked her up last July.

txdude · 10-06-2009, 04:38 PM

Care to elaborate on the minimul residue? Easy to wipe off, or more of a strong-armed scrub? I remember the blue stuff had zero residue.

apk919 · 10-06-2009, 04:52 PM

You're clearly not going the whole 9 yards...

+

=

good2go · 10-06-2009, 04:55 PM

I tested it out, it's even less stickier than the blue tape during removal. Very easy to put on and take off. It's also stronger and much thicker than the blue painter's tape. Furthermore, all the tapes held in place perfectly during the entire roadtrip, inspite driving in the triple digits and through sandy, gusty wind...really exposed to the elements!

Keep in mind, I have the CF front spoiler and CF sideskirts that I want to protect. It turned out great, and less obvious than blue!

Home depot: check the painter's tape, painting accessories aisle - it's the Stucco Red Tape - 3 Day Removal - less residue...etc. (I think it's 3M?) for ess than $7! I used the entire roll for the front and sides. Great stuff, highly recommended!

catapult · 10-06-2009, 07:27 PM

Don't you have Starshield? I don't see the need to use tape.

avonnieda · 10-06-2009, 08:07 PM

Great looking car! What kind of front splitter is that?

Thanks, nice pics too.

-Adam

txdude · 10-08-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avonnieda

Great looking car! What kind of front splitter is that?

^Yeah that! Have any pics w/o the red tape? Your car is sic. I want my AR Elise to look just like it, can I steal your idea? Seriously though, please post model info on those skirts & spoiler. I'm deploying in a couple of months & now know exactly what I want to buy when I return

good2go · 10-08-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catapult

Don't you have Starshield? I don't see the need to use tape.

I do have Starshield - I just wanted to test this product in the extreme conditions: 1000-mile round trip in the high desert with gusty wind, going through the mountains and open country. I want to protect the CF parts from getting chipped by flying debris. I'll use the same for the next track day.

good2go · 10-08-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avonnieda

Great looking car! What kind of front splitter is that?

Thanks, nice pics too.

-Adam

Quote:

Originally Posted by txdude

^Yeah that! Have any pics w/o the red tape? Your car is sic. I want my AR Elise to look just like it, can I steal your idea? Seriously though, please post model info on those skirts & spoiler. I'm deploying in a couple of months & now know exactly what I want to buy when I return

Thanks guys, I like the sport/racer look. The sideskirts are from Esta International in Hongkong. The front spoiler is same as theirs also but I bought elsewhere, which I totally forgot. The rear spoiler was from eliseparts.com in England.

Here's my ride on their website:

Esta Style Lotus Elise S2 Side Skirts / Type ESTA S2 Side Skirts

txdude · 10-08-2009, 07:50 PM

O'crap! That's the car I was salivating all over a while back. I actually had the site bookmarked already.

10-06-2009, 04:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
good2go Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Downtown LB, California Posts: 498	Red tape paint protection for a long road trip So, my buddies and I decided to do a guy road trip to Zion National Park, Utah..1000 mile round trip, last weekend. I needed some protection for the front spoiler area and the sides. However, I didn't want to use the sore-looking-thumb blue painter's tape or the spray-on protection. Looking around a local Home Depot, I found a 3 Day Red Stucco Tape that was easily removed with minimal residue. 2"x60 Yds for $6.79. Taped the front end and side of my Elise which blended well and work out great on my Ardent Red Elise. So, from now on, I will definitely use the Red Stucco Tape for the track and long trip. The Elise drove like a champ and the tape held up superbly through gusty wind during the Utah-Arizona-Nevada-California drive. The Zion Mount Carmel Highway 9 is an amazing zig-zag road which is exactly what the Elise was designed for. The 2-mile long pitch dark tunnel into the mountain was very cool also! Here's some poor quality Blackberry photos of the Utah roadtrip last weekend. Your web browser and the Maps site are incompatible Just another paint protection option for those with AR Elise/Exige.

10-06-2009, 04:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
apk919 ΒÄŅNED Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Limbo Posts: 6,281 Images: 20	You're clearly not going the whole 9 yards... + = __________________ * 2009 Lotus Challenge Series Rookie Of The Year * (Thanks Jim, Tom, Jack, Rob & Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch!) My videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/apk919

10-06-2009, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
good2go Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Downtown LB, California Posts: 498	I tested it out, it's even less stickier than the blue tape during removal. Very easy to put on and take off. It's also stronger and much thicker than the blue painter's tape. Furthermore, all the tapes held in place perfectly during the entire roadtrip, inspite driving in the triple digits and through sandy, gusty wind...really exposed to the elements! Keep in mind, I have the CF front spoiler and CF sideskirts that I want to protect. It turned out great, and less obvious than blue! Home depot: check the painter's tape, painting accessories aisle - it's the Stucco Red Tape - 3 Day Removal - less residue...etc. (I think it's 3M?) for ess than $7! I used the entire roll for the front and sides. Great stuff, highly recommended! Last edited by good2go : 10-06-2009 at 05:06 PM.

10-06-2009, 08:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
avonnieda Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Edwardsville, KS Posts: 57	Great looking car! What kind of front splitter is that? Thanks, nice pics too. -Adam __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, desnorkeled - Hey, it's a start.. 1997 Ducati 748

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10-06-2009, 04:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
txdude Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ellsworth SD Posts: 137	Can't wait until I get home to see those pics! I have an AR too, but I'm on a gov laptop & can't view those photos--just in time for my trip to TX next weekend. I had to retape my car with the blue stuff 3 times when I picked her up last July.

10-06-2009, 04:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
txdude Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ellsworth SD Posts: 137	Care to elaborate on the minimul residue? Easy to wipe off, or more of a strong-armed scrub? I remember the blue stuff had zero residue.

10-06-2009, 07:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
catapult Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,569	Don't you have Starshield? I don't see the need to use tape.

10-08-2009, 07:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
txdude Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ellsworth SD Posts: 137	O'crap! That's the car I was salivating all over a while back. I actually had the site bookmarked already.

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