[JWA]

You could use the trick that the Lotus guys do at autocrosses and cover the gravel-prone areas with some blue painter's tape before hitting the highways. If the blue bums you out there's a version that comes in colors called "RaceTape" or something similar.

Congrats on the car, and have a good trip.

[DrPhyzx]

Originally Posted by JWA

You could use the trick that the Lotus guys do at autocrosses and cover the gravel-prone areas with some blue painter's tape before hitting the highways. If the blue bums you out there's a version that comes in colors called "RaceTape" or something similar.

Congrats on the car, and have a good trip.

Thanks... I will probably do this, at least on some very small areas that have been shown to be vulnerable in other posts.

[Subw00er]

Originally Posted by DrPhyzx

Thanks... I will probably do this, at least on some very small areas that have been shown to be vulnerable in other posts.

Not many people know about it, but there is a special non-permanent vinyl that is removable by a company called Oracal. It is called ORACAL 631 Exhibition Cal and its adhesive is GREAT.
ORACAL USA : Products : ORACAL* 631* Exhibition Cal

I use this stuff for car #'s (#405 here) when I go to driving events with my club:


It sicks perfectly, and when you want it off (a day, week or year later) it comes off clean. Thats what I'd use to protect the finish - maybe even doubling it up if you were really worried about larger rocks. Its 3mil's thick which I would say is the same or slightly thicker than painters tape. Its about $16 for a 15"x10yard roll (yes, "yard") and comes in many colors:
Sign Supplies and Equipment: 15" x 10 yds Perf - Low Price Guarantee

If you do decide to order, get one of these squeegees and it will make application easier/safer:
Sign Supplies and Equipment: Yellow 4 inch Poly Blend Squeegee - Low Price Guarantee

I usually buy my vinyl from signwarehouse (the link above). I was actually thinking about using my vinyl cutter to cut out protective sheets for those that have the paint chip issue, but I figured it probably wasnt worth the effort monetarily. Anyway, sorry to go soooo off topic here, but wanted to chime in - mods feel free to move this post to the paint chip thread..

[JWA]

Originally Posted by Subw00er

Its about $16 for a 15"x10yard roll (yes, "yard") and comes in many colors:
Sign Supplies and Equipment: 15" x 10 yds Perf - Low Price Guarantee

Interesting. The Oracal site doesn't mention anything about cars either way, but the SignsWarehous site says "Not Recommended for Vehicles". Any idea why they might say that?

--Josh

[Subw00er]

Originally Posted by JWA

Interesting. The Oracal site doesn't mention anything about cars either way, but the SignsWarehous site says "Not Recommended for Vehicles". Any idea why they might say that?
--Josh

Yes, well if you think about companies that make signage for a living - for work trucks for example, it needs to be a permanent vinyl. Because the adhesive is considered temporary, it is "not recommended for cars." Its not because it will hurt the paint or anything. I've used this material for 4 years now on various cars (I make #'s for people in my club) and its been consistent. Trust me, its good!

[JWA]

Cool. I wish I would have known about this before ordering 8mil clear bra film. I'm going to tell some of my track friends about it.

[DrPhyzx]

Originally Posted by DrPhyzx

So... somewhat on-topic questions are the following. First, although I live in the Bay Area, I got a screaming deal from a dealer very close to Jeff's shop (Portland). I will be flying up to get the car and I am seriously considering stopping in to pick up an AP at Perrin and flash away the poor factory tune before driving home. However, I understand that Jeff doesn't have a 91 map yet (which I'm gonna need ). So... Jeff, could you hook me up with an AP with the Cobb maps also? Alternately I could have you do a Stage 1 91 tune, but I'm not sure time/schedule are really going to permit that and also unsure how much sense it makes to spend money on a custom Stage 1.

So... trying to get back on-topic (sorry, my bad). Jeff, can you supply an AP loaded with the Cobb CA 91 Stage 1 map for this situation? I could bring my laptop with the Cobb maps loaded, but I'm a Mac guy. While Cobb has just released AP Manager for the Mac as beta, I'll be a bit nervous to count on it all working correctly so far from home with a new car.

Also, FWIW, I like the idea of running a real econo-mode for I, since the car can be set up to default to either I or S. My wife is very German, and very green, and she will want a mode that makes it easy to get the best possible mileage while making the car easy to drive smoothly.

Since S# always reverts to S, I think those should be pretty similar and it is reasonably safe to have S# push boost a little further than S. Maybe S something close to the stock S response and power (but without potentially dangerous problems of stock map) and S# enhanced from stock not only in throttle response but also with the max boost for that state of tune.

Does this make sense?

[tshrey]

I've got a suggestion for a new variation that I'm surprised no one has mentioned. Make S and S# the same damn thing - I can't stand getting in my car and having to twist that stupid knob every time I start it. Or figure out a way to let the car stay in S# after you shut it off...

[PERRINJeff]

Originally Posted by DrPhyzx

Second... I know a lot of you guys are from up that way and there are plenty of stories from the NW about paint chipping from traction gravel. How do I get out of the area with minimal exposure to this hazard?

This hasn't happened to mine yet, but when i go for a drive when wet out, the sides are the first thing to get splattered. So i can see how this can be an issue. Glad i live in Oregon, not in a state where the roads are salted.

Originally Posted by DrPhyzx

So... trying to get back on-topic (sorry, my bad). Jeff, can you supply an AP loaded with the Cobb CA 91 Stage 1 map for this situation? I could bring my laptop with the Cobb maps loaded, but I'm a Mac guy. While Cobb has just released AP Manager for the Mac as beta, I'll be a bit nervous to count on it all working correctly so far from home with a new car.

Also, FWIW, I like the idea of running a real econo-mode for I, since the car can be set up to default to either I or S. My wife is very German, and very green, and she will want a mode that makes it easy to get the best possible mileage while making the car easy to drive smoothly.

Since S# always reverts to S, I think those should be pretty similar and it is reasonably safe to have S# push boost a little further than S. Maybe S something close to the stock S response and power (but without potentially dangerous problems of stock map) and S# enhanced from stock not only in throttle response but also with the max boost for that state of tune.

Does this make sense?

I can do what ever you want. I can even make I only rev to about 3000 if you want

Originally Posted by tshrey

I've got a suggestion for a new variation that I'm surprised no one has mentioned. Make S and S# the same damn thing - I can't stand getting in my car and having to twist that stupid knob every time I start it. Or figure out a way to let the car stay in S# after you shut it off...

We have something up our sleeve with this issue..............

[ssauer2004]

Jeff

I personally like the mapping the way it is now. You have the economy mode, the the highest boost mode, and the highest boost mode. Sounds good to me.

Our mapping uses the 3 different modes for 3 different boost levels.
I- Is set to 9psi, which is boost control is nearly turned off. Same less aggressive in the lower RPM and lower accelerator positions. From 6000RPM on up the throttle starts to close. So super super good gas mileage mode.
S-Set to about 16psi, same low end throttle response as stock S# setting, but more aggressive at really low RPM.
S#-Set to 18psi, Same low end throttle resonse as stock S#.

[PERRINJeff]

Noted! Instead of a poll i think we will just keep this going here. Love the input so far.

[Emissary]

Originally Posted by DrPhyzx

Second... I know a lot of you guys are from up that way and there are plenty of stories from the NW about paint chipping from traction gravel. How do I get out of the area with minimal exposure to this hazard?

+1 for painter's tape; that's what I did:

Picasa Web Albums - Josh - 2008 Subaru S...

[Bownse]

With a Cobb AP ordered through Perrin (but not yet shipped), I was wondering if purchase through Perrin nets me "special" access to a location where all the different maps can be downloaded (a la Dynojet when buying a Power Commander).

I know that, with purchase, I spec'd the Perron map I wanted to come along with all the Cobb maps that are standard. How do we go about getting the additional maps that result from discussions like this?

[PERRINJeff]

We just email it to you. For anything beyond the map, give us an email and we will see what we can do.

[mofoSTI]

What are the dyno # between the cobb map and perrins map?