I have gone through all the Paint threads I could find on the C3 forum, but none have really answered the question I have which is this:

My car has the original paint on it and it is cracked and chipped in many places. The front end is all grey primer because some woman backed into me at 3 miles per hour in a parking lot a while back and insurance paid to redo the front end (just cosmetic stuff), but we didn't paint it since I was planning on repainting car anyway... got some other stuff in trade value from the shop. I have pretty much finished the interior and the engine is a relatively fresh rebuild. I want to keep tinkering with the car but I want to drive it once in awhile and enjoy it.

I am not ready to spend $5k to $15 right now to paint the car. Eventually I hope to spend $5 or $6 with a hook up or two. I am in Georgia and there are a lot of talented painters out here that will do stuff on the side.... anyway that's not the point of this post.

What I was wondering is if I did a cheap Maaco job... $500 or $1000 now, and enjoy it for awhile, knowing that the paint won't be anywhere near show quality, or even super nice and won't last, but probably look pretty decent for driving around on weekends for a couple of years. My question is will this make it any more difficult or more expensive to do the nicer paint job later? Or is it going to be the same either way?

THANKS!

 

75,
Just keep tinkering. Paint it when its time. It is a work in progress.
If you but a cheap job on it now, it will be more work later on = $$$.

glassman74

 

You could still drive it once in a while on good days.

 

Yes. If the foundation is not good the new paint won't last.

Danny

 

If, you do most if, not all the prep work yourself, buy the paint you want on the car, i.e PPG or Dupont or other, and supply it to Macco...then drop/ remove all the unpainted articles from the car...I feel you will be very happy with the monies you will spend at Macco. They will shoot anything you desire for a cost. This way you can start to enjoy your car now instead of waiting and saving pennies. Now don't get me wrong here....the idea here is to spend within your means and enjoy what you have, with a little bit of work on your end. Hope this helps you make up your mind.

 

If it was me, I'd buy just enough acrylic lacquer to cover the primed areas. That's it. Certainly would look a lot more presentable but still not cost much $$$. Do it in your garage or driveway. Lacquer dries fast.

Like was mentioned before, and I'm paraphrasing here, you can't polish a turd. Why waste time and money fixing those existing cracks and chips for a quickie scuff & shoot paint job? Every bit of that will be removed for the real restoration paint job...chemically stripped down to the baked on primer over the gelcoat. You need a good foundation to begin with when finally investing your hard-earned $$$ in a proper paint job.

Actually, a lot of folks shoot in single stage enamel w/ hi-gloss hardner. Then color sand and polish to level the inevitable orange peel like the OEM lacquer, but more durable. And easier to repair, if needed, than a base\clear job.

 

Primer/worn paint looks way better than a crappy fresh paint job!

 

Paint jobs can vary alot in both price and quality. I'd much rather hold off a while with paiting it and if you get to be friendly with one of the guys in the shops you visit? maybe you can work a deal on the side and that $1,000 you might want to throw at a quick paint job might end up being about 25% of what it might cost you on the side for a real nice paint job.

I wonder if there are any trade schools near you or even high schools that have auto body shop programs? if so you might be able to talk to the teacher or instructor and work some deal out with him to paint the car if you supplied the paint? just a thought...good luck.