Aussie79

On the 22nd of this month (2 weeks away) I am taking my Vette on a 2500 mile Journey interstate to visit family, my 13 year old daughter and I are looking forward to the roadtrip (yes I will post photos when I get back). However I have been waiting for the paint shop to call me as I have had my car booked in for 2 months to get a re-spray (Red) and they want my car this Monday.............F*$& serious??? Now they said it would be done in time and would be returned to me by the Friday before I leave. Here's the dilemma, do I get it painted now and drive that far as I am sure it will get stone chips all over the front of it or do I postpone the paint job until I get back???? The idea of the journey in a beautiful new paint job is appealing but the stone chips isnt. What would you do???

Dennis.

kjb13

The joy of that trip will be sharing it with your daughter, not the new paint. Drive now, paint later.

flyeri

Enjoy the trip and worry about the paint latter.

Aussie79

Wow, hadnt considered that angle. I like it. I am thinking of a delay at the moment. I actually work where it is going to be painted so I have full access to the work being done, booth etc. So a photo journal will be a given. Lets see what others say.

Thanks for the thought.

AzMotorhead

Paint after. Because if they run into problems you know who will be on the losing end.

erikm12

Paint after, that way you don't have any stress over rock chips or dings and such with your new paint on your lengthy trip.

AAJC

I wouldnt jeopardise the one on one time with my daughter. Dont risk the painter running late & ruining your trip.

I hope you have a safe trip.



Andrew

palmbeachvette76

Unless your body shops in Australia are different than here in the states, add 3-4 weeks to whatever date they "say" it will be done. I have never seen a body shop deliver a car on time, there is always some type of delay or the normal reality that they have more work then they can handle.

I agree with the drive now - paint later.

Vetteman Jack

I'd wait on the paint job until you get back - that way the shop won't be rushed to get the job done, any unforeseen delays won't cause undue stress and you won't have to worry about messing up a brand new paint job.

Have a great trip and enjoy the quality time with your daughter.

oldgto

I agree that you should go first, then paint. The shop will inevitably run over the time frame, and ruin it.
BUT.... your worry about chips make me wonder if this will be the last time you enjoy the car? What do you fear on this trip that you wouldn`t also encounter in any other driving?

Carlos840

So does that mean you will never drive it again after it gets painted?

You WILL get a stone chip on that new paint job at some point, just get it painted, enjoy it, and drive it....

(i would postpone it, but just as i would be afraid of them taking longer, not because of a paint chip!)

Go Vette Go

I agree with everyone else! You have enough concern with driving a 33 year old car 2500 miles as it is. Enjoy the trip with your daughter now, paint it when you return.

Have a terrific road trip!

AGVI

Drive now, paint later! Enjoy the time with your Daughter!

Les

Easy Mike

Make my own decision.

Aussie79

Thanks everyone for your feedback, I am going to postpone the paint until I return.

To answer a few questions though, yes i will drive the car after it is painted, however I normally only do about 2000 miles a year in it, this trip is nearly 18 months worth of driving in 9 days, I am bound to get 18 months worth of damage too, that's OK but i would rather take 18 months to do it, my mum always said, "you have something longer old than new".

As for delays, it wont happen, I work in the aviation industry and the paint shop is here in the hangar I work in, these guys are experts in fibreglass and aluminum repairs and painting, they have critical time frames and work to the hour on jobs, you can not afford to have a two week delay on a 2 million dollar aircraft, they are perfectionists, you should see their work, just stunning, and yes...... they have painted Corvettes before not just aircraft, they know what they are in for. However, I have chosen to do some of the labor myself which will inlcude fitting the new weather seals all round after the paint job, this could easily delay the process. More likely I will delay it than them.
So road trip will be done in stunning brown......

Dennis.