Time for Paint
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
Time for Paint
Well it's time of this restore for body and paint. Went over to Maaco and they want $2200.00 just to body prep and pair. Does anyone know if Maaco is any good? Does anyone have any experience with them? This seems very high to me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,557
Likes: 9
From: Oquirrh Mountains
St. Jude Donor '09
Don't walk, RUN away from MAACO. I suggest stopping by a few car shows and talking to a few corvette guys to see who they've used and get a first-hand look at their work. Working with fiberglass/SMC isn't going to be familiar to many insurance repair shops.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
It depends on what you want to do with your car and what you can afford. I recently went to several body shops and have received estimates between 7-10k to strip, repair and paint vehicle. If your budget only allows you to go to macco then go. You and only you can make that decision. You will probably get plenty replies that say don't walk... run from macco. Some come from those who have had bad experiences with macco to those who make "don't go to macco"," macco paint my vette? never" are from comments from hearsay. Remember also each macco shop is independently owned and operated so do your homework. Whether you go to a privately owned shop or macco for repair /paint it is a crap shoot in my opinion.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,611
Likes: 345
From: No Where USA
I have seen Macco paint jobs on some cars at the shows I go to. They look real good. If you get the right place they will do a real good job. Just prep the car.
Nothing wrong with Macco if thats all you can swing.
Nothing wrong with Macco if thats all you can swing.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,611
Likes: 345
From: No Where USA
Why? Because it's cheap and you supposedly get what you pay for.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 205
Likes: 2
From: Sneads Ferry NC
When I used to live in Ga I had Maaco paint my Supra, they charged me a 1000 bucks to get it done, it wasn't a show quality paint job by any means but for what I paid I was more than happy with the outcome.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
My two cents:
A good painter can lay down a good paint.
BUT
The time and cost is in the prep work.
How far down are they going to strip off the old paint?
How will they strip off the old paint, sanding, media blasting, etc.?
Once stripped how much attention to detail in getting the body flaws up to YOUR standards?
Each step has its own time, cost, and materials.
That's why some paint jobs are $2000 & some are $8000.
Everyone has different standards - you & the shop.
A good painter can lay down a good paint.
BUT
The time and cost is in the prep work.
How far down are they going to strip off the old paint?
How will they strip off the old paint, sanding, media blasting, etc.?
Once stripped how much attention to detail in getting the body flaws up to YOUR standards?
Each step has its own time, cost, and materials.
That's why some paint jobs are $2000 & some are $8000.
Everyone has different standards - you & the shop.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
You're in for a rude awakening if you think $2.2K is a high price!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
When I painted mine (over 10 years ago) I got a lot of bids and talked to a lot of people. I knew anyone who bid $2,000 didn't know what they were talking about. My car needed a lot of work. I budgeted 4K and ended up paying 5.5K. It was a bargain, as paint jobs go.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: White Plains MD
I'm doing my own work, and I have close to...if not more just in getting the body ready for paint. I expect another 2k+ to get the paint on. Decent paint is expensive ...better paint...even more. Someone that knows what they are doing..start adding zeros.
But as previously stated, look around...talk to people that have had their pride an joy painted. The time you spend know gathering the facts will be well worth it.
H
But as previously stated, look around...talk to people that have had their pride an joy painted. The time you spend know gathering the facts will be well worth it.
H
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock TX
If I'm not mistaken each Maaco is individually owned and quality will vary. I would get in writing everything he says he'll do for your $2200. You should check your local sources such as the BBB and see if there has been any complaints filed. I'll be looking to paint soon myself and Maaco will be on my list. I sent my mother-in-law to them to have her bumper repaired and repainted where everyone else wanted to replace it. They did a fantastic job in her own words and if they can make her happy (especially this person) then I'll definitely have to check them out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If she's gonna be a driver...spend the $2200. I've seen too many guys turn decent cars into "garage/trailer queens" because they are too afraid of that first scratch or ding. If you're gonna show it, then as previously stated, you're drunk if you think $2200 is a lot. Nothing wrong with knocking down the paint with some wet sanding and polish when you get her back.....then you've got a good "10-footer" that you can enjoy with some peace of mind, and not freak out if you catch a rock chip. Good luck in your decision.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 668
Likes: 21
Every Maaco is different. They have different guys doing the paint. I had a Maaco paint job out of NJ. They should not even be aloud to piant hotwheels. I have had much better luck with a Pa. Maaco that's about 25 minutes away from the first place. You need to look at their work in person. Ask lots of questions as they all have different ideas if they should bake the piant on or just let it dry. Three different Maacos told me 3 different things about fiberglass holding moisture.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
why not do it yourself? if you have an area large enough (two car garage) you can achieve very good results for less than $1000 including a good quality paint gun. nason (and many others) makes a good line of paint that's about $100 a gallon-it's not top of the line stuff, but it's a very durable paint. use spi epoxy and clear and it will buff to a great shine. and you won't have a heart attack if a rock chips it-you'll just repair it yourself. just expect to spend about 50 hours in prep, paint, wet sanding and polishing.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 199
From: Palm Bay Florida
why not do it yourself? if you have an area large enough (two car garage) you can achieve very good results for less than $1000 including a good quality paint gun. nason (and many others) makes a good line of paint that's about $100 a gallon-it's not top of the line stuff, but it's a very durable paint. use spi epoxy and clear and it will buff to a great shine. and you won't have a heart attack if a rock chips it-you'll just repair it yourself. just expect to spend about 50 hours in prep, paint, wet sanding and polishing.
Mark
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 12
From: Rockford, IL
As everyone has said, it depends on the Maaco. At a minimum, I would recommend covering everything that you don't want to get painted. Maaco loves spay-over. There's still blue paint in the treads of my buddy's truck tires.
Also, ask if they are going to remove the doors and bumpers to paint them separately, otherwise you get a weird buildup in the cracks.
Make sure they pay extra attention to your bonding strips. If they aren't treated right, it will show through the paint.
That's all the advice I have.
Good luck!
Also, ask if they are going to remove the doors and bumpers to paint them separately, otherwise you get a weird buildup in the cracks.
Make sure they pay extra attention to your bonding strips. If they aren't treated right, it will show through the paint.
That's all the advice I have.
Good luck!