Maybe not less....BUT, you will considerably limit your pool of potential buyers. Whether it's "technically" true or not, the "real world" is so filled with technically incompetent car sprayers and bondo kings, that the "real world" truth is that re-paint is rarely ever as durable as the factory coating.

When I go to buy a car, unless it's something very rare, or very old, (and then I'm extremely cautious) as soon as I hear "paint work", I move on to the next deal. I don't know what's being hidden, or the true quality of the paint work. Almost all body shops, even the bad ones give a "lifetime" warranty, to the original customer, so that's worthless to the next owner. There are just too many other cars out there for me to take that gamble. I'd rather see it for what it is, and have full knowledge of the repair, and how/who handled it.

On modern cars, including corvettes, IF I could see reasonable documentation, I wouldn't rule out a minor bumper repair/repaint, as that is something the new designs almost scream for, and is relatively inexpensive to correct. But a FULL repaint....as a buyer, I run away as fast as I can go.

So, if you limit your pool of perspective buyers, and you are the seller, you only have two choices: wait for the person to come along who is willing to make that gamble, or lower your price to a point where the gamble makes sense for more people. Your car, your choice......

 

 

This is what I have always heard. Unless Chip Foose is doing it, I would not get a repaint.

 

I really can't argue the validity of the change in value but I do believe that the Factory paint is best applies more to cars that rarely see the light of day not cars that are daily drivers or 14 year old cars that have been enjoyed regularly. Even on the paint forum it is suggested that the factory paint can't stand much rubbing before it becomes a problem. I'd love to have factory perfect paint but there are few FRC cars left that can claim that title and the few I found during my search were priced way out of my range for a 11 year old car.

 

I just can't picture someone saying "Gee it's a nice Vette,and I'd give you top dollar for it,but the paint just isn't quite beat up enough to justify such an expenditure"

If a Vette's 10 or 12 years old,-it's going to change in value,because it's getting old,not because you got tired of looking at the road rash and had it painted.
The fact that you actually used the Vette while you owned it is,in itself going to limit the pool of potential buyers.

"You had it painted AND you drove it everyday!!?- omfg man,what were you thinking!"

 

Unless the car had a lot of flaws, a new paint job is an expensive proposition - and if you drive it you will get chips on it again. What Blue Dragon said will be a lot cheaper and you'd be surprised how good it will look.

 

A good detail; clay, polish & wax by someone who knows how to do it right would be a good first option.

 

A few years back some a-hole cliped the front corner of my 02 from the middle of the wheel to the front corner while it was parked. Suprisingly the corner lens did not break but the wheel got some pretty deep scratches in it and I had to replace it. As far as the bumper goes, it was able to be repaired and needed to be repainted (of coarse). Before the repaint the front bumper paint held up very well, after the repair it looked good as new and the paint matched perfectly, however the durablility of the new paint was nothing like the original paint job. Amost immediatly there was rock damage to the front bumper and now it looks lousy, a lot of pits and damage from the road. I'm going to have to have it redone again in the spring, and will spend more if I have to for a better quality/durable paint job, however I know that no matter what it won't be a good as the original paint, it never is. If my car looked good I would never spend the $$ to repaint the entire car, the quality won't be as good and if you like to drive your car your gonna find out quick. Im sure that you can find someone that can give you a better paint job than you have now but I'm sure it will set you back big bucks, so if your car still looks good why would you spend it if it's just gonna look a little better? Thats just my .02 cents, do what makes you happy and good luck with your Vette!

 

C5 factory clear coat is incredibly hard. Buffing swirls out of a C5 is a real PITA.

 

I had my 03 vert painted for $3000. I did some horsetrading with him to get to $3000. He originally wanted $4000.00. You can shave in the shine.It was changed from grey to red and was taken apart so it was done right.How do they justify $5000 or more paint jobs? I was there every day and saw the sanding and prep work done right.It got a primer then 2 coats red and 2 coats clear , then sanded with 2500 grit and polished.
This car was never going to be a classic because of the numbers sold,so because I got a good deal on the car I painted it the color I liked.
I have had 4 other vettes and was never asked if it was painted when I sold it. Condition of the total car sold the car for good money.
Isn't it the same as when someone mods the car? Does it lose alot of value? Not if someone wants those mods and if they were done right .
If we all liked the same mods and colors, what a boring world we would have.

 

It will look great setting still in a garage, but that means not driving it. Ok so you have this 'perfect' 04 with ultra low miles. and if that's the case, sell it and get something your not afraid to drive. I've got a excellant 03 50th anniversary coupe. I put it up for winters, but once the snow and salt is gone that car comes out to play. I ain't gonna see any chips on the car in heaven, (hopefully) ?

And then again if at some point you want to sell the car. First thing anyone looking to buy it are going ask "Why the new paint?" You know they going to think 'Accident' something you paid for yourself and it never popped up on a carfax ! If you repaint it, it's just going to jinx you in the end. Look, buy your self a nice mask or GM bra for the front and a set for the mirrors. And get out there drive it and forget about making it a "Modern Art" item. Nobody wants a garage queen.