I am just finished the body work on the front end of my car (damn 18 wheelers) and I am thinking about getting the whole car repainted. I was wondering where people got theirs done and if they liked it. National chains or local, I was just wondering how much people paid and their overall satisfaction. Thanks a ton, guys.
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2011 Vortex Pearl Blue Fit Sport MT
42 mpg ftw
shop around. In most cases more money = better work. Before you decide ask to take a look around the shop, make sure it is kept clean. Also ask if you can see their work on other cars and see if it is the kind of job you are looking for. If you do find a good national one report back as i really need a repaint because mine is really faded in areas
Ask around town. I have gone to a lot of body shops for estimates based off of nothing more than reputation I have heard for "old geezers" that have lived here for decades, including my own family.
The people that are older know the town best. They also know which businesses are good enough to stay in business for so long.
Ask around town. I have gone to a lot of body shops for estimates based off of nothing more than reputation I have heard for "old geezers" that have lived here for decades, including my own family.
The people that are older know the town best. They also know which businesses are good enough to stay in business for so long.
clearly you've never been to kingman.....
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If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.
around here, you ask the old timers and they go to the same rip off year after year. they have some trust for places they've been going to for years although its clear to the outsiders that they are being ripped off. i don't dare ever ask my neighbor or people that have been here for a long time for a recommendation for anything ever, lol.
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If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.
Back in highschool I had a car painted at Maaco. I got what I paid for, which wasn't much. The paint on the car had been FUBAR, so anything was an improvement. It was a B+, at best, and two years later it was already starting to flake off around the windshield.
Since I'd assume you want your car to look nice, and you've done some body work, consider doing it yourself. Two hundred dollars will get you enough single stage catalyzed paint (don't forget $20 for an activated charcoal breather mask, at harborfreight, which is a great deal! Otherwise, you die a terrible death from isocyanates, as in cyanide. )
You'll also need a compressor and gun, but these could be begged/borrowed/harbor freighted, as well.
I've painted a few cars with acrylic enamel, and the trick is that if you do a single stage (no clear coat) you can wet sand out blemishes/runs/boogers and all will be forgiven!
Otherwise, be prepared to throw down a couple grand, to get a "real" paint job that will look good for years.
I was quoted $1k once for a professional, top of the line, honest priming of my car(before the prelude) a few years back. This is by one of the more reputable shops here.
wow, i have been quoted for around 1700 for mediocre, 3500 for nicely done, 5500 for professionally painted and around 9500-12000 for show quality winning paintjobs. It comes down to how nice do you want to spend??
Also consider how well you are going to take care of the paint after you get the paint job. If it is just a daily driver, no need to go out and get a top of the line paint job if you're just gonna beat it up. If you use a lot of tunnel washes, expect it to get a bunch of scratches, swirls, marring, etc.
I got my car painted at Earl Schieb and I thought they did a crappy job, but I only paid $1300. When they color sanded and buffed, they left a bunch of buffer trails and swirls and didn't tape off the trim and put a lot of buffer burns in them. Also some orange peel left in some areas.
I was able to polish out most of the swirls and rids myself though while learning to polish paint. Also need to learn to wetsand to get rid of the orange peel.
Last edited by jrfrancisco712; 01-25-2010 at 05:57 PM.
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