Re-painting? Options

[Daftboy]

OK well within the next few months I would really like to paint my car over.....think i should trust macco to do it ?

This post has been edited by Daftboy: Jun 1, 2007 - 2:32 PM

[DSToyo]

presure, can you please explain a little more about maaco paint jobs and what they do and don't do, because i have only heard bad things, and you obviously know a lot about painting cars.

[presure2]

presure, can you please explain a little more about maaco paint jobs and what they do and don't do, because i have only heard bad things, and you obviously know a lot about painting cars.

well, i wouldnt say i know "alot", im still learning tons everyday.
i've been working for maaco since sept of last year, and basicly had no prior bodywork experience.(although i AM a fast learner, and am now theyre main painter.)
maaco can do a pretty good job on a car, given you prep the car prior to bringing it over there.
that dont really mean that you have to sand the car down and all, what i mean by prep the car, is , make sure its VERY clean, take off ANYTHING that you can, ect.

maaco shops are independently owned, so i cant speak for all, but the general idea, is this, like anything in life:
you pretty much get what you pay for.
you cant go to maaco, and expect to get a show quality paint job, for 400$
it just aint gonna happen.
but, you CAN get a decent job, that will last a few years, given proper steps are taken.
the main thing is to specify exactly what you want done.
if the car is badly chipped, or has ALOT of dents and dings, go around the car with your rep, specifying each thing you want done.
at my shop, for example, for your basic paintjob, we sand the whole car down with 320 grit sandpaper, sanding out some of the big rock chips ect...and if you pay for the extra bodywork, we can and will fix just about anything else you want done.
the car gets cleaned, blown off, prep washed, taped, blown off again, then brought into the booth.
i then take it, blow it off again, prep wash it a final time, tack rag, then a coat of sealer, and 2-3 coats of singe stage paint. depending on if the customer wants we can add an intergrating clearcoat, that adds shine, and life to the paint.
one of my typical 400$ paintjobs will last 2-3 years, with intergrated clear.
if you remove all the small stuff that you can, like the front bumper, headlights, turns, sidemarkers, mirrors, ect, (in MA its actually legal to drive without a front bumper and headlights, during the day of course!, the sidemarkers and taillights can come out when you drop the car off, just bring a 10mm wrench with you, and have the hatch plastics ready) it makes the sanders, and maskers job that much easier, which leaves more time to concentrate on the things that DO need to be done right.
maaco is all about time management, so anything you can do to save time for the guys doing the work, the better the end result will be.
i had some friends from work help me with the body work and sanding of my car, ( i finishsanded with 600grit paper) and my car was done with our places best material.
(basicly maacos highest $$ job) IIRC its 1299$
diffrent places use diffrent brands of material, but at our shop, we use sherman williams paint, which is not bad.
theyre "ultra" and above lines are actually quite good IMO.

bottom line, if your short on cash, and want the car painted NOW, yes, your local maaco can do a decent job, @ most places.
of course, there are always exceptions, so shop around, and look at the product theyre putting out, thats your best bet.
ask to look around at the shop, or @ cars they have just finished and are preping for delivery.
look for overspray, dry spots, runs, sags, ect..
look for "blotching"(where it looks like all the metallics kind of gather together in a blotchy pattern) of metallics and "stripeing"(literally stripes in the paint), especially with light metallic colors, like silvers, and golds.
that will and should always be your final guide at ANY place you take your car to be painted.
basicly it breaks down like this:
you dont go to macdonalds when you want a nice sit-down meal with the wife ( or girl or boy or whatever..) right?
exactly.
same with paintjobs.
you want a 5k paintjob, go to a shop that DOES 5k paintjobs for a living.
can only afford a 600$ paintjob? macco is right up your ally, and can do a pretty damn good job, provided you do your homework, and invest a little time preping the car prior to bringing it in.