Nissan_240sex

Ok so i'm about ready to get a paint job on my car. I took it to Maaco to get it estimated and they said it'll run me about 3-to $400. Does that sound right?

I also heard that Maaco does a sh!tty paint job. Is that true? If so, how?

Are there any other suggestion or reccommendation for me to reconsider about Maaco?

Here's the car.....

I'm thinking either Black or Pearl White

Ayuaddict

i would rather paint it my self with a rattle can for about the same or a slightly better quality and about the same price.

...or buy an air compressor, paint gun, and paint, which would run you about $5-600, but it would be a good investment, especially since an air compressor can be used for a variety of things. and you can do a much better job in your garage then they do at macco.

Nissan_240sex

Actually, i do have a Air Compressor. The thing is, i just don't know how to paint the car and i don't have the place and space to do it. If its a bout the same price, might as well have someone do it for me than me doing it myself. If it's gonna cost me less to do it myself then yea, i'll do it but if its about the same, naw.....i'll just have someone do it for me. Saves me the hard work labor......ahahahha.......

Ayuaddict

oh, i forgot to mention, macco quality sucks (main reason why i would paint it myself)

re037

+1

Nissan_240sex

huh?

Ayuaddict

he agrees,

...basically dont get it painted at maaco

1993240

Do any necessary body work yourself and then take it to a more reputable painter. It should also be less than paying someone at Maaco to paint it. Maaco's paint jobs are crap. The paint is good for about 2 yrs, if you're lucky. The tape job is garbage and you will have a lot of overspray. No matter what you do, take off those wheels before anybody paints it. Paint travels and it WILL get on your wheels. If you have the time and want to take my advise, I'd also recommend that you remove all lights, rubbers, weather stripping etc. Trust me it's worth it and I know cause I've done it.

nightkid86

Go to your local bookstore and find a book about painting your own car, get a sprayer, paint, primer, sandpaper etc. and go to work!

LA_phantom_240

amazon.com has some awesome DIY auto refinishing books.

Also, some reasons you dont want maaco...
Your exhaust is more than likely chrome, with maaco, itll be whatever color they paint the car, along with windows, stipping, trim, wheels, etc. Your interior will also be the same color, cuz they wont properly tape off the door jambs... and say bye bye to your pretty redtop or flashy chrome engine accents, as it will also be the same color as the car... lol.

Shri222

painting a car good is a lil more complicated then reading a book. Thats like reading a book on being a barber and cuttin your hair after.

Ayuaddict

id bet i could read a book on cutting hair and then do a decent job on my hair, provided the book had decent information.

painting a car is not that hard, everybody starts somewhere, there is not "special race of automotive painters".

Bryan

You mean the planet of Paintopia was a lie!!!! WHY?????????!!!!!!!!!!!?????????

Ayuaddict

hahaha

cuz you know people nowadays are so set on the belief that doing everything on your own car is impossible.

kinda like "putting the ***** on the pedestal" from 40 year old virgin.

anyways, just go out and do it, if you **** up, sand it down, and do it again.

re037

its like painting model cars but a whole lot bigger. wet sand 2000 grit before the clear coat