Paint Jobs

[oldmako]

I bought my daughter a "little old ladies 70K toyota with new tires that she only drove to bingo" this week. What a concept, cheap, reliable, inexpensive transportation. The down side it that the paint is lousy.

It's been over 20 years since I've had a car painted. Do you guys have any suggestions for a cheap, reasonably decent paint job? There's not much sense is putting significant coin into it, it's an old car. But, I also don't want to waste money by having it shot so poorly that it's looks like hell in 2 years.

It's not a q. This is a q forum. I really suck.

But, you guys know cars and I appreciate your experience and knowledge with all things automotive. Standing by for flames...

[qship96]

Skip the painting chains like maaco,scheib,etc completely-look for an independant body/paint shop in your area that has a good reputation with the BBB and ask your neighbors/friends/co-workers for opinions-and finally visit a few local shops and carefully inspect the cars they have completed,then choose the shop that best matches the quality standards you require for the $ you are willing to invest.

[maxnix]

choose the shop that best matches the quality standards you require for the $ you are willing to invest.

Cheap and paint don't go together unless you are into the Playskool finish.

Jeff Williams had someone over in Alabama that seemed extremely good for the price.

[Rex]

Maaco's aren't all the same, find one that's got a good reputation, it'll be inexpensive and look better than it does now for 5 or more years.

[oldmako]

Thanks to all for the advice.

The nice thing about paint, it that the car is perfectly serviceable without it. I can take some time and visit a few shops before making a decision. It's her first car, and I'd like it to be decent, but it doesn't have to be flawless.

Besides, the cars stereo will be the most important feature to her....that and the air conditioning.

[StarPD]

Skip the painting chains like maaco,scheib,etc completely-look for an independant body/paint shop in your area that has a good reputation with the BBB and ask your neighbors/friends/co-workers for opinions-and finally visit a few local shops and carefully inspect the cars they have completed,then choose the shop that best matches the quality standards you require for the $ you are willing to invest.

I disagree. No Maaco or Scheib for a Q, but for a beater, especially considering the price, it's the way to go. Just go to one and inspect their work. That will tell you if you can trust them to do at least a decent job.It won't end up looking like a $10,000 custom paint job, but should be presentable for your daughter to run around in. FWIW, considering that she's young and a girl, odds are she won't take really good care of it anyway. Be prepared to do the maintenance on it.

[maxnix]

Hey, get some brushes and let the kids go crazy.

[infinitinut2]

Hey! Brushes are so passe! Do like a friend, many years ago, buying a case of long necks, paint, and an old fashioned bug sprayer! Fill the sprayer up and pop a cool one! On and on it went! Paint ran out before the beer! It was a rather doggish 55 Ford Crestliner (?) , and did not look too bad in the pink paint! He saved lots of time, not masking anything off, so chrome was also pink! (sort of the shade of pink that that cosmetic gal used to have on her giveaway cars!) Ya gotta love it!

[maxnix]

Pink is a highly visible color, as anyone who has seen a Mary Kay Cadillac can attest.

[Haitian_King]

I bought my daughter a "little old ladies 70K toyota with new tires that she only drove to bingo" this week. What a concept, cheap, reliable, inexpensive transportation. The down side it that the paint is lousy.

It's been over 20 years since I've had a car painted. Do you guys have any suggestions for a cheap, reasonably decent paint job? There's not much sense is putting significant coin into it, it's an old car. But, I also don't want to waste money by having it shot so poorly that it's looks like hell in 2 years.

It's not a q. This is a q forum. I really suck.

But, you guys know cars and I appreciate your experience and knowledge with all things automotive. Standing by for flames...

Hmm..

I'm looking for a good paint place myself. I'll ask Keith if he can recommend someplace.

I don't know about Maaco. I've heard good things and bad things. I can't really draw a solid conclusion about them. I hear that if you don't know your onions, they'll snow you. Like they'll paint the car and do a poor tape job, or not even tape. Then, if you don't specifically ask, they'll leave the doorjambs the original color.

I guess it's not so bad about the jambs if you're keeping the same color. But to have a black car with white door jambs is bad.

My buddy who gives me car advice segued into paint during a discussion of turbochargers vs. superchargers and told me the horror stories concerning Maaco and other large paint chains. He said that since they buy their paints in bulk, the quality of the paint you get varies per container. He said that the drums of paint get contaminated with dust and stuff. Black and white paints are the cheapest because they have more in stock.

Don't know for certain, but then again, I've never been to one of these places. It sounds plausible though.

I'm sure we've all heard the horror stories of the bargain Maaco paintjob and a year later it's looking like the car contracted leprosy and eczema all while going through puberty.

[Rex]

Not to sound like an elitist snob, but repainting the aged and poor looking paint on a Corolla is much different than repainting a Q45.

The Maaco recommendation is to cover up the "lousy paint" on his daughters Corolla.

[Haitian_King]

Not to sound like an elitist snob, but repainting the aged and poor looking paint on a Corolla is much different than repainting a Q45.

The Maaco recommendation is to cover up the "lousy paint" on his daughters Corolla.

True.

But doesn't driving a Q (Or even an Infiniti for that matter. You saw the J30 commercials.) make us part of that snobby elite?

[Kalypso]

+1 for port au prince Haiti!!

I have a redtop s13 with a few black spots for the bondo.

great body no rust. but I want beautiful black paint. same color as the car.

in all frankness I almost prefer to leave it that way then get a sh*tty paint job.

paying 1000$ for paint is absurd to me. That money could completely build up the motor.

Im going to check out maaco this week, it might look great. something decent and sexy to go with my wheels and the hood!? and Im off to the track



...

Haiti is taken over

[Q45denver]

I've had many paint jobs done where, while the paint looked good, it chipped off easily. Wherever you go make sure they guarantee to redo it if the paint fails.

[Haitian_King]

+1 for port au prince Haiti!!

I have a redtop s13 with a few black spots for the bondo.

great body no rust. but I want beautiful black paint. same color as the car.

in all frankness I almost prefer to leave it that way then get a sh*tty paint job.

paying 1000$ for paint is absurd to me. That money could completely build up the motor.

Im going to check out maaco this week, it might look great. something decent and sexy to go with my wheels and the hood!? and Im off to the track



...

Haiti is taken over

Hey. Good to see you.

I wish $1000 could guarantee a great paintjob for my Q. And I mean a serious one, comparable to OEM. I'd like a repaint, but I don't want to change my color. I want to keep the same black gloss, maybe with some of that candy to make it look like it has lots of depth. Like you could put your hand in it.

[Kalypso]

I've had many paint jobs done where, while the paint looked good, it chipped off easily. Wherever you go make sure they guarantee to redo it if the paint fails.

thats a big deal, thank you.

Like you could put your hand in it.

thats whats up

luckily and s13 is not a q45, its realistically a car that gets beat up.and then goes harder the second round. I still want it to look decent enough So I could pick up a lady and shes feeling the vibe.

and thats about it.

everything else is auto crossing.



you can see the patch on the front right. the previous owner took this picture.the car has a lot of those. but the body is straight!