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Stu2j · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 5:44 am Post subject: Painting a 924

I am going to put my 924 in the paint shop after the first of the year and would like some opinions.

It seems that painting a car can range from $300 to $5000 depending on who does it and the quality desired. I had budgeted about $1000 for paint when I started the restoration project and while I don't mind going somewhat higher, I can't see putting a $3000 paint job on a 20 year-old car.

I know that many of you don't like MAACO but their top of the line service runs about $800 and the BB report on them in this area is good and my insurance agent says that they are qualified to do insurance work.

I guesss what I am asking is what is a good price to get the car painted with a nice finish and is it MAACO really the disaster everyone claims or is this simply based on cars painted using their lowest price service?
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-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
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Diesel · Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 1061 Location: Ellington,CT

MAACO=hack-job. It's not possible for them to butcher the car before yours and then go into 'quality mode' and do a good job for you. Once a mechanic is used to putting out crappy work, it's the only thing he'll do.
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Dan Flanagan--2002 VW Jetta TDI, 83 Mercedes 300D,83 Mercedes Euro-240D

Stu2j · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 6:59 am Post subject:

Diesel · Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 1061 Location: Ellington,CT

Hack job because I've seen too many cars that look nice from 20 feet but are totally awful up close. When you ask the owner who did the work, it's either Maaco or Evil Scheib. Maaco is a place to go to cover up a lemon in preparation of selling it, not a place to take a car you care about.

81turbo · Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 1065 Location: Oakland, CA

I agree with Diesel. The main complaints people have about Macco are poor masking resulting in horrible over spray, and the lack of longevity. One trip to Macco would start an every two-year $199 paint job fiasco. Possibly the most ingenious marketing ever (the warranty is only good for two years). At 25 months the Macco people might as well drive by and spray some slow acting paint remover on the car, resulting in flaking, chipping, and all other god-awful things.

Good paint is not cheap. I say 1k is still a cheap paint job. 2k is okay and 3k would be good.

If you do choose to go Macco, I say you prep the entire car and mask it yourself. At the same time I say take that $800 buy a compressor and a gun and try it yourself. It would take a long time (not good for a daily driver) but I bet you could get a better result buying quality materials and doing it yourself.

81turbo · Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 1065 Location: Oakland, CA

A quote from a satisfied Macco customer that spent $1500.

Stu2j · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 8:30 am Post subject:

""even though they told me to bring it back and they would make it right, they have been working on my truck for 3 months and I do not want to give them any more time""

Not a good example. He says right here that MAACO was perfectly willing to make it right and he was just too lazy to take it back.

Once again, I'm not looking for "I've seen or I've heard". Just the facts. I've "heard" of people having horrible problems with very expensive ($3000+) paint jobs as well.

Has anyone here actually used MAACO or are they banned strictly based on internet heresay? I'm not saying that I'm definetely going to use them but based on information (actual facts) "I" am able to gather (BB, Insurance companies, testimonials. etc) they seem to be doing ok.
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-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
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81turbo · Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 1065 Location: Oakland, CA

Not to be argumentative, but it also says that they got it wrong four times.

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

With paint jobs, the prep work is the key. More expensive, or better quality paint has better sanding, block sanking, and masking, then a lower quality paint job.

I can't tell you how a paint job from your local Macco, 1-Day, or ES will come out. Some of the cookie cutter shops do amazing work for the amount that you pay.

Quality is a management decision.

Visit each individual shop that you are considering, and inspection the prep and paint areas. Do they use name brand materials (better quality masking paper, and tape make for better jobs)? Will they block sand and prime the entire car before the color coats (straighter sheet metal means a nicer job)? How many color coats (better quality paint can be built up in coats, the cheap stuff comes out one coat, and no sanding or polishing allowed)? What type and brand of paint (cheap paint does not last, one coat paints are less expensive & always shine, the expensive stuff has to be sanded and polished for good shine)? Do they replace the masking paper, and retape after sanding, before the color coat/s (fresh paper and clean tape makes for better edges, and less overspray)? How far down will the car be taken before painting (the farther disassembled the car is, the better the paint job will come out, and the more expensive the job will be)?

Enamel or laquer? Can the paint they use be colorsanded (cheaper paints have something in them that rises to the top, and makes the paint shine right away, if you polish these types of paints, the shine is wore away, and the finish becomes dull. Laquers are alway dull when they are sprayed, and shine up after curing, color sanding and polishing)? Does the paint shop offer a clear coat seperately, or is it included clear coats cannot be repaired, the entire panel must be repainted, no blending allowed)? Is the car baked after painting, do they add a catalyst (synthetis paints take a long time to dry, and can be baked or a accellerator can be added to speed curing)? Will they paint to sample or do you have to choose from a small or large variety of colors (when you go into the paint job, the less expensive the paint job, the fewer colors are offered)? Is color choice an extra charge (many shops charge extra for metallics because the materials cost more, and it is harder to spray them well)?

What is the warranty, and how long is it good for?

There is more to a paint job than the company's name hanging on the building, and the paint job that you think sucks, another person might think looks just great.

924 turbo · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 9:40 am Post subject:

Stu, I can see what you mean about $3k paint jobs on $2k cars. If I were you, I'd remove all the trim myself, do as much prep work as possible, and let a body shop with a good reputation do the paintwork. The more you do yourself, the more you'll save.
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Jon Furst

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3581 Location: Florida

It is all up to the one who paints the vehicle. My guy is good at it.

Before we painted my two cars I took off all the glass and trim including the hatch. Door handles, hood ornament, rear lock surround, all rubber on bumpers and the sun roof rubber. We painted the bumpers and sun roof off the car.
I had extra bumpers and a sun roof and painted the dupes as well.

Both cars were sprayed in the open air on a major thoroughfare. [6] lanes. Both cars turned out very well. No runs, etc.

Someone suggested you buy a compressor and do it yourself. I agree and after you are finished you have an all purpose tool. Just remember it is all in the preparation. If you are working in one area and think it is smooth go back and sand it again.

There is just too much to discuss when painting a car. I said I would never do it again and here I am sanding and priming for a repaint on the track car once we glue on the flares, etc.

My suggestion is that you visit the shop often and when you find the right painter slip him $50 and have him spray a better, thicker paint job.

Good luck

va-notright · Joined: 06 Nov 2002 Posts: 24 Location: virginia

Hi Stu

i do not know about any of the other maccos in va-beach or chespeake but i do know first hand the one in norfolk at souther shopping center does not do good work no matter how much you pay them.

ps i found out what went wrong with the engine in the 87 that im parting out. there was about a gallon of water in the air filter and even more in the engine.

good luck finding a paint shop

va-notright

Stu2j · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 12:33 pm Post subject:

[quote="81turbo"]Not to be argumentative, but it also says that they got it wrong four times.

That's ok. I don't expect business people to be perfect. As long as they are willing to do what it takes to make it right, they are ok by me.

The sign of a good business person is not how they act when things go right. It is what they are willing to do when things go wrong.
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-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
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Stu2j · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 12:36 pm Post subject:

""Someone suggested you buy a compressor and do it yourself. I agree""

Not on this car but if I decide to restore another 924 (and I probably will), I am going to do absolutely everything myself. The worst that can happen is it will come out looking like Joes

(Just kidding Joe).
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-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
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Stu2j · Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2002 12:39 pm Post subject:

""the one in norfolk""

They can't seem to do anything right in Norfolk

""ps i found out what went wrong with the engine in the 87 that im parting out. there was about a gallon of water in the air filter and even more in the engine.""

Good grief, any idea how it got there? Would a blown gasket cause such catastrophic damage?
_________________
-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
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