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OP, you didn't mention if you want to go original color or color change. I would recommend staying with the original color to get a better quality job while keeping the price relatively low.
One way you might get a quality job is if you can get the car into an auto-body shop class at a high school or community college.
Probably failing that, to get a decent job is going to be $2500 to maybe $5000. Is the car one you want to plow that much money into?
Before going with the big paint job i'd take it to a local car detailer and get their opinion.
It may indeed need a $2K paint job or it may just need a $200 day at the detailer.
Location: Butler County Ohio and Winters in Florida
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Cheap Paint Jobs
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
IMHO a really cheap paint job can just ruin a car - if you won't spring for a good job, I would think you are not going to get that for less than $2K - just rub out the paint that's there and otherwise leave it alone.
I think you 100% right.
UNLESS,
the car is a high mile older car that has no real value to anyone but you.
I am in the same boat. My wife's 187K 11 year old mini van is starting to look really bad since it has been sitting out side here in FL since new. I would leave it alone but the roof seam looks bad.
My first estimate @ my local MAACO is $2300.00 for the something similar to the original paint.
That clearly exceeds the value of the van. I will keep shopping.
I think you 100% right.
UNLESS,
the car is a high mile older car that has no real value to anyone but you.
I am in the same boat. My wife's 187K 11 year old mini van is starting to look really bad since it has been sitting out side here in FL since new. I would leave it alone but the roof seam looks bad.
My first estimate @ my local MAACO is $2300.00 for the something similar to the original paint.
That clearly exceeds the value of the van. I will keep shopping.
If the car is not really worth putting a good paint job on, you can always go with "rat rod" black primer. But do a quality tape job in any case!
Before going with the big paint job i'd take it to a local car detailer and get their opinion.
It may indeed need a $2K paint job or it may just need a $200 day at the detailer.
No amount of detailing will fix peeling clear coat.
I doubt the entire car is suffering from this condition, and those parts that are it can be buffed off and replaced with a good coat of wax,
Ultimately it depends on the car and what its worth and whether the cost of a paint job is really necessary.
My buddy had a 97 Lumina with paint problems ,against my advice he went and had a $2K paint job on the thing,2 years later all the paint was peeling off,the car was a total rust bucket with many electrical and mechanical problems he finally did what should have done 4 years ago,scrapped the car and bought a newer car
A pic of the car in Question would answer many questions as to the viability of a $2000 paint job.
When I was a kid - Earl Sheib (a chain) had a complete paint job advertised for $29.95.
That would be the $299.00 Maaco job advertised today.
Had a friend go to Maaco for the advertised $299.00 paint job and he ended up paying $1,000 and the small door dings were still there after that $1,000 paint job. Car did look nice though.
We had a guy in town decades ago and he painted his car with a paint brush. Looked terrible though.
I'd like someone to chime in who actually got the Maaco $299.00 paint job.
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Cheap Paint Jobs
