better get Maaco?
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Launching!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 246
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better get Maaco? so I have a 2002 TA, black. Chips, scratches, and scuff marks all over car and some cracking in fiberglass hood. Tired of black, too much of a pain to take care of. Constantly dirty, covered in pollen, whatever. Thinking of going to some shade of blue, maybe electron blue. I have heard over the years a good amount of bashing about Maaco, but quite honestly I checked out one in Philly while at work and I took my time going over the finished look of 2 cars he had on the lot. Looked really good. It was a sunny say so I looked at various angles for swirls, fading, etc. No running, bleeding, blotches, etc. Instead of dropping ten grand somewhere, was wondering if they or anybody else around Philly area was a quality provider of a great paint job for a fair price that doesn't require a financial beat down. Opinions?
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 156
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I am in the same boat with black. Terrible to take care of. Looks great when it is in top shape but my paint is almost 15 years old. Been garage all its life but still 15 years is hard to hide on a black car. The paint isn't in that bad of shape, its just the clear coat, so i have been on the "get it buffed and slap a few coats of clear coat on it" way of thinking. Not a paint guy so don't know how feasible that would be but i think it may be an option. Never had a car painted by Maaco, but i would like to hear some long term reviews of their work.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
Honestly, if you're dead set on doing a cheap Maaco paint job, take the time to sand and rattle can primer the car at home. Tape off weather stripping and stuff yourself. Send it in on 4 spare wheels. Take off your exhaust tips if you have clamp on tips. Bare minimum prep work can make that cheap paint job look decent.
I am in the same boat with black. Terrible to take care of. Looks great when it is in top shape but my paint is almost 15 years old. Been garage all its life but still 15 years is hard to hide on a black car. The paint isn't in that bad of shape, its just the clear coat, so i have been on the "get it buffed and slap a few coats of clear coat on it" way of thinking. Not a paint guy so don't know how feasible that would be but i think it may be an option. Never had a car painted by Maaco, but i would like to hear some long term reviews of their work.
Here you can see the difference with abused black paint, before and after compound and polish. No need for additional clear coat.
You might be surprised how much you can get out of old paint.
As long as the paint is not failing, you can try to correct any oxidization, small scratches, RID's, etc.
If the paint is only failing on the hood (cracks) maybe just repaint the hood.
Skimping on a paint job you might regret in a couple years down the road, when its starts to look worse than it did before you painted it. If you go that route and also want to keep costs down, keep the color the same so you don't have to repaint door jams, under hood etc.
As long as the paint is not failing, you can try to correct any oxidization, small scratches, RID's, etc.
If the paint is only failing on the hood (cracks) maybe just repaint the hood.
Skimping on a paint job you might regret in a couple years down the road, when its starts to look worse than it did before you painted it. If you go that route and also want to keep costs down, keep the color the same so you don't have to repaint door jams, under hood etc.
You might be surprised how much you can get out of old paint.
As long as the paint is not failing, you can try to correct any oxidization, small scratches, RID's, etc.
If the paint is only failing on the hood (cracks) maybe just repaint the hood.
Skimping on a paint job you might regret in a couple years down the road, when its starts to look worse than it did before you painted it. If you go that route and also want to keep costs down, keep the color the same so you don't have to repaint door jams, under hood etc.
As long as the paint is not failing, you can try to correct any oxidization, small scratches, RID's, etc.
If the paint is only failing on the hood (cracks) maybe just repaint the hood.
Skimping on a paint job you might regret in a couple years down the road, when its starts to look worse than it did before you painted it. If you go that route and also want to keep costs down, keep the color the same so you don't have to repaint door jams, under hood etc.
To do a color change properly is very costly , thick paint chips easily so the paint on the car really needs to come off or be sanded down substantially and to get color everywhere it should be to not be able to tell its been through a color change many panels exterior and interior need to come off and painstaking prep/tape work needs to happen.
