Maaco Paint
I work for a dealership and when we need to have panels repaired and repainted we take the cars to maaco. Let me tell you, about 80% of the time we have to take the car back to get repainted cause they did such a shitty job. If there was any chips they would be ten times more noticable after a repaint from them also they left paint bubbles everywhere! I live in Ohio so I'm sure maaco's are different all over but are's does a terrible job I would'nt even let them paint my beater. If you want a good paint job take it to the dealer. I have had my front bumper repainted at a chevy dealer and my friend had his goat that was side swiped painted at another chevy dealer and they both did a awesome job. Price wasn't to bad I think it was $130 for my front bumper maybe less.
So wait, you work for a dealer who outsources their paint to Maaco (who you don't recommend), but you advise others to take their paint work to dealers? 
That doesn't make much sense! On a side note, I do know that a lot of dealers have in house paint shops and can do really nice work. I'm just giving you a hard time because of the way your post was worded! 
Don't,u get what u pay for,save the money and let a good body shop do it or do it yourself,they tape everything up,n use cheap materials,n if you ever have to fix good luck matching the color unless its black!
So wait, you work for a dealer who outsources their paint to Maaco (who you don't recommend), but you advise others to take their paint work to dealers? That doesn't make much sense! On a side note, I do know that a lot of dealers have in house paint shops and can do really nice work. I'm just giving you a hard time because of the way your post was worded! I was thinking the exact same thing. I work for a BIG name dealer in NC. We have a collision shop right on site and they do excellent work, but are expensive. Most of the work they do are insurance jobs. Best bet IMO is to find a private moms and pops that has good history and pricing.
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
So wait, you work for a dealer who outsources their paint to Maaco (who you don't recommend), but you advise others to take their paint work to dealers? That doesn't make much sense! On a side note, I do know that a lot of dealers have in house paint shops and can do really nice work. I'm just giving you a hard time because of the way your post was worded! 
lol its not like a gm, chrysler dealer or anything like that were are own thing I guess. We don't have a body shop, although some of are other stores do so we have to take our cars to off lot vendors to do our repainting on cars that don't pass our inpsection maaco was just a first choice since it was so close but we no longer use them anymore. 
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 1
From: USS Enterprise 1701
no way would i ever get a car painted at a earl scheib or a maaco. i used to work as a painter at a earl scheib that place was a joke. no **** they would scotch brite the cars. tape them up in like 10 minutes and roll them in the booth. just spray the basecoat over the original paint. i quit after a week or so, the place was a joke
Last edited by jsteele90; Apr 20, 2011 at 06:39 AM.
These are from a "One day Paint and Body" in Laguna Niguel, CA about 4 years ago. I paid $800 and threw the paint shop/prepper(s) two cases of Coronas. They also color sanded and buffed it for me. I'd say 70% of the paint is in the prep, most of which you can do yourself without and power tools. Just detrim the car as much as you can before you roll it in there. This was the most I have ever paid them for a paint job as well...
$300 paint job from the same shop, no colorsand/buff and it's a base/clear mix. "1.5 Stage =p" lol
$450 paint job and front bumper replacement included... same shop.
You don't have to pay a lot, you just have to go to the right places.
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Get to know the owner of the local shops. I became friends with the owner of a local Maaco and they have built a niche market rebuilding old cars. They have done about 8 cars for me and if you are willing to pay a little more (at least at this shop) you get high quality paint and work.
They just stripped and painted my 70 GTO and it was just under $4k. They even re-cleared it without me asking cause they weren't happy with it.
They did my 02 Firehawk for 1200 and it came out great - cleaner than factory but I had taken all of the trim off.
Definitely depends on the shop and owner
They just stripped and painted my 70 GTO and it was just under $4k. They even re-cleared it without me asking cause they weren't happy with it.
They did my 02 Firehawk for 1200 and it came out great - cleaner than factory but I had taken all of the trim off.
Definitely depends on the shop and owner
