Would you let maaco paint your car?

[doublestuff]

After removing my turbo tail, I need to get my deck filled and painted. This has got me thinking of doing a "quickie", top-coat paint job, but it needs to be as economical as possible. At the risk of being laughed off of the forum, has anyone used Maaco or similar painters? Could they be trusted to do a decent enough job? My car is quite straight, just a few nicks and scratches that I could do without. They wouldn't even need to do the jambs, I don't think.
Any input would be appreciated.

[john walker's workshop]

that would be a big N-O.

[burgermeister]

Why not just get some cans of rust-oleum at the hardware?

[Guy S. Apple]

I just went through this. Have a 1986 Carrera, basically a track car. The thing has at least 4 paint jobs on it. Pretty ugly. I got the car cheap and focused in mechanical improvement and ignored the paint for years. This last year I decided that the thing was just too rough and needed a respray.

I went to Maaco, specification (many small dents, dings) in hand on how I wanted the job done, what prep, and what paint job. Keep in mind that I was not going show car here, just a decent durable window out respray. The quote came out to $2300 with me removing some of the trim. So, that is all well and good but I was not replacing any of the seals except for windows. Next I went to the paint shop that typically does my "good enough" paint repairs, got another quote. Was quoted factory color, windows out but the job would take about two months. Total $3700 (this body shop does many Porsches and other imports and would take care of the trim removal). So next I went out and got all the seals etc and that total came out to around $1500. I went with this choice.

Why? Maaco would probably to fine for a track car but the cutting corners, non-familiarity with the fine points of a Porsche and the masking related over-spray would drive me mad. So for about $5200 I will get a nice, durable paint job, all new seals and something that I will be proud of long after I forget the extra $1900 over the Maaco. I basically recommend, save up a bit more, sell some parts, do what you have to in order to do the job as well as you can.

Hope that helps

[Por_sha911]

Unless you don't care what the car looks like, a cheapo paint job can do as much harm as good if it fades or flakes off after 6 months due to improper prep or spray.

[aminter0]

no! The PO of our 69 had the paint done there... needless to say, we are counting down till we are able to professionally get the paint done. Terrible job, over spray everywhere!

[ruf-porsche]

Sure why not, it's just a car. It's not like we getting a portrait of the kids.

[euro911sc]

Originally Posted by Guy S. Apple

The thing has at least 4 paint jobs on it. Pretty ugly. I got the car cheap and focused in mechanical improvement and ignored the paint for years. This last year I decided that the thing was just too rough and needed a respray.

I am in a similar spot here. Multiple bad paint jobs on the car + bits of body work in different colors and sanded down in places... I've about got the drive train in place and need to do some susp. work, but am starting to plan a paint job. I've been asking around several places and it looks like I'll be into it for at least $1500 for material and spray. I plan on doing all the prep work my self. I have a neighbor w/ 30 years of body work exp and he is going to tell me how things need to be done. I thought I could save more by doing my own prep, but I guess not. That quote is for doors and fenders off glass out with fnal wet sand done by the shop.

I have considered letting Maco do my paint as the key to a good job is prep and I'll have that under my control. They keep advertising for $499 re-sprays and since this is pretty much a track car a 5 ft job would probably be ok. $1000 gets me tires and enough track time to wear them out... It is sooo tempting...

Another consideration is, if your car is mostly a track rat, those extra layers of paint protect it from stone chips better so just leave it alone...

A final thought that I have considered, is sanding it down enough so the whole car looks dull and leaving it like that... makes it look like a rat rod as my color would be about black...

-Michael

[Guy S. Apple]

Totally agree with euro911sc. If you are going Maaco, prep yourself and assemble yourself. Actually I thank that would be pretty satisfying!

[Jeff Alton]

Uh oh,

I had them paint this car......

I did most of the prep, had all the windows out, hood off, deck lid off, lights out and bumpers off......




They had a lot of custom work going on in the shop here. I looked at a lot of their work ahead of time as well. Maybe they operate a little different up here. This one was not a $1299 special.....

Of course they forgot to mask off the oil lines......

Cheers

[redstormcoach]

I believe it all depends on the individual shop (owner, staff, years in business, types of prior work).

The one here in Portland, Maine came recommended to me by a business associate that had his 65 Mustang done there. A $25k job. That was 8 years ago and the car is still winning in car shows.

I took our Saab there. Had them do the Top of the Line package, 2 Step base plus clearcoat. Came to $2200. They removed windows, seals, door handles, moulding. That was almoust 3 years ago and we drive in snow and tons of salt on the road.

Do your research.

Hope that helps.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by doublestuff

Could they be trusted to do a decent enough job?

You'll get what you pay for, like most things. If you want a paint job that will look great and last as long as the first one did, you'll need to pay a lot more.

Another thing you should think about is that a poor paint job will reduce a car's value just as quickly as no paint job.

My advice would be to have the decklid painted now, and live with the rest of the car until better days come along and you can afford a quality full repaint. You only want to do this once.

[Rrrockhound]

I had Maaco repaint a 1983 Volvo wagon with totally satisfactory results. Was it concours quality? Of course not. But I was happy with it. A bribe to the manager or the guy who'll be working on your car can go a long way...

[Skip Newsom]

I'm sure it does depend on the shop, but I had a bad experience with them several years ago and would not go back.

[Jack Olsen]

I might use them for a track-only car -- but never for a street car and never for pieces of an already-painted car. How are you expecting them to match the color to the rest of your car?

[doublestuff]

Wow, thanks everyone!
I will probably end up waiting awhile, I agree that painting it cheaply now, only to have to do it again sooner than later, is no bargain. From 20 feet away, my car looks fine, there are a couple of small dings that a paintless guy could easily do, and some small chips that the PO already applied touch-up paint to, but are still noticeable - to ME, anyway.
I'll try to find someone to do the decklid and see how that goes.
Did I mention my car is BLACK? That probably wouldn't help a less-than-perfect job.
Thanks for all the input!

[TechnoViking]

I had them match a bumper and decklid on my street car. Seemed like a good job to me, although mine is no show car. If you don't like the finish, just ask them to do it again.

My car is a track car only now, and Maaco would be the only place I'd take it. They are about 1/3 the price of other shops in my town.

Got to choose, man. Tires are expensive.

[Wickd89]

How about the new "water based paints" that are now required in most of CA. Does anyone know if this is ok for our older 911s?

[GaryR]

Funny thing is quite a few of the body shops around here take their cars, after prep and masking, to a Maaco shop for shooting. If they use a quality paint and the underlying prep is correct, it comes down to the skill of the painter. Apparently this Maaco has an excellent shooter in their booth. Just like anything else that requires a good base (even a driveway or basement floor!) it's the prep that is 90% of the job..

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by GaryR

Funny thing is quite a few of the body shops around here take their cars, after prep and masking, to a Maaco shop for shooting. If they use a quality paint and the underlying prep is correct, it comes down to the skill of the painter. Apparently this Maaco has an excellent shooter in their booth. Just like anything else that requires a good base (even a driveway or basement floor!) it's the prep that is 90% of the job..

Bingo!

A busy Macco has an advantage inthe painting departemnt in that the they shoot tons of paint. The fact they do lots of reps gives them the potential to make them very good. If you do the prep and assembly, and Maaco uses a quality paint, you should not have a problem.