Maaco Paint job?

[WanganRunner]

When people are pulling lights and bumpers and all this shit off their cars, are you trailering the car to the paint shop or driving it?

Do you let Maaco tape up your car or do you do it?

[Shitty_S14]

Originally Posted by DJ Silent

What'd you pay, and what did they do? I'm in chula and looking for paint for my car, just need some basic body work and my driver side corner pulled (which I'll do myself if it costs too much) Did you pull the lights or do anything special yourself?

i paid for both my fenders to get fixed (bondo cracking) and my front bumper fixed... i took the headlights, tails, and front bumper off in maaco parking lot./

[nathanong87]

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

When people are pulling lights and bumpers and all this shit off their cars, are you trailering the car to the paint shop or driving it?

Do you let Maaco tape up your car or do you do it?

lol i drove to the paint shop sans, body kit, corner lights, and rear center garnish. they will tape up everything for you if that's what u desire. painting a kit OFF the car is ideal too, so i had my dad follow me with a van full of body kit and spoiler goodness

[Walperstyle]

People that hate macco are the ones that cheaped out. Honnestly, Macco is better established then most bodyshops. As long as you don't get the cheap job, you'll be fine, or better off.

don't hate macco because your parents got the ambassador special on the Chrysler LaBaron back in the 90's and now its starting to flake.

noobies.

[noname7198]

It's all been said here but:
1. Ask to see examples of recent paint jobs they've done using the same type of paint you're choosing.
2. prep the car yourself or make sure you discuss prep with them and if you're still not confident they will do a decent prep ask to check the car after prep, before paint. that's what I did when I let them paint one of my cars and it was a good thing because there were several things they missed that I made sure were taken care of before paint.
3. Don't use their cheapest option. Spend a little extra and it'll make a big difference.
4. Don't expect perfection. There will be overspray, runs, orange peel and dry spots. It will look good from a few feet away, but will in no way be a show car finish.

I had them paint my old Z. I spent $800 on their "top of the line" single stage with integrated clear. It looked good and I was happy enough with it. I sold the car so I can't say how well it held up long term though.

[s14sport]

I've had a few cars painted at maaco and known many other people that had their cars painted there too. I will only use it on a daily driver/ track car that i dont care about much. Plus I will only let them spray it. I do bodywork myself or get it done elsewhere....

I also never let them get a chance to spray things i dont want them to.
go with a set of steel wheels, take off your exhaust, headlights, corners, taillights...they will spray EVERYTHING!!!!

take your bumpers and skirts off...let them do it OFF the car...

[nathanong87]

also EVERY maaco is different. i've seen the "same" priced paint option at different locations and the quality of work is different. it's not like mcdonalds where a filet o fish is the same everywhere. u need to ask around and look at some of the cars that are in the lots (if there are any) to see some of the finishes to expect.

i didn't even go to maaco in the end of the day...

edit: i'd only consider maaco's that i've seen their work, or were found through friend's recommendation . just some food for thought!

[s14sport]

Originally Posted by nathanong87

also EVERY maaco is different. i've seen the "same" priced paint option at different locations and the quality of work is different. it's not like mcdonalds where a filet o fish is the same everywhere. u need to ask around and look at some of the cars that are in the lots (if there are any) to see some of the finishes to expect.

i didn't even go to maaco in the end of the day...

very true....most of maaco's workers dont give a rats ass about your paintjob. every once in a while you find one that does and you get a decent paintjob. I found a good guy and I give him a $50 tip to take care of me when he sprays one of my cars...and it comes out OK

[daftphunk]

Do they do your door jams and shit? It's very tempting at that low price but I might just fork over the $$ to my buddy that does AMAZING paint jobs. It's just they are 3-4x more than Maaco.

[nathanong87]

door jams/bays/trunk boots would be extra.

[1on1]

Ok, so i got quoted from maaco today at the Escondido location.

they told me $280 + tax if they sand it down or $250 + tax if i sand down the car myself.

for the people that painted their cars there, should i have them sand it down or just do it myself? I was planning to do 280grit, 600grit, then wet sand 800 and 1000. or is their a better process than this?

I told them that i wanted the nissan oem paint, color code LP2, and the price is still the same. to top if off, they will paint my aero off the car with no extra charge. I plan on doing this when my semester is over, i believe it's december 9th for me.

[nathanong87]

i'd actually let them sand it for that price, but i'd make sure that u could be part of the taping process or tape it up there. they will paint everything if u dont....

[Crazyirish]

Originally Posted by 1on1

they told me $280 + tax if they sand it down or $250 + tax if i sand down the car myself.

$30 doesn't cover sandpaper much less the labor. I would do it myself. Your stated plan for sanding is likely far above and beyond what they are planning on doing.

[nismobenzo]

GOOD thread here for the low budget daily/track guys who dont wana spend a week prepping, painting, and buffing

[rsibley22]

It most definitely varies depending on the shop my dad happens to own the one out in riverside and they do pretty good work along with the Maaco in seattle
basically you get what you pay for
some cars that Maaco in Riverside did

base coat and clear coat^^^

single stage^^^

single stage^^^

[fckillerbee]

Originally Posted by cardoza

Damn that came out really well. What kind of prep/post work was done? No way the paint can just lay down like that... Do you have a link to a DIY you followed?

yeah it went like this....

step 1. sand whole car
step 2. mask whole car
step 3. buy rustoleum paint (its the one with clear in it)
step 4. buy a ultra fine roller
step 5. paint a few times.
step 6. sand if you want it to look really good.

i did mine with two coats. looks good from far away. like 10 ft. even up close it just looks like a orange peel paint job...but everyone says the moar coats...the more the paint sits evenly.

total maybe 45 dollars. honestly...i'd rather pay 400 to get it painted...but i'm the "i'll do it myself if i can" so i gave it a try.

i wouldn't have put forth the weekend to paint it if it weren't for this picture of this car.

Google Image Result for http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d13/69martin/DSC02769.jpg



but i guess it's even more popular with vw's.



honestly...i did it cause in case i crash at track...i can go home...put a little fiberglass love in...and take a roller to it.....and not have to worry about matching the paint and shit.

and white hides flaws ;D





2 coats...no after paint sanding....i'm happy with it. for now. i'll get a real paint job later....

[waxball88]

I did all the body work, sanding etc. Roof was not done by maaco or the kit but the car was maaco. They shot it twice because they messed it up the first time, still needs to be wet sanded and buffed. Shitty camera

[JonathanPrem]

I have question about sanding. I have Black s14 but just want to Re-spray it black again with clear. What grit should i use and finish at?

[1on1]

Originally Posted by nathanong87

i'd actually let them sand it for that price, but i'd make sure that u could be part of the taping process or tape it up there. they will paint everything if u dont....

If I let them sand it, I was gonna mask the car before they start. I also was gonna take off all my lights.

Originally Posted by Crazyirish

$30 doesn't cover sandpaper much less the labor. I would do it myself. Your stated plan for sanding is likely far above and beyond whatd they are planning on doing.

I'll give them a call tomorrow or Friday to double check if they will charge extra of they sand it down. My way of sanding the car too much? Or is there a better way to do it?

Once I find out about the sanding part, I'll most likely start sanding my car asap. From what I researched awhile back, just for painting, I can just sand the car and not worry about primer. You only primer if you have bondo. Correct me if I am wrong.

[chiboy002]

fckillerbee, fyi roll on paint doesn't allow other forms of paint to stick well when applied to metal. You'll have to strip almost all of the paint when you take it in for a new paint job, or it'll kinda act as if there was oil on the car where you paint, itll blotch up.

[illvialuver]

I think I am just going to have one of my friends paint it.

I might even have my brother paint it. He painted this car, with about two hours of prep, a mediocre spray gun and paint from paintforcars.com and it was his first paint job thought, and this is the day after the car was painted, and without any buffying or wetsanding.

[nathanong87]

Originally Posted by chiboy002

fckillerbee, fyi roll on paint doesn't allow other forms of paint to stick well when applied to metal. You'll have to strip almost all of the paint when you take it in for a new paint job, or it'll kinda act as if there was oil on the car where you paint, itll blotch up.

this is true.... my wingless trunk had a botched roll job on it, and the paint shop gave me grief about bringing that in...

[lysticalz]

just got my car back from maaco from attelboro yesterday. came out damn good. been going through them for years and not a single bad thing to say so far. like nate said. it depends where you go. tipping doesnt hurt

i prepped the car myself, sanded, bondo'd, primed, and masked the whole sha-bang.

this is a single stage job.




cant wait to throw my wheels on.

[nathanong87]

dannnnngggg i'd drive up to rhode island for that job. looks bangin'

[illvialuver]

So nate, who painted your car?

[burninskulls0911]

heres my kouki that got painted at macco, it was the cheapest job they offered









and here is my miata which was also the cheapest job they offer







i love macco!
and i plan to get my silvia painted there as well

[KiLLeR2001]

burninskulls0911, which Maaco did you go to? Also, how long did it take them to paint your kouki?

[dudermagee]

Originally Posted by lysticalz

just got my car back from maaco from attelboro yesterday. came out damn good. been going through them for years and not a single bad thing to say so far. like nate said. it depends where you go. tipping doesnt hurt

i prepped the car myself, sanded, bondo'd, primed, and masked the whole sha-bang.

this is a single stage job.




cant wait to throw my wheels on.

Hmmm that aint half bad
I'm thinking of getting the JDM aero for my car, taking it to maaco and having them paint it the OEM color, my car's paint is damn near mint so I imagine it will work out okay

[omgRWDgoodness!]

Come on Adam, you'll drop the money for a genuine Silvia but you won't even take it to get a decent paintjob? Shame on you!

[burninskulls0911]

Originally Posted by KiLLeR2001

burninskulls0911, which Maaco did you go to? Also, how long did it take them to paint your kouki?

its a new macco on OBT down by uti
its about a mile south of uti on the east side of the road

and it was about a week
i had them fix some dents and stuff

the miata took about 3-4 days i think

Originally Posted by omgRWDgoodness!

Come on Adam, you'll drop the money for a genuine Silvia but you won't even take it to get a decent paintjob? Shame on you!

haha i see where you're coming from but when they do such a good job for so little its hard not to lol