Project!

[Tauni]

If you are going to drive the car in the winter a cheap Maaco paint job will not be ok. It will be chipped to shit within one year. If you are going to store the car in the winter then it wouldn't be a bad idea.

I don't know yet. My dad hasn't "decided" if he is going to let me keep the neon around once the eclipse is done. Though he should. I don't know. Seems kind of pointless to store my FWD hoop-d car during the winter. The onlything I want the neon for is for when the eclipse breaks.

BTW, John, I'm not that dumb. Between me and the other people working on this hoop-d I'm sure we could have figured it out :p

[slowbubblecar]

If you are going to drive the car in the winter a cheap Maaco paint job will not be ok. It will be chipped to shit within one year. If you are going to store the car in the winter then it wouldn't be a bad idea.

A maco paint job is fine if you do the prepping yourself. They just don't spend as much time on the prepping than other places. I have seen some pretty good jobs from them actually.

[Tauni]

A maco paint job is fine if you do the prepping yourself. They just don't spend as much time on the prepping than other places. I have seen some pretty good jobs from them actually.

I plan on doing the prepping myself if someone will let me know exactly EVERYTHING that needs to be done. I'm still a little nervous about Maaco though, mainly because they are cheap. I know it sounds ridiculous but I compared their prices to a few other places and found they were a bit cheaper than other places. Cheap usually means not as good quality. Has anyone had their car painted at Maaco? If so how did they do and would you recommend them to someone else?

[Goat Blower]

I don't know what joe off the street pays, but I pay about $350 for a basic full respray. My local Maaco charges the taxi companies $400 for a color change, but they don't do the door jambs or engine bay. I only say to pull the trim off yourself because their tapers suck and it takes longer to clean up the overspray than to just pull the trim and lights yourself. Plus they'll probably cut you a break if they have less taping to do. They are really slow right now, so bartering will get you a decent paint job for a good price.

Steve

SO true. How much is just thre spray? Does anyone have a clue on that one? And for the prep work what all needs to be done? I know the basics but I'd like to also do the prep work myself.

No body kits. I'm putting the side skirts back on and that's the closest to a body kit I'll ever have. :p

[Goat Blower]

Tauni, shoot me a PM if you want an in-depth description of how to get your car ready for a decent cheapo paint job. I've only had to have them re-do one job because it was shitty. They don't do a show quality job, but either does the Mitsubishi factory.

[Tauni]

Thanks a lot for the advice Steve! This is going to be a big help. I really would like this car to look nice and be decently quick when it's done. PM sent!

[Halon]

Steve, could you post this up so I can see what you have to say as well? Or just forward me that same PM? thanks

[slowbubblecar]

What should be done all depends on the condition of the car. I am too lazy to post.

[Tauni]

He had good advice! Here's what he said, just in case!

[Tauni]

Okay, take off the headlights, taillights, mirrors,(unless you want them body color), trim strips above the doors, windshield washer nozzles and wipers including the rear wiper and nozzle, license plates and front bracket, door handles, trim strips between the glass and the door skin, and spoilers. Leave the spoiler pieces in the car for them to paint off the car as well as the door handles. This way you won't have tape lines on the spoilers and door handles, which is the biggest difference between a crappy paint job and a good one. Also have them repair the rust spots, or do it yourself with a rust neutralizer and some bondo. Make sure the rust is completely neutralized before doing the bodywork, or the rust will come back through. Also, if you have some shitty wheels to put on for the paint job, it wouldn't hurt just in case they don't cover them completely. Doing this should get you a pretty good paint job. They lay paint well, but the cost savings is in the lack of prep work they do. Doing this yourself saves you coin.

Sorry I hit post to soon!