Maaco?
March-23rd-2003, 05:48 PM
#5
Clean-Up Crew
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pleasure Point, Ca.
Posts: 2,360
I did a search out of boredom/curiousity:
Is Maaco a good Paint job? How are they so cheap?
Quality paint jobs are very expensive. Sometimes, the cost of the paint job will exceed the amount of the car. This would be an appropriate situation for a Maaco paint job.
Maaco does not use conventional paint. This is why the price of their service (not including any body repairs, which is where they can hike up the price) is often the same or less than what other body shops spend for the paint itself. Maaco uses a unique (some call it substandard) chemical which gives the appearance of conventional auto paint, often times with a very high gloss. This is not scratch resistant at all, through personal experience. If cared for religiously, the paint may last for a long time.
Once a car has been painted by Maaco, nothing will stick to the paint but Maaco paint. In order to get the car repainted again by another source, it will have to be completely stripped down and re primed - which is the proper way to repaint a car to begin with. Still, if you have a low value car and don't mind painting it every so often (to a point, mind you - the body can only take so much paint), Maaco may just be a good choice for you. Be cautious of how much they charge for body work
The following is a post on the Chrysler LeBaron Message Board by Justin:
Got the car painted 3 weeks ago (90 vert v6). Turned out nice except Maaco didn't bother to call me about hidden dings, even though I specifically said "if you see anything at all else wrong do not hesitate to call me so we can get it fixed before we paint it"...screwed that up, but all in all got to spend 300 more to get the little dent taken out.
Is Maaco a good Paint job? How are they so cheap?
Quality paint jobs are very expensive. Sometimes, the cost of the paint job will exceed the amount of the car. This would be an appropriate situation for a Maaco paint job.
Maaco does not use conventional paint. This is why the price of their service (not including any body repairs, which is where they can hike up the price) is often the same or less than what other body shops spend for the paint itself. Maaco uses a unique (some call it substandard) chemical which gives the appearance of conventional auto paint, often times with a very high gloss. This is not scratch resistant at all, through personal experience. If cared for religiously, the paint may last for a long time.
Once a car has been painted by Maaco, nothing will stick to the paint but Maaco paint. In order to get the car repainted again by another source, it will have to be completely stripped down and re primed - which is the proper way to repaint a car to begin with. Still, if you have a low value car and don't mind painting it every so often (to a point, mind you - the body can only take so much paint), Maaco may just be a good choice for you. Be cautious of how much they charge for body work
The following is a post on the Chrysler LeBaron Message Board by Justin:
Got the car painted 3 weeks ago (90 vert v6). Turned out nice except Maaco didn't bother to call me about hidden dings, even though I specifically said "if you see anything at all else wrong do not hesitate to call me so we can get it fixed before we paint it"...screwed that up, but all in all got to spend 300 more to get the little dent taken out.
March-23rd-2003, 07:12 PM
#6
Project Protege Builder
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dayton, OH USA
Posts: 397
WHEN TO USE MAACO:
--you're not building a show car
--you care a lot more about performance mods and only want the car to look DECENT. Don't Maaco if you're trying to get a mad tyte paint job, but if your car is in a major need of a paint job.
--You can do your own body and prep work, and just give it to them to spray
-- You plan on selling or getting rid of the car within a year anyways
-- You don't drive your car in harsh conditions (behind salt trucks, over gravel roads, or places where it's susceptible to scratches)
WHEN NOT TO USE MAACO:
-- You don't care at all about performance mods on a car, so you can budget a multi thousand dollar paint job
-- You've already put all the money you ever want into the engine and performance mods...now you're ready to get it looking superb
-- You can afford better
My personal experience, the car didn't turn out perfect by all means, but for the price and how it did come out...it was worth it. You have to consider how the car is now and how it will come out. For me, my paint was pealing and cracking, so I wasn't loosing anything. There were only a few imperfections, and the color was brilliant. It was 10 time better than before it went under the gun. the $500 was well worth it. Me and my partner did all of the body and prep work though.
If you have a flawless paint job now...you should reconsider.
--you're not building a show car
--you care a lot more about performance mods and only want the car to look DECENT. Don't Maaco if you're trying to get a mad tyte paint job, but if your car is in a major need of a paint job.
--You can do your own body and prep work, and just give it to them to spray
-- You plan on selling or getting rid of the car within a year anyways
-- You don't drive your car in harsh conditions (behind salt trucks, over gravel roads, or places where it's susceptible to scratches)
WHEN NOT TO USE MAACO:
-- You don't care at all about performance mods on a car, so you can budget a multi thousand dollar paint job
-- You've already put all the money you ever want into the engine and performance mods...now you're ready to get it looking superb
-- You can afford better
My personal experience, the car didn't turn out perfect by all means, but for the price and how it did come out...it was worth it. You have to consider how the car is now and how it will come out. For me, my paint was pealing and cracking, so I wasn't loosing anything. There were only a few imperfections, and the color was brilliant. It was 10 time better than before it went under the gun. the $500 was well worth it. Me and my partner did all of the body and prep work though.
If you have a flawless paint job now...you should reconsider.
March-24th-2003, 01:51 AM
#10
Project Protege Builder
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dayton, OH USA
Posts: 397
Originally posted by TheMAN
are you just going to go to maaco blindfolded without actually RESEARCHING?
*watches as Calibur gets screwed by maaco*
are you just going to go to maaco blindfolded without actually RESEARCHING?
*watches as Calibur gets screwed by maaco*
Not everyone wants to (or can at that) pay $2000 - $10000 for a paintjob. If he only wants to make the car decent and somewhate pleasing on a car that has a Horrible paint job right now, Maaco works. If you're looking for a show-worthy paint or you're just wanting to change colors and your current paint is in good condition...don't Maaco.
Of course, if money is not an issue at all...no don't Maaco.
Personally I'd rather have a $500 paint job that looks somewhat nice and spend the $2500 I saved on my engine and suspension than have a $3000 paint job that looks a little better. You just have to figure out your goal, set priorities, and figure out how much you have to spend.
But by all means, TheMan is right...RESEARCH FIRST.
-- Read the stories...find out if Maaco is right for you. Remember to give priority over people who have actually had their cars painted before. Some people get influenced by others and give false opinoins...especially on the Maaco subject (Not pointing any fingers)
-- If you decide Maaco is right for you, do some asking around, find out which shops are better. Rememeber Maaco is a franchise, not a corporation. That means some shops will do better jobs than other shops.
-- Determine if you can do your own prep work. Maaco will screw you on body work. With an electrical sander, sanding paper, a dozen cans of primer, and a dedicated weekend, you can do your own prep work. Of course that doesn't account for filling dents, fixing rust, etc.
-- Make sure you get everything in writing. IF they say they're going to give you 3 clear coats, make sure that's written on your sestimate. If they say they will fill any dents, make sure that's on your estimate. Make sure you do get clear coats added on.
-- Ask about warranty & gurantees. This is where I made the mistake, I'm not sure how long my paint is guranteed because I forgot to get an explanation on it. I'm not having any problems with mine ( a few minor problems...nothing to complain about considering the price).
March-24th-2003, 07:44 AM
#12
Project Protege Builder
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dayton, OH USA
Posts: 397
you mean like the small independent body shop that quoted me for $2000? :-) But that was last year, in October or so, and I didn't really shop around
How much are you talking?
I'm probably repainting my car for a second time (my car got hit by an uninsured driver in January, causing some body damage that we're reapiring now, then in February it got broken into and the trunk is fuxored, which we're reapiring. Plus body kit will be on soon, so we're just gonig to get it repainted.)
I'm trying to see if I can afford avoiding Maaco this time, esp. since I may want to change colors and get some kind of specialty paint
How much are you talking?
I'm probably repainting my car for a second time (my car got hit by an uninsured driver in January, causing some body damage that we're reapiring now, then in February it got broken into and the trunk is fuxored, which we're reapiring. Plus body kit will be on soon, so we're just gonig to get it repainted.)
I'm trying to see if I can afford avoiding Maaco this time, esp. since I may want to change colors and get some kind of specialty paint
March-24th-2003, 10:21 AM
#13
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Roswell NM
Posts: 270
I'll show you guys a paint job that ended up costing a friend aof mine only $700 he did the labor, it wouldn't have been so much but because of the color he used materials like, paint, clear, hardener, activator, etc.. cost him $400. We painted a Tri-coat on it, the paint itself ended up costing him almost $300. Thats not includeing sand paper, primer or anything like that, just what it needed to be sprayed. I work at a small body shop and we usually do a whole paint job w/ jams for around 1200-1600. And that is with minor repairs on dings filing in holes things like that. And we paint cars with the body kits and extravagent wings for the same price enen though it uses more materials. Lifetime Warranty on everything we do
. So if it were me, how much does a Maaco paintjob cost, i'd definately look around see what i can find.
. So if it were me, how much does a Maaco paintjob cost, i'd definately look around see what i can find.
March-24th-2003, 10:45 AM
#14
Project Protege Builder
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dayton, OH USA
Posts: 397
Originally posted by Tweeaks
I'll show you guys a paint job that ended up costing a friend aof mine only $700 he did the labor, it wouldn't have been so much but because of the color he used materials like, paint, clear, hardener, activator, etc.. cost him $400. We painted a Tri-coat on it, the paint itself ended up costing him almost $300. Thats not includeing sand paper, primer or anything like that, just what it needed to be sprayed. I work at a small body shop and we usually do a whole paint job w/ jams for around 1200-1600. And that is with minor repairs on dings filing in holes things like that. And we paint cars with the body kits and extravagent wings for the same price enen though it uses more materials. Lifetime Warranty on everything we do . So if it were me, how much does a Maaco paintjob cost, i'd definately look around see what i can find.
I'll show you guys a paint job that ended up costing a friend aof mine only $700 he did the labor, it wouldn't have been so much but because of the color he used materials like, paint, clear, hardener, activator, etc.. cost him $400. We painted a Tri-coat on it, the paint itself ended up costing him almost $300. Thats not includeing sand paper, primer or anything like that, just what it needed to be sprayed. I work at a small body shop and we usually do a whole paint job w/ jams for around 1200-1600. And that is with minor repairs on dings filing in holes things like that. And we paint cars with the body kits and extravagent wings for the same price enen though it uses more materials. Lifetime Warranty on everything we do
. So if it were me, how much does a Maaco paintjob cost, i'd definately look around see what i can find.
My Maaco job w/ extra clear coats cost me $550. Without the extra clear coats it would have ben $350.
$1200 isn't bad, didn't want to spend that before because of money dedicated to performance mods...but this time around after all the performance mods are almost done, it'll be worth it.