Hello All,

I have a black 88 GXL with 132k. Unfortunately this past year my car has been keyed, hit (lightly), and the paint on the hood has faded so much that it's no longer black. I've tried everything I could do to keep the car looking good, but it's clear to me that it needs some minor bodywork and a repaint.

I don't plan on keeping the car for more than another year, so I don't want to spend a fortune on a paint job. My friend recently had his truck repainted at Maaco for $300 and they actually did a pretty nice job. You think I should do the same with my GXL or should I explore some other options?

BTW - If anyone knows a good RX-7 mechanic in the Hartford, CT please let me know who they are. The last guy that I took the car to tried to convice me that I had a 4 cylinder car. That moron never touched my car and I replaced the oil pressure sensor myself!

Cheers,

Rev

 

Just remember that Maaco can afford to charge that little because they use very cheap paint that won't last for more than a few years. Dupoint premier paint costs around $300 a gallon for just the base coat and then another several hundred for the clear coat, sealer, primer etc so if you figure they can do all of it for just $300 thats some low quality single stage paint they use and absolutely no body work. But if you are getting rid of it in a year like you say and don't care about how long it's going to last after you get rid of it then Maaco is just fine.

 

Maaco uses the same paint as all the other body shops, unless you specify. It's all in the prep work that makes a good paint job. If you prep your car yourself and take it to them, they will do a great job.

The prep work is definately the most time consuming, which is why paint jobs can be so expensive.

 

Maaco shoots the same paint as everyone else, they just do not spend the same amount of time per car. i.e. they only do 2 coats of paint, instead of 4, only 2 coats of primer, instead of four, and they do not remove your trim pieces.

 

I got screwed by a paintjob a while back when i fucked up my Volvo. It was painted November before last, but the paint's chipping in areas and the ************ got some paint on my interior(!!).

If you're in Alabama, don't ever go to Century Plaza Paint and Body. They suck.

 

Places like Miracle & Maaco also offer a upgraded paint package .. costing around $1500 its 2 stages & comes with a 5 year warranty. So if the will warranty it for 5 years .. to any dipshit, you gotta assume if you wash it properly wax it often and take care of it it will last you 10 years.