I'm putting together my list of things to screw with on my FC in the summer, and thought that painting the hatch to match the 3rd gen style and paint that outdated trim might spruce things up a bit. I really like option 3, but thought I might get an opinion from you guys as well.

I was also wondering if anyone else has painted their hatch and have pics. I'm not quite sure what kind of surface prep I can do to get the paint to stick to the glass either, so tips in that department would be much appreciated.

Ok, here's the contenders:

Option 1 (stock):



Option 2 (just painted trim, no hatch):



Option 3 (my favorite):



and another picture of option 3 taken the day after I purchased the car:

 

Made a couple of other quick chops with the same option 3 deal. I also deleted the little cross bars and junk in the front airdam. I think a lip and some TII sides would round this car off nicely without spending a bundle. I wish I had more pics with the spoiler on, but it's too cold out.

 

Painting the hatch trim looks stupid.
It breaks the horizontal line going across from the hood to window lower edge to back hatch.
Most likely the paint will fade unevenly, and it'll look more gross.

Painting the rub strip is up to you.
I don't really care myself.


-Ted

 

Painting the rear hatch makes the hatch itself appear smaller, and kinda throws off the proportions of the vehicle if you ask me. I do like the look of the matched rub strip, though. I also like the front bumper in the last pic. That's a pretty clean FC, BTW

 

^
!! same as above- I'd paint the rub strips & leave the hatch stock

 

I see what you guys mean after looking at it again in the morning. It kinda pulls the rear end "inward" visually and it doesn't have that mean wider stance when you look at it.

I'll definatly paint the rub strips though, and then proceed to remove the front grill and fiberglass the holes so it's smooth again.

Thanks for the advice and compliments so far guys.

 

Did you ever paint it Urizen?

 

makes the end stand raised makes the rear look like a stupid 928...

 

Nope, I'm left it black and have no plans to change it. I'm going to take the car into Maaco and have a cheap scuff and spray job done so the damn car is one color and take the time to pull all the trim and re-spray it with some black trim paint so it shines like new.

I put black/polished lip wheels on and I think the whole thing comes together pretty nicely. I'm still sorta of considering going with a black wing, but I think leaving it body matched is going to prevail.

I put some updated pics on my Car Domain page: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/661699/1

BTW, have you made it to any of our meets this year?

 

Maaco is a no no you'll regret it

 

I need someone to do a cheap spray job. The body isn't in the greatest of shape and I just care about it being one color. One of our local club guys has taken two of his cars there and they look pretty good even after a few years. He only paid ~$300 ea. because he did a good deal of masking and prep himself (basically just removing trim and such and sanding it himself.)

I'm taking it to the same place just to get it sprayed to cover the tacky touch-up job the seven previous owners have done. It's not worth my moeny to get a great job done because I'll probably mess it up sometime in the future and this car is just my fun car.

 

Just keep in mind, if you Maaco it, it's going to suck a LOT when you decide to paint it properly someday. Full strip.

Just finished doing it to my own previously Maaco'd car. I'm a couple hundred hours in to body work and such now. No fun.

 

That's not going to happen with this car. When I get to the point in my life where I can afford to do everything top notch I will buy a FC that has no rust (my rockers are shot to the point where I need TII skirts to hide the cancerous parts), pull every concievable piece off and restore it inside and out.

For now, this car is fun and gives me a chance to try auto-x events and such so appearance is only something I care about when I have nothing else to tinker with.

 

I'm the middle guy. I'm pretty sure we met there.
I would also advise against a Maaco job. I sold my car bra to some guy with a Sunrise Red FC, same as mine. The paint was only 5 years old but it was peeling and faded like made. Looked terrible. Apparently your not supposed to clear coat red, but they did anyway and the clear coat was peeling all over. It looked like it got sun burned or something lol.

 

I wonder if Maaco has a specific "line" of paint that they use, and therefore it's the paint itself that's at fault?

I wonder, because there's no way that EVERY painter at Maaco sucks.

I've had TWO cars with Maaco paint, and it ALWAYS fades, peels or chips off

I guess just do the prep work yourself, like you suggested. If you're lucky it'll look good for a couple years... lol.

Good luck daawwwg,

 

option 3 no dobt it looks awsseome like that

 

Sweet, you had that super clean GXL.

The guy who owns that Turbo FB had that car sprayed by Maaco and has had it for awhile now w/o any peeling problems. I think it comes down to how much prep you put into it before bringing it in and which Maaco you take it to. They're a franchised business so each one can vary by alot.

Thanks for the heads up on the clearcoat issue. I'll have to look into that further. They also offer an acrylic one-step base that doesn't shine as much but is supposed to be pretty durable.

 

I wish I brought the seven to that meet now. The car looks great as always URizen.

 

I painted the hatch and around the tail lights a couple years ago when I painted the wifes 7. I`m painting it again, and I`m painting everything back black again. I never really liked it painted the color of the car.

 

I should go to one of these Minnesota meets, everyone make a trip to Mankato!