Ok, I took one car to Earl Shibe "I'll paint any car for $99." And it was a acceptable job on a $50. car.

I've also been to Macco, for a $200 job that was OK only - nothing to write home about.

But I am having a hard time coming to terms with the $5,000+ paint jobs I am hearing about here.

What does a good paint job for a car like the 7 average?

 

around here it's 5k+

i'm looking at getting a paint job also, but like you, 5k is a lot of money for some god damn paint!!!

 

It's not car dependent (at least, there is not anything unusual about the RX7 - unless you got a '93 with the primer problem), but to cost of painting is determined by

1) the time the shop puts into the prep (more time = more money), typically higher end shops spend more (labor) time to properly prepare the car for painting

2) typically to a smaller degree, what kind of paint. If I remember correctly, lighter colors cost less - like silver. However, if you get into specialty paint, like color-shifting paint, a couple thousand can be easily added to the total.

You hear pricey paint jobs here because most have alot invested already - and I know I certainly don't want to finish it off with a crappy paint job. You can take your RX7 to Early Schieb (sp?), but the question is - would you want to?

Having said that - paying alot does not necessarily mean you be getting that much better of a paint job. I personally believe some shops play on the 'whatcha pay is whatcha get' mindset of some customers, and do little more work on $5000 job as on one they charged $3000 for. (a $200 paint job is just that though, and I'm betting you'll never get a concourse medal with one of those hehe)

You best bet is to ask around the local show circuit and see who they use and recommend, and then compare prices of the quality candidates.

A good shop will have pride in their work, and a local shop owner down here - that does alot of the local show cars - drags potential customers into the work area to show off his custom work in progress. Something you'll likely not see happen at the corner collision repair shop. Something to think about.

Hope that helps.

 

Nice post dclin.

 

Dclin's post is pretty much on the money. Shop around and compare estimates with what you're getting in return. Sorta like he said just because you're paying 5k for a paint job doesn't mean you can't get the same thing(or should I say same quality) for 3k someplace else.

 

Labor labor labor, its all labor. The differences in paint are minimal, usually a shop that uses cheaper paint or a cheaper type of a paint brand skims on labor as well. You get what you pay for. Good basecoat, primer, and clear can run about $1000
-will the shop take the car apart
-will they do spot priming or full priming
-are they going to scuff pad the car or will they block it all down
-will they use a wet on wet primer or will they use a primer and block the car down again before painting it
-do they have a spray booth that bakes
-are they certified by thier paint manufacturer
-will they wet sand and polish the car after
-arey they a registered repair shop and insured
-will they stand by thier work and offer a gurantee?

A good paint job looks good the day it leaves the shop, and more importantly years down the road.

 

dclin, what shop are you talking about? I am going to be getting my cym painted here in a month or so. I am still looking for a place that will do a perfect job on it.

 

Only costs me the paint it takes... i love friendships =D

 

Where do the body shop guys hang out? I need to go make a few friends like that.

:-/

 

I wouldn't mind making a few friends in body/paint shops myself. Labor cost are almost always the most expensive part of the car, and it sucks when it's STILL not done right.

 

SABS in Houston. They've a done full restore of an Aston Martin Lagonda (made the alum fenders from scratch, as no longer available), other classic cars for local collectors and (funny enough) alot of the local import show cars.

http://www.sabsconversions.com/main.html

Use to be rod shop in NW Houston - Southern Rod and Customs - part owned by Ken Caminiti, that did AWESOME work. Watched them spend countless hours wetsanding every little part. Not sure where they are now, no longer in the complex they were located in.

You've got some pretty good rod shops in the Dallas area. Check with the local hot-rod scene. Shops like those (as opposed to collision shops) will likely take the time to do it right. (meaning a superior job is more important to them, whereas collision shops are interested in how many cars they can spit out).

Here is a starting place:

http://www.metalshapers.org/pros/

Daniel