Maaco Paint Job [Merged 2-7]

[rowlex]

My X had to sue them to get a good job done on her car. Came out great afterwards tho.

 

[94awdcoupe]

If you dont care how the car looks when it comes out, then I guess its ok. I have had several friends bring their cars to Maaco and the final product was worse then when it went in. Most of the Maaco's have cheap labor and it shows.

 

[BurnBarfield]

I was wondering about this topic lately.

Maaco has a sale for 399 for a complete job. Since my car is a '96, the paint is beginning to get worse and worse.

I was wondering if that paint job would look as good or better than stock. I don't need a show car since this is my daily driver and all, but I'd at least like stock quality. It will be the same color and all.

I'm not so worried about overspray, I will be taping stuff off.

 

[1fast97gsx]

jesus there's threads all over about this. Maaco is junk thats why it's cheap.

 

[Fayt]

I was wondering about this topic lately.

Maaco has a sale for 399 for a complete job. Since my car is a '96, the paint is beginning to get worse and worse.

I was wondering if that paint job would look as good or better than stock. I don't need a show car since this is my daily driver and all, but I'd at least like stock quality. It will be the same color and all.

I'm not so worried about overspray, I will be taping stuff off.

$400 and it'll last about 1-2 years even if its a shitty job. I'd say go for it. Quality paint jobs last about what.. 10-12 years and cost $2500-$3000? Overall, its the same ratio, just more often. I'll probably be painting my car myself, or going to maaco... any paint job will be better then mine. Plus, its all dependant on the store really. I've heard of quality jobs coming out of maaco, along with really shitty ones.

 

[will90Eclipse]

It really depends on who is painting the car, Maaco hires alot of young people who most of the time don't give a crap . I would go with a local paint shop, someone who actually has to do a good paint job to get advertising

 

[mostapasta]

I've heard this from a few people now. If you do all the body work and just have them spray it, it turns out pretty good for a few hundred dollars. I'm going to try this myself in about a month, but my paints horrible right now so anything will be better.

 

[yangtech]

i also say go fot it...

 

[will90Eclipse]

I've heard this from a few people now. If you do all the body work and just have them spray it, it turns out pretty good for a few hundred dollars.

I agree Just make sure you know how to do bodywork, because if you screw up everyone sees it (trust me).

 

[trapspeed]

DON'T DO IT. YOU WILL REGRET IT.

I was stubborn and decided to do it. Hey, it's only $300. F That. They do such a crappy job that your car is bound to chip and that's guaranteed.

 

[DSMvroom]

It really depends on who is painting the car, Maaco hires alot of young people who most of the time don't give a crap . I would go with a local paint shop, someone who actually has to do a good paint job to get advertising

I'm going to have to second the part about the local paint shop.

My limited experience has found that the 'small' paint shops don't kid around. The people working on cars there seem to really know what they are doing.

 

[xxrealmsxx]

Thanks for the input guys i appreciate it

wash everything down with dish washer soap to remove the grime. Then go ahead and mask off all of your plastics, windows, etc. Then go to down with some 280 grit sand paper. after doing the car an initial time, wipe the car down with alcohol (or just make sure it's dry after you wash it again). I would run it over with some 320 before moving onto 400 for the final step.

then you can have the maaco guys do their job (painting), since none of them know what prepping is.

using this process on ALL of teh body panels, rims, etc. and using shitty VHT paint.. all parts I've done have lasted anywhere from now and 2years+

this is what has mostly been suggested

newb question though what does <i>I would run it over with some 320 before moving onto 400 for the final step.</i> refer to? A friend suggest I rub it down with a clay bar the cars paint isn't that bad i just need the bumper painted and a really bad mark from a friend backing into the garage and scraping the car taken care of also.

This is on a daily driver but i want it to last till i graduate college and it just has a few scratches on it.

 

[Thomas91169]

newb question though what does <i>I would run it over with some 320 before moving onto 400 for the final step.</i> refer to?

it reffers to sanding the previous paint off the car.

you start off with a rough grit to remove the paint/primer, then start to go into smoother sanding gradients to make it a smoother job.

hell if it were me, id primer it myself as well if i were to go ahead and do the body work. primer it and sand the primer all smooth, then just drive it there, and while in the parking lot, take all the headlights/taillights/trim you dont want painted, and let them do the rest.

right now im seriously(like 95% sure) i will be transforming my 02 GT into a Eleanor look. i have the Roush Stg3 Kit, along with a Saleen S281 wing(i dont like the roush 4post wing, too high). i was going just to paint that stuff black and keep the car black with some nice chrome deep dish bullitts, but my father suggested the eleanor look. if i lock down this new job making double what i make now, i will go ahead and start prepping the car for a shop to paint it the Pepper Silver/Black Stripe to save me some dough. ill be using the same steps, but with a nice DA sander i have to make short work of the process.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

exactly what thomas said.. there's no reason to claybar the car because claybaring preserves the finish of your paint.. since you're sanding it down, it will just be an extra step that won't make a difference.

so.. start with a good wash, then 280 grit, then 320 grit, then 400 grit. If you feel brave, primer the car yourself with GOOD primer (2 step) and repeat the aforementioned process.

g'luck

 

[Purebredx]

I had my car done there a few years back and it was ok, but about 2 months later the paint started chipping, and you could see the old color underneath. Since then I just by the materials and do it myself. Ive actually gotten pretty good at it, if you got the time of course

 

[lngbrdr]

I got my car repainted at maaco my car's paint was really shitty before and looks great now. It isn't too bad but if you want a show quality job dont even think about maaco there are a couple places you can see where prep could have been better but thats only if you really look at the paint up close. But if you are looking for a decent paintjob for cheap then maaco isnt too bad. One thing I was told by my parents that comforted me was that "if they did shitty jobs they wouldn't be in business," and they are freakin everywhere.

 

[SnoopySLR]

Spend some time of your own preping the car. Get a DA and sand her down yourself... A paint job is only as good as the preping is. Maaco doens't prep for crap. I think they only use a 2 stage paint... maybe even a single stage for that price... If you want your car to be one color.. go for it. If you want your car to be shiny and mirror like.. don't bother... you won't have a mirror finish from their job

If you get this done, make sure you find out if they did a single stage or a 2 stage. If its base coat clear coat (2stage) then you can wheel it out and make it look 100x better than it did when you pulled out of Maaco. By wheel it out, I don't mean wax it and remove it with a power wheel. Wheel it with rubbing compound and a wool pad, then swirl mark remover on a wool pad or fingered foam pad, then finish it with a hand glaze and a foam pad. This will make your car shine like no tomorrow. Its a lot of work, but its worth it

 

[payup]

i would go to a little local paint shop. they are usually dying for work and would love to work on a sweet car other than the old peoples cars when they hit a curb and they have pity work to do. they are usually pretty good priced on a reasonable paintjob....just a basic one color pretty decent paintjob, when my father worked for a ford dealership, they had a award winning body shop, he said he could get me a basic black paint job for 1000-1500 depending on prep work they had to do...maaco is crap work dont do it unless the car has miss matching panels and anything would look better than whats on it. but my saying is go big or go home

 

[talonTSIDriver]

I do painting on the side and Maaco does not spend much time preping at all. If you know anything about painting, 90% of the time is prep work or sanding. Spraying paint takes not time at all compared to all the other work. If you were going to sell the car right after you get it painted, then sure, take it to Maaco, but if you are looking to get a good quality paint job, take it to a body shop and pay them $2000 and get something you will LOVE.

 

[sYnOnYx]

ive said it a million times too, it really depends on what macco you goto, some are crap some are good. for my Z , they did all prep work and fixed a few dents , paint job was a 3 stage on special for $500 , came out sweet. after waxing it really shined. ive tooken 5 cars their personally, and sent a few friends over there that were happy customers. it really depends what macco you goto , not all are crap.

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[1992TSiAWD]

Totally depends on your local Maaco - ask around and see what people have to say about them.

 

[KBasham03]

Alright guys I'm taking my car to maaco to get painted. Dont flame me, or give me your opinion on maaco, I Know theyre prep is garbage, so I'm wondering what I should do as far as prepping it before I bring it there..? Ive searched the issue and have seen many different opinions, Some say dont prep it, because then I won't get a warranty, and others say prep it, because it will come out alot better. I have opted to prep it, but am unsure of what to do..? Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[crazy_skier]

do all the sanding taping and bodywork that needs to be done... and find the best painter at the macco and line it up for him to spray your car. also, I would personally remove all the rubber molding possible etc. so that it can turn out that much better and use less tape. and if you want your jambs take off the door panels, throw some paper over the openings to keep the glass good seal it off from the top and seal the opening into your car and they can paint those and leave the doors on to.

 

[KBasham03]

Thanks for the info, But I need specifics as far as grit, products, techniques and so on.. Thanks

 

[TSIMonsteR]

I have seen a lot of MAACO paint jobs...

They are okay for the first year. Mine on my 1g is now 2 years old, and looks terrible. Low Quality paint, terrible prep work, overspray.

You say it depends on the MAACO.... if 80% of them are bad, that gives you a %20 chance to be satisfied.

P.S.- I will be spending my money elsewhere, that is for sure.