I'm thinking about using Maaco for a paint job, (I'm very low on funds right now), and I've only heard fairly bad things about them - but no one I know of can beat their price. Has anyone had a good experience with a Maaco paint job?
Thanks
Adrift

I know they're not show quality jobs, but they are still and huge chain and they probably wouldn't be in business if they just sold crappy paintjobs all the time

Hi Adrift; I think it all depends on the shop. I have a 73 Javelin AMX that I take to shows. About Ten years ago I wanted to have it repainted. When I was shoping around for estimates I stopped at Maaco just to get a price. I talked to the manager and told him what I used the car for. After talking to the guy for Ten minutes or so I got the feeling he knew what he was talking about. I let them paint it and they did a great job. When I go to shows around town people ask me where I had it painted and usually when I tell them they can't believe it. My advice is if there are more than one Maaco in your area go talk to the guys in charge get there best price, see which one seems to know the most.You might even offer the guy a small bonus if he does a good job. It will probably still cost a lot less than most other places. The only other thing is make sure they put the necessary additives in the paint, like hardener and flex agent.

I talked to a guy that has a SWEET paint job on an older VW beetle. He got it at maaco.
What he said was ls took a whole week to let them do his car. He kept going, looking at their finished job, and when he found something wrong he told them to fix it. Never signed for the car. By the time the week was over, he has a show quiality paint job at bargain price.

I got mine done at maaco.I wish I had spent the extra money.For the price I paid,I really don't have a complaint,but I am thinking about getting re-done in a couple years.It looks good at first,but the more you look,the more things you find wrong with it.Save your money until you have enough to get a really good one you can be proud of.

No, but I have seen a really nice Maaco paint job -- a lime-green GT at Ed Parks' swap meet this year. There was overspray everywhere, but the paint itself was very nice with no runs/dirt that I could see, and the guy said he paid $1000 for it.

On the other hand, I've seen five or six other Maaco jobs and they all sucked.

I hope he didn't pay $1000 for a Macco paint job... Cause for that much you can go to a decent body shop and get a halfway decent paint job on a fiero. A kid I know got a REAL nice paint job for $850 on his 78 Firebird.

My friend got his car painted there... turned out pretty good.

Well I pretty much think you get what you pay for as far as Maaco goes. We got my dad's 85 painted there and after the fourth time they repainted it in a year I guess it turned out pretty good. If you overlook all of the hassle and the overspray it turned out okay.

Jennifer

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IM Username: FieroChic88
Silver 1988 GT
Silver 1986 2m4
Cobalt Blue 85 GT

I've had friends that went to Maaco.

1) My friend totally prepped the car, and primed it...all they had to do is seal it and paint it. Well, it seemed a bird decided to relieve itself on the car(half on car half on the bumper). Maaco didn't bother to wipe the car down and 2 days after it was painted, the painted poop came off.

2) I warned another friend with the above story....and I heard that the paint likes to peal after a year... I was off by a month.

I was not very pleased with my Maaco job, even though I stripped the car. Fish-eye, light coverage, overspray, etc.

But I think it depends on the shop.

I think it really does depend on the shop, and which part of the country for that matter. I would NEVER get my car painted at a MAACO where I live. I am a perfectionist and they would never get it right. People in my area are the "fast food" type of people. They would rather go for quantity than quality.

They get the job done by doing as little as possible.

I know a guy that paints cars on the side from his job at Car Quest. He painted my side scoops black for me. No orange peel or anything. I may get him to paint my car for me, but I will do all the prep work to save on the cost.

If he doesn't do it, I'll do it myself for just the cost of the paint.

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AOL IM: GTFiero86Dan
'86 GT 4 speed
'87 GT Auto

I had Maaco repaint the fender and roof of my Oldsmobile. The weakness of the job is in the prep work. The paint was actually matched and sprayed pretty well. Since they are only able to do cheap jobs by doing a lot of cars quickly they cut corners primarily on the prep work. I think if you are able to do your own sanding and prep work, you could probably get an okay job on the cheap. Not show quality, but okay for a daily driver.

I wouldn't have them touch my Fieros though, but I have considered taking my Olds again for some work on other parts of the car. With the way they use a power sander, it may be okay for metal but it wouldn't be pretty on a plastic/fiberglass surface.

Of course, no two Maaco's are alike in the quality of work, so it's hard to generalize. I went to the one in my area that I heard the most positive stuff about.

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Ken S.
'87GT and '86SC
See them at http://homepage.mac.com/kjslish/Fiero.html
Western PA Fiero Club - www.westpennfiero.org

Got mine done at Maaco. Will post pics when I get home from vacation. I did all the sand/prep/body work myself.
Maaco is fine, as long as you don't mind a little overspray
Pull your trim off, and the paintjob will be fine. Maaco will back their paint up. If it peels up right away, they'll redo it. Just go over your car completely with a 320 grit wet sandpaper, and give it a good wash (NO WAX!!!!!!!!) and it'll be fine.

I send dealer cars next door all the time to get shot at Maaco. I do all the prep, masking and sanding, most turn out pretty decent. I cant buy the paint for what I pay them and dealer cheapies dont keep my shop tied up. I get them shot for $250 a car.

This has been discussed many times here..
the paint job from maaco will only be as good as the materials and the people they use!
I am fortunate here because the manager of my local maaco also happens to be one of my oldest friends. he used to run a high end body shop in town until it was closed down!
My Maaco uses Dupont products for there high end paint jobs.
You will only get what you pay for with Maaco! If you want a better job listen to them, and pay for the extra prep time!
that's where they make money is in there body work time, if there isn't much extra time on the bill it turns into a rush job!
Hint.......talk to the guy who will actually paint the car! slip him $20.00 and you will be very very happy I also tip the guys in my shop who tape off the car!!! and drop off a case of soda and a bag of 99¢ hamburgers when I drop the car off. ($15.00) All my jobs get done quick, look fantastic also!

I had this GT painted there in Feb
and then I sold the car for $4,500
and the paint was flawless!

Cost me under $400.00 (with tips) for this one, but, I get great deals.
Expect this type of paint job to run around $700.00 Base clear with Dupont stuff from Maaco.
FD

My 85GT was repainted by MAACO in OTTAWA Canada just before I got it, IT WAS AMAZING, absolutly NO overspray but I have to admit the person who had it before me paid for extra prep time and stuf

And I have to agree, giving the actual tech a tip or a case of beer or something ALWAYS helps (well 90%)

I just recently went to the local macco for an estimate. They told me 250 for the paint job but they wanted an extra 700 to strip the hood and the trunk because of the clearcoat peeling. When I got done laughing I said I could get a real body shop to do it for that price and left.

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I fell that a Maaco paint job depends on several things.
1) material they have on hand to work with. IE.-paint.
2) condition of subject auto.
3) the shop.
4) prep work done (body work, sanding and proper repairs ect.)

I have seen some of the work done by the shop by Fierodave and WILL have some painted there when I head that way to help Dave with some repairs. I paint all my cars, but after seeing the jobs that shop has done and the prices they have, I have that much wrapped up in materials BEFORE I begin painting.
I figure I can kill two birds with one stone by taking a couple up there to get painted while I work with Dave's stuff!
Best yet they shoot the same paint I do!

88CoupeV6 got his Fiero painted there this past April. It came out really good. Most people seem to be impressed when they hear it was from Maaco. There was a bit of overspray but he cleaned that up. He got the $800 job and did all the prepwork himself.

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Jaime
84SE red
AOL IM: Jaygee79
Jaygee79's Web Page

[This message has been edited by Jaygee79 (edited 07-30-2001).]

I have my appointment for Wednesday. I'll have it back by friday. I'll be getting the sealer and the Presidential package. $289 out the door. I am doing all the prep work myself.
I'll have pictures on my web site.

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Winston Ojeda
88 Formula LT1
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
http://www.FieroLT1.com
Home of the Fiero LT1
wojeda@FieroLT1.com