Have any of you had Maaco paint your car? If so, what was your experience with them? Did they do a good job? Was it super expensive? The paint on my car is oxidizing and it just looks horrible and is driving my crazy...
just wondering. Im just looking for a halfway decent paint job that I can get for less than 2K.
Thanks.
Sophia

Not sure but I know I saw specials they had run for 250? but I heard that many of their paint jobs last a year or a little more? but thats what I've heard!!

I spent $980 and had the dealership paint mine they didn't do a bad job either, actually it rocks! went with the lightest brightest red they had its been 2 yrs I've had this paint now and I've had to unlucky incidents a rock chip on my drivers side mirror and a scrap on the door

Hey, thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it.
Your car looks great!
~sophia

As much as I hate to admit it, I had my car painted at Maaco. It really is a decent paint job, I had it done 8 yrs ago (this pic is this year), and it still looks good. However, I think I just got lucky, don't think I'd go back there. I think it ended up costing around $750. I had to take it back three times to get it done right. They forgot to paint some areas.....under the hood, door jams, and inside the gas cap door.

[This message has been edited by ginfiero (edited 07-05-2002).]

[This message has been edited by ginfiero (edited 07-05-2002).]

Not a great pic, but up close this car is awesome, it's Macco, 1 year old, I have heard the best appraoch is do the prep yourself.

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Ottawa Fiero

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[This message has been edited by ginfiero (edited 07-05-2002).]

ahh well there we go.. I knew I heard about some good/bad maaco jobs, nice pics! I can't complain!

noooooooo!

There's bad maaco shops and there's not as bad maaco shops, but I'll never take my car to one.

Each MAACO is individually owned and operated. Therefore, each one does a little different quality of work.

My sig shows a MAACO job done less than 3 months ago. The paint is lifting off the hood. The original shop went out of business shortly after this paint job. MAACO is standing behind their warranty and is repainting the hood in another shop.

Look at the quality they have done and look at their longevity, hehehe!

All in all, for the experience and warranty, they seem to do a credible job. The one pictured was their "Supreme" (best) and was about $650.00. A professional "as painted new" job was quoted to me for $2800.00. I think that was probably a "fair" price for the work involved.

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The previous owner had a Maaco job done in the original color. Its not too bad. Most of the problems you cant see in the pictures. There is overspary on the hood that is pretty bad but you can only really see it in the right light if your looking for it. There is a small sopt on the pass. side of the sunroof that has a little paint flaking off and theres some spots on the rear spoiler and decklid where it looks like a bug may have landed on it. But when its waxed up real good the car looks great. I believe it was possible the $250.00

Also, our Chevelle has a Maaco job which is actually really good. It has a lot of scratches on the top surfaces now from drag racing but it looks like when it was done it was done good. I've only located one small spot of overspray on the front drivers fender. But maaco did body work on the rear quarter panels on the back of the wheel well with body putty thats starting to crack. The paint was a $500.00 job

My brothers old bonneville had a Maaco job that looks really good and i never saw a bad spot.

Basically if you get that $250.00 job, it most likey wont come out real good but if you get the higher priced job like the $500.00 one, itll look better

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Adam
1987 Blue GT 5-speed
IM AOL: GTFiero

With automotive paint jobs, even more than most other things, you don't get more than what you pay for.

Get the best paint job you can for the money you're able to spend on it... if you try and skimp on the paint job, you'll regret doing so, if you are planning on owning your car for the next few years or more, and *especially* if you're fixing your car up to enter into Fiero shows and stuff.

I highly recommend Imron paint, and I will not use anything else on any car I have repainted. But that's just my experience - your mileage may vary.

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Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com
1988 Red Fiero Formula
- 1st Place - Stock Coupe - FOCOSEVA 2000
- 3rd Place - Stock Formula - FOCOA Nat'l 2001
- Class Winner - 1982 to Present - Tarheel Tigers All-Pontiac Show 2001

My opinion of Imron is not that good. I was around when they came out with it. All it is , is acrylic enamel with a catylst. I painted my plane with it because that was one thing it was specificly designed for. It didnt last in the weather any longer than just plain ole SW acrylid. It now is a dinosaur of paint, been around unchanged for 30 something years. New urathanes are 10 times better.

As for Maaco. Get the cheapest job around $200 and you do all the prep- sanding, premasking, trim removal. They use Sherwin Williams Paint, although it is there low line. The key is to chk out the one your going to use and see how their painter does. As far as the painting itself goes their all done by the same guy, the cost difference is because of the amount of prep they do. I get lots of dealer quicky jobs done by the one next door to me for $200 all the time, and they look ok to me for a driver car. Maybe there not Concours DeElegance jobs but hey $200. Slipping the painter a few bucks or case of beer may be good idea too.

worst case senario: you are out $250 and your car bubbles in 3 months.....then you start over, take your chances with the $250 job, it can't be worse than the oxidation....I am probably going to take my Probe in before winter to have it painted, as it is oxidizing as well.....I will be curious to see results, as we will probably be going to the same shop

I had a 79 Mercury Capri (Mercury's Mustang)
Had Maaco repaint it in the stock colors.

They did all the prep & fixed a few rust spots. The end result was not to bad.

I had a friend that worked there, he made sure I got a "better" job than normal. (his words)

Had it painted in bright red, and black on the lower. Paid about 400, this was in 1985.

Kept that paint job for two years.

Then had another friend repaint it with a nice four color custom job. The paint was flawless !!
A mirror finish. Only paid for the paint !!

Back to your question, Maaco's job wasn't bad.

Here's some shot's of the Maaco job.

The 1st left shot was new at the dealer

(the last two are the custom paint)

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 07-06-2002).]

Hey thanks so much everyone for your advice. They don't sound too too bad. I just need something that will last a couple years when I can get a real top notch paint job.
Fierose: if I get the car painted before you do, I'll be sure to post some pics.
~soph

I was just gonna say I painted my plane with imron.......LOL. It's not made for cars really. I truly prefer the basecoat clearcoat method.....with lots and lots of clearcoat with flex additive in it. You can even tint the clearcoat to give the paint more depth.

I had, what I consider the best shop in the area give me a price on doing that kind of job on one of my cars.....$1,200. That';s a long way from $2,800. But be reminded that some paint is EXTREMELY expensive itself especially if you want that multicolor effect.

MAACO SUX!

Phil

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GTDude
OVER 25 years GM experience