Cheap Paint Job - MAACO thoughts?

[aa.allen]

Spend $500 at a paint jobber get some Omni or Limco and mid grade clear or even go single stage if you are not comfortable spraying clear. Do the prep work yourself at home and even a first timer will do better better than Macco.
Limco has a great 1K single stage that most colors are under $100 a gallon.
It's better paint than Macco has I promise you.

A few rolls of sandpaper and some mid grade filler your all set for as much or less than Macco

Macco uses a very cheap paint and they cut corners when doing the little prep they do and the masking off. I have seen Maccos have some good painters but they typically don't stay long they leave and go to regular body shops where they can make six figures.

I wouldn't recommend Macco to anybody

 

[Johnnie]

I had the same truck painted twice at MAACO it looked great both times, I live in Arizona and it was parked outside in the sun, can remember exactly 4 or 5 years on the first and it started fading badly, I had it painted the second time within a year before selling it, probably made my money back by doing it the second time. the paint really did look good with no paint chipping off or peeling. I think the cheaper paint they use just doesnt last, I always wondered how long it would have lasted if it had been garaged?

 

[Jayjayb96]

Heres my 97 painted by maaco. Use to be green the. I changed it to black. I forgot the name and paint code though

 

[gamefreakgc]

Good call.

Orange peel on the doors (they're all like this):

Not defending MAACO necessarily, but my stock paint job on the doors has orange peel like that on that very spot, from the Toyota factory.

 

[T4R2014]

Not defending MAACO necessarily, but my stock paint job on the doors has orange peel like that on that very spot, from the Toyota factory.

Purposely done. It's gravel guard.

The paint lines on that Maaco job are disgusting. If I see a body shop paint over the rubber flare gasket I would make them redo it.

 

[Unner]

I need to get my sport hood repainted. I got it second hand and it's an aftermarket hood so I know the paint isn't OEM. It's starting to peel and flake up in places. I got two quotes this morning from local places, $500 and $700... The $700 place told me it would be show car finish, but I don't need that. I'm not going to pay that kind of money to paint a hood on a truck that gets taken off road and what not.

I'm thinking about trying out Maaco, I've never had any experience with them. If their price is significantly cheaper than the other quotes I've got I might give them a shot. I believe they have different levels of quality and price you can get. If it comes out pretty decent looking for a fair price I'd be happy. There's no masking or anything like that they would have to do since I'd take the hood off and bring it to them.

I'll update with the quote I get today or tomorrow and if I decide to have them do it.

 

[Unner]

I need to get my sport hood repainted. I got it second hand and it's an aftermarket hood so I know the paint isn't OEM. It's starting to peel and flake up in places. I got two quotes this morning from local places, $500 and $700... The $700 place told me it would be show car finish, but I don't need that. I'm not going to pay that kind of money to paint a hood on a truck that gets taken off road and what not.

I'm thinking about trying out Maaco, I've never had any experience with them. If their price is significantly cheaper than the other quotes I've got I might give them a shot. I believe they have different levels of quality and price you can get. If it comes out pretty decent looking for a fair price I'd be happy. There's no masking or anything like that they would have to do since I'd take the hood off and bring it to them.

I'll update with the quote I get today or tomorrow and if I decide to have them do it.

I got quoted $368 to have my sport hood repainted; base coat, clear coat, sealer, and sand the old paint down before hand. Lifetime warranty as well. They had a black corvette outside they just finished painting and it actually looked really good. I wouldn't have been able to tell it wasn't factory paint without really digging into it, and even then I don't know that you would have noticed. I think the quality really depends on the individual shop, and what "level" you go with.

 

[Jayjayb96]

I got quoted $368 to have my sport hood repainted; base coat, clear coat, sealer, and sand the old paint down before hand. Lifetime warranty as well. They had a black corvette outside they just finished painting and it actually looked really good. I wouldn't have been able to tell it wasn't factory paint without really digging into it, and even then I don't know that you would have noticed. I think the quality really depends on the individual shop, and what "level" you go with.

Sounds a lil on the high side. I believe i paid around 600 to paint my whole rig from maaco. I only did the 1 yr warranty but its held up for almost 8 years. I also need to repaint my aftermarket sport hood on my 02 and found someone on craigslist that professionally paints thats willing to do it for 200 so im going that route.

 

[vukos]

Sounds a lil on the high side. I believe i paid around 600 to paint my whole rig from maaco. I only did the 1 yr warranty but its held up for almost 8 years. I also need to repaint my aftermarket sport hood on my 02 and found someone on craigslist that professionally paints thats willing to do it for 200 so im going that route.

Do you do any trails or other off-highway activity? How has the paint held up against scratches from branches and such? Also, did you do any prep work? Did they simply paint over stuff like the rear emblems?

 

[Jayjayb96]

Do you do any trails or other off-highway activity? How has the paint held up against scratches from branches and such? Also, did you do any prep work? Did they simply paint over stuff like the rear emblems?

On my 97 ive only done light/easy trails or fireroads since its only a 2wd. I forgot to mention yes i did all the prepwork myself including primer. All they did was primer sealer, one coat base and one coat of clear. I removed the emblems myself and plastidipped them and put them on a week it was painted. I have some pinstripes but id imagine if i went through some heavy brushes itd probably flake off and break apart after some time. But even my 02 had pinstriping from branches so either way its bound to happen off-roading.

IMO, i wouldnt pay 2-3 for a paintjob just to get it messed up when i go offroad unless youre really just mall crawling LOLOL

 

[Millerad1651]

Had my sport good done at a Maaco, along with a fender. Three years later and they both still look great. I paid $360 for single stage, and the match was spot on.

 

[TonyB66]

New poster here, hoping for a little help...

It looks like I don't yet have sufficient privileges to start a thread, so my apologies in advance to the OP and everyone. It is related though...

I've been shopping for a 3rd gen for several months. I'll be looking at another tomorrow morning, a 1998, a little less than 200k miles, he states all highway, original owner. The paint on the hood and roof, from provided photos, looks to be fairly oxidized though.

Hopefully I'll be permitted to attach a couple photos. Is this anything to be particularly concerned about? Feasible to have the these parts painted with a good match to the rest of the vehicle?

Thanks much. Tony

 

[snow junky]

Won't be a perfect match. May cost +300 for each panel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RedSled]

If your goin Macco you would be better off to let them paint the whole vehicle.

 

[gamefreakgc]

New poster here, hoping for a little help...

It looks like I don't yet have sufficient privileges to start a thread, so my apologies in advance to the OP and everyone. It is related though...

I've been shopping for a 3rd gen for several months. I'll be looking at another tomorrow morning, a 1998, a little less than 200k miles, he states all highway, original owner. The paint on the hood and roof, from provided photos, looks to be fairly oxidized though.

Hopefully I'll be permitted to attach a couple photos. Is this anything to be particularly concerned about? Feasible to have the these parts painted with a good match to the rest of the vehicle?

Thanks much. Tony

Just do the whole vehicle. If you just do hood & roof, the fenders and rear hatch will be the next to peel.

 

[TonyB66]

SJ and RS - Thanks for the feedback.

I will most certainly give that some thought, the entire vehicle. Does Macco also do a clear coat, or is that even worth it?

The seller says that he is the original owner, and that it has been with him the whole time, in CA. So, I'd think that rust would be minimal. Searching now for a thread on what areas are prone to rust. Hoping he did the WP and TB. Says he has plenty of records... Haven't had a 4x4 since my FJ40 20+ years ago!

Thanks again.

 

[TonyB66]

Just do the whole vehicle. If you just do hood & roof, the fenders and rear hatch will be the next to peel.

Thanks for the addtional feedback. He's lowered the price, so I imagine he has factored that in - painting the whole thing.

Speaking of which, what color is it? Seems like it might be a dark green. I'll find-out in the morning...

 

[gamefreakgc]

Thanks for the addtional feedback. He's lowered the price, so I imagine he has factored that in - painting the whole thing.

Speaking of which, what color is it? Seems like it might be a dark green. I'll find-out in the morning...

Yeah, that dark green almost always peels. Out here in sunny, hot California almost 100% of them have peeling clear coat.

 

[TonyB66]

Yeah, that dark green almost always peels. Out here in sunny, hot California almost 100% of them have peeling clear coat.

Dark green alright. The seller said the same as you. Looking at a '98 limited with a rear locker next... Thanks again.

 

[A2toHgt]

I would try having the car detailed first. A good detailer can polish out a lot of scratches. I would stay away from any of the cheapo paint places. In my experience, they make a shitty paint job look even worse.