What a good paint job should be.

[BrianSD_42]

resurectedKevin,

you sound a bit smug but I understand the pride in spending $8,000 on a paint job. Personally I think it is too much.

because of your claims though I would really like see you post some high resolution pictures that emphasize what you got for the $8000. I would imagine $3000-$4000 is all it would cost for a top notch paint job.

I am not in need of a paint job. My truck is still a nice dark black with plenty of clear coat and I wax it 3 times a year to prevent fading & cracking.

:bat:

 

[sgtstinky]

I would say the previous owner on my runner had it painted and it looks great, except if the wind blows too hard it will scratch! Looks like I will have to get some one to clear coat it before long. It seems as if there is hardly any on it now.

 

[4gin007]

:jaw drop: Where do you live? The labor rate on that estimate is through the roof. In Virginia the rate is $42. I could see spending $3200- $4200 on a paint job including r&i everything. Truthfully I would charge $3000 to paint one on the side. Get it where and when you can.

 

[resurectedvikin]

HAHAHA AT ALL THE COMMENTS

i simply gave you guys a bit of a reference point to go on when looking for a paint job.

aka make sure ALL mouldings, windows, handles, everything is removed and painted seperate, get new cliips, new gaskets for the moulding etc.......

as for me and my paint job, i didn't pay anything for it cause i own the body shop.

theres the rig

i like my off roading too.


i wouldnt ever pay that for a paint job on a 4runner either, but since i had it all at my disposal, i did it. three coats of pearl on top.

 

[CaliCal]

can't even see the pearls!

 

[Full_Throttle]

Dude, you got RIPPED OFF! I have seen body work from that shop and it is horrible! I can see runs in your paint from here! :whip2:







J/K if you didn't figure that out.

I have painted several cars (my own) and the work involved to do it RIGHT can be overwhelming.

No wonder you can afford all those goodies on your runner if you charge those prices (ducking):lmao:

 

[Hepar]

as for me and my paint job, i didn't pay anything for it cause i own the body shop.

i wouldnt ever pay that for a paint job on a 4runner either, but since i had it all at my disposal, i did it. three coats of pearl on top.

So you made this post to be a d*ck and throw it in our faces?!?! :roadkill:


Lol. Just giving you sh*t. Looks like a great paint job. Love the white on white. IF my Runner even needs a full paint job, I'm gonna go pearl white.

 

[Joshv4runner]

^^ lol!!

 

[Martinjmpr]

When it comes to this kind of calculation, there's always a cost/benefit ratio to be considered.

I can't imagine doing an $8k paint job on anything but a show car (and really, if you're talking about a show car, $8k is probably just the starting point.)

There's no doubt in my mind that an $8k paint job is better than a $2k paint job.

But is it 4 times better? I doubt it.

Also since the OP owns a paint shop, his materials were bought at cost and his time can be chalked up to practice/improving his skills (which then enables him to charge more for his time.) IOW, it's a net benefit for him, not a net cost.

Obviously those conditions don't apply to those of us who don't paint/repair vehicles for a living which means that the OPs whole point is pretty much irrelevant. :shrug:

 

[4Running Daily]

I'm paying 1500 for my paint job. I have seen the cars they have done in person and they are all show car quality. They are fixing all my dents. I'll post pictures when it's done.

 

[Stick Figure]

I'll snap a pic of the front bumper on my truck sometime and the whole pull the parts for proper prep work may make more sense to some of you that don't get it. (repainted at some point before my purchase, i wasn't the cheap ass!)

I was actually wondering about just this same thing the other day while I was cleaning up my truck and noticing the clear coat getting thin on the tops of the fenders.

pretty sure I'll hold out for some type of "rhino lining" type of repaint on it when the time comes.

 

[BrianSD_42]

OP,

those pics are from your build thread ect. Do you have any pics of the actual paint job before after, panel by panel?

Otherwise what is the point of this thread besides to tell us that
1) you own/work at a body shop and get work done for free.
2) you charge twice the competition for paint jobs.

Thx.

 

[Baja Runner]

LOL... $8k for a paint job on a 4Runner... sweet.

 

[Socco]

OP,

You must be out of your F'n mind to try to justify putting an $8k paint job on an $8k truck. :lmao:

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about doing things properly and professionally. I agree that if you just mask around trim, it will peel. But really? $8k??

And IMO, flat rate pricing like that only rips off the customer. I had to smile and shake my head recently when I had my Sprinter serviced. Mercedes charged .2 hrs for each licence plate bulb replaced. So just shy of 1/2 an hour to do a 30 second job.

 

[z28forlife]

There's no way in this world or the next I'd pay anywhere near 8k for a paint job. For that much my truck better come back to me with a "flux capacitor" installed so I can go back in time with a "sports almanac" and get my $ back.

 

[Duhockey]

You guys are all crazy!!

why are you talking smack to a guy that owns a body shop!! LOL

Mr. OP, you are the smartest, coolest individual I have ever met on this board!

maybe you can hook me up with an 8k paint job, I wouldn't want your employees to get out of practice in the bad economy! I graciously will donate my 4runner for your guys to practice on!

:thumb3:

 

[tv4184]

I got an estimate of about 10k for a three stage paint job on mine from a shop that does porsches and lambos. I'd pay that much for a perfect paint job. The only reason I would is because my 4runner has a high sentimental value to me. I did almost have a chance to buy one in the color I wanted but I missed out but either way I would have had to recoat it. If I can find a place to do it for less and still provide similar quality I would go for it but I haven't gone anywhere else to quote yet. I know if you you're personal friends with a shop you could probably get it done in the 2k range for similar quality but 6-10k isn't unreasonable for a full re-color.

 

[shadow247]

Hampton, VA. I get customers daily looking for a complete paint job on their 3000 dollar car. Since we are a Dupont certified paint shop, we are prohibited by our contract from doing cheapo paint jobs. A lot of the labor is in taking the vehicle apart for paint and replacing any clips or trim that breaks. More time = more money. I typically charge about 4500 for a full size vehicle, 3500 for a car, and about 2500 for a Miata. No one has taken me up on it yet, but if I don't charge these prices, then I won't make any money for the boss. Our profit margins are incredibly thin, especially on materials.

I could never justify paying that much for a paint job, but luckily I work at a body shop too so I can basically get it done for the cost of materials.

 

[deodra]

Personally, when someone tells me what my vehicle is worth and that they'd not recommend a paint job of x dollars or fixing something due to the price, etc I get kinda irritated. My vehicles are worth whatever I value them at. Not owing the man something is great and I'd pay for expensive fixes if it means my vehicle stays on the road. Still, 8k for a paint job is not something I'd ever do. To me, that's nuts. Very few of us would have the budget for an 8k paint job. If someone wants to do it, go for it. Me, I'd take that money and buy a new motorcycle and still get a 1500 paint job.

 

[D Farms]

this is kind of like how firestone told me the other day, that because my front bushings were bad to just replace the entire front suspension. anyways for the money you could buy another 2 4runners and swap the body on.