Who has re-painted their runner?

[packweco]

My paint is in pretty bad shape. The hood and roof are cloudy and the clear is straight worn through in some places. Been thinking a lot lately about getting it repainted, who's done it and how much did it cost you? Just want to get an idea for the typical paint job on these things from different shops.

I got a quote from a guy who has done paint on several cars for my family, and he quoted me $2k! And that's if I do the dis-assembly too. I'm sure it would be a really nice paint job, but my runner cost $6k, how can I justify that?

Obviously the other option is Maaco, which I am honestly not too opposed to for what it is. Thoughts??

 

[Neos281]

Great question.

I got a quote yesterday to paint the front bumper (only) which came to $725 which includes a detail of the entire vehicle. I am seriously hoping the detail takes care of the paint issues I am seeing. The paint is perfect in some spots but others it looks kinda dull and so I am wondering if a paint correction will fix these spots instead of getting a full re-spray.

 

[txbonds]

Check my build thread. I had mine painting with the equivalent of a Maaco paint job. Cost $450 and turned out pretty well. I like it even though it wouldn't appeal to many.

 

[KidVermicious]

Check my build thread. I had mine painting with the equivalent of a Maaco paint job. Cost $450 and turned out pretty well. I like it even though it wouldn't appeal to many.

I'm planning on a rattlecan job, but for that kinda price I might change my mind. Was this a professional shop that did yours?

 

[Whiplash Willy]

My paint is in pretty bad shape. The hood and roof are cloudy and the clear is straight worn through in some places. Been thinking a lot lately about getting it repainted, who's done it and how much did it cost you? Just want to get an idea for the typical paint job on these things from different shops.

I got a quote from a guy who has done paint on several cars for my family, and he quoted me $2k! And that's if I do the dis-assembly too. I'm sure it would be a really nice paint job, but my runner cost $6k, how can I justify that?

Obviously the other option is Maaco, which I am honestly not too opposed to for what it is. Thoughts??

How bad is the roof/hood? Do you have pics? Even an expensive paint job, usually won't be a good as the original. My friend paid $5k to get his 240sx repainted, by supposedly a good painter, and I see many flaws in the paint job.

Depending on how bad the clearcoat failure was, if it were me, I would do a full detail on entire 4runner, and assuming the clearcoat failure was just on the roof and hood, I would plasti-dip the roof, and either plasti-dip the hood, or remove the hood, and have a good painter re-paint it the factory color.

It is amazing what polish can do for an automotive finish.

 

[amalik]

Whiplash Willy -- I've heard from friends who have plasti-dipped their vehicles that it falls apart after 1.5-2 years. Maybe it's just Colorado weather.

Anyway, just for laughs -- I got a quote from a local body shop for $5k to paint my 4runner, I'm in the same bind as OP. That would be pretty funny to paint the truck for more than what it's worth on paper. Some people do that though. After my jaw dropped at the price, the body shop told me a guy with a similar year Tacoma (97-2000'ish) paid the $5k to paint his old Tacoma.

Has anyone done Maaco? I'd be interested to know the long-term results.

 

[txbonds]

I'm planning on a rattlecan job, but for that kinda price I might change my mind. Was this a professional shop that did yours?

Yes. A local shop. I was quoted as much as $8k for a full professional original style paint job. When I mentioned this was an off road truck that will get scratched I was referred to the Maaco style place.

Basically they prepped the finish by sanding and taping, and they prepped plastic with some sort of adhesion promoter. They painted with something from sherwin Williams auto paints. It was a urethane paint. I asked them to make it almost flat with just enough clear to make it easier to wash.

They didn't do interior, engine or door jambs for this price, it was just exterior. But my truck was black and I was doing a Black and Tan theme so I didn't mind having the black door jambs. They did do under molding and what not.

My opinion was for the money paid they did a really good job though.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Yes plasti dip will fall apart. The few cases where it lasts a while longer is when you paint over it with paint

Why don't you have just the hood and only roof repainted. Should be able to do that for < $750-$1000

Leave the rest factory and wax it often. I wax three times a year and my paint is going on 17 years now.

 

[amalik]

txbonds -- I still think your original black paint was gorgeous! If I get my black 97 repainted, it would probably end up looking like yours *before* your paint job, hehe.

BrianSD -- I didn't know you had original paint, very impressive. The shine of your black paint always sticks out to me in the forum

 

[JayRolla]

A little wax does amazing things.

 

[2014 Warthog]

I have one experience with Maaco cheapie paint job from about 10 years ago and it was pretty bad (Friend's dat's Toyota).

Paint was dull when new, faded quickly and there was virtually no surface prep at all. In just 3-4 years the dull fading paint was peeling off(Literally, big curly peels) to reveal the much better shape original paint underneith he was trying to hide.

It might be "good" for spruicing up a car for sale if it was originally in REALLY bad shape, but if you plan to keep it, well, this is one area you get what you pay for.

 

[RedSled]

I had three quotes,

Toyota body shop = $7000.00 & 3 months to do it. Take everything off.
Another reputable shop = same as above.
A small shop = $1000.00 Sand the hood,Roof,and bumper. Take nothing off,Mask & shoot the the whole vehicle same color 5 yr. warranty. I think i am going to go with this one. :loco:

 

[PitbullRescuer]

OP, I'd just get the hood and roof done. Stay on top of the rest of it with polishes and wax. A half decent paint job isn't cheap. A good one is flat out expensive as hell. I'd stay away from the Maaco job. I flipped a Maxima about 15 years ago. Car was rough so I straightened it out and sent it to Maaco for a respray. (I did disclosure the Maaco respray to the buyer) In a bout a year it looked like sh*t. And this was me going for their higher end job and going to the "good Maaco" in the area. My point is don't make things worse by spending money on a half ass job. You'd be better off going to the good shop and getting less work done.

 

[seabun]

My brother's blk 2000 has terrible clear coat peeling underneath the rear quarter panels; no polishing is bringing that back. So we have been looking into affordable options to repaint. At least it is black which is pretty hard to mess up.

OP depending on which direction you want to go I agree with some on here to just get the hood and roof done and clay bar/wax/polish the heck out of the rest. Hopefully it isn't too pricey!

 

[txbonds]

I had three quotes,

Toyota body shop = $7000.00 & 3 months to do it. Take everything off.
Another reputable shop = same as above.
A small shop = $1000.00 Sand the hood,Roof,and bumper. Take nothing off,Mask & shoot the the whole vehicle same color 5 yr. warranty. I think i am going to go with this one. :loco:

That's pretty much what my shop did. They warrantied the work and used good paint but the price was similar to the Maaco route. Just a local shop that did cheaply priced paint for a project like mine. Will see how it looks in a year, or two, or three.

 

[T4R2014]

We need to see pics of the paint now. It could be saved with a buffer and the right products. I would get the hood and roof painted if I was trying to save money. Maaco is a hit or miss deal; some are good and others are awful.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

My brother's blk 2000 has terrible clear coat peeling underneath the rear quarter panels; no polishing is bringing that back. So we have been looking into affordable options to repaint. At least it is black which is pretty hard to mess up.



OP depending on which direction you want to go I agree with some on here to just get the hood and roof done and clay bar/wax/polish the heck out of the rest. Hopefully it isn't too pricey!

I thought the Toyota black was single stage paint?

 

[T4R2014]

It's possible that it was in an accident and was badly repainted which may be why it is peeling.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I thought the Toyota black was single stage paint?

I'm with you on this. I'm pretty sure it is.

 

[amalik]

OP, I'd just get the hood and roof done. Stay on top of the rest of it with polishes and wax. A half decent paint job isn't cheap. A good one is flat out expensive as hell. I'd stay away from the Maaco job. I flipped a Maxima about 15 years ago. Car was rough so I straightened it out and sent it to Maaco for a respray. (I did disclosure the Maaco respray to the buyer) In a bout a year it looked like sh*t. And this was me going for their higher end job and going to the "good Maaco" in the area. My point is don't make things worse by spending money on a half ass job. You'd be better off going to the good shop and getting less work done.

I wonder if this is just the 'bad' Maaco experience.

I spoke with them on the phone for a while today. They have some good options that are in the 'middle' range that are not the low-ball Walmart jobs with faded paint in a year and not the $8k OEM paint job...

The guy said for $1,500 we could probably paint my whole truck and that includes 2 different colors as the 4 flares are different color than the body, and it should be good for 3-5 years. I appreciated the honesty and that's not a bad price if what he said is true. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good salesman, lol.

Anyway, this beats a small-shop I went to (single owner) referred to by my mom who did some work with him. He quoted me the same $1,500 for re-doing the hood/roof/2 quarter panels in the rear (These spots have rust on them, I've taken very poor care of my paint) -- but not touching anything else. The problem with this job is half my truck would still look like crap with this job. Why do a job at all if it's going to be half-ass?