Hello,
Have any of you ever used Maaco for a paint job? If so were you happy? Do they offer paint jobs with metal flake, two tone or any kind of custom job?
Anyone know of someone near Houston,TX that does a decent job? I didn't pay a lot for the car and can't justify a $3000 paint job.
Thanks for any input
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1993 Mustang 5.0 convertible. I bought this car to restore as a show car. It has a performance cam, 3:73 gears, cold air induction, 2007 Cobra rims, Nitto tires and new paint and tires.
Paint is definitely a 'get what you pay for' issue. Save up some cash and get a reputable shop to do the work.
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Sometimes I think that government fits that old-fashioned definition of a baby: An alimentary canal with an appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan
How much do you love your car?
Growing up in Detroit, whenever we came across a nice car (Car, not paint)
from a distance, as we got closer we could tell it was re-painted - overspray on
trim, tires, muffler, and or it was beginning to peel, chip off or had orange peel,
the joke was - "Looks like an Earl Sheib job".
Earl Sheib is on the order of Maaco. Not a good idea.
If you are not in primer yet, start by rubbing out the paint - using a mild
polishing compound or a clay bar. I prefer by hand vs. a buffer - unless your an
expert with it, don't push it with the buffer. Older paint can burn off with ease.
Then, apply a good polish and then wax.
If your in primer, consider signing up for an Adult education class within
your community for auto body repair. This way, you have a trained professional
on hand to help you get started - prep and paint. Its cost effective and you learn
something new. See, an old dog can learn new tricks, when giving the chance or
in this case, oportunity.
Yes I've used Maaco...and NO I would never use them again. Used them about 15 years ago-I know that's a long time but I really doubt that things have changed. I paid for one of the mid level paint jobs I didn't want to go really cheap but I didn't have a bundle to spend either and anyway it was our daily driver it was a good car but the paint was gone...so a new paint job. When I went to pick it up it was pitiful. The paint didn't shine and the finish was about as rough as sandpaper...no joke. They did absolutly NO prep work. None of the rock chips or imperfections had been dressed out and the paint was pealed up off of the nose. And to top it off half the trim pieces were not reinstalled. I blew a gasket. They took the car back and tried again, the second time was actually worse than the first. If you care about your car...NEVER-NEVER-NEVER use Maaco or any other bargain body shop. You get what you pay for and sometimes not even that.
It really depends on the individual shop (and the person behind the prep and paint gun) as they're owed and operated individually.
There's one near me that has a good reputation and while I've never had them paint anything I've seen a few vehicles they've done at cruises. The paint won't win best of show but it does look good and has held up for the past 6 years. The key I've noticed is prepping the car and then just having them paint it. One vehicle, a '65 Corvair, the owner removed all the trim, primed it, block sanded it, then had it flatbedded there. He paid for thier top of the line paint job, about $1350, then had it flatbedded home. He then wet sanded the car to remove the orange peel and buffed it out himself and reapplied all the trim. All they did was mask it and spray it a light metallic blue. I don't know what type of paint he had them use but he spec'd it out (had to be compatible with the primer he had used) and they were willing to work with him. It was just under $500 alone for the paint materials. The $500 was included in the $1350. If he had wanted the car painted for $200 then they would have to scrimp on the paint as it's not cheap either.
Bottom line is before chosing ANY shop, whether Maaco or regular body shop, visit them and look at the work that they do. Ask to see some finished vehicles and/or get references. Get a feel for how interested they are in your project and if they want to work with you. Like others mentioned, you will get what you pay for. Overall Maaco has a bad rap but there's a few decent ones out there just as there's some bad bodyshops too.
One thing I found out as I was getting quotes to have my '68 Mustang coupe painted was many body shops weren't interested in it. I found these shops only do insurance work as that's where the easy money is. You may find this also.
Yeah Jay, I did have a lot of places tell me no on my '71. I think I found a local guy (not Maaco) that said he would do it for a decent price. I am thinking about trying to do the stripes myself. I did the ones on my car now. Any advise on that?
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1993 Mustang 5.0 convertible. I bought this car to restore as a show car. It has a performance cam, 3:73 gears, cold air induction, 2007 Cobra rims, Nitto tires and new paint and tires.
I had a 91 Dodge Dynasty I had painted at MAACO about 3 years ago. I paid about $450 for the job. It lasted and looked good until I sold the car. I guess I did not expect a showroom quality job, there was some overspray, but it did look good, that did use a slight metalflake paint. I had prepped the car, sanded down the bad spots before I took it to them. If you go there do not expect to win any shows but it sure did make my dynasty look better. It is really about what you want out of the car. If you want it to look Ok and now you are ashamed to drive it MAACO could do the trick.
It really depends on the individual shop (and the person behind the prep and paint gun) as they're owed and operated individually.
There's one near me that has a good reputation and while I've never had them paint anything I've seen a few vehicles they've done at cruises. The paint won't win best of show but it does look good and has held up for the past 6 years. The key I've noticed is prepping the car and then just having them paint it. One vehicle, a '65 Corvair, the owner removed all the trim, primed it, block sanded it, then had it flatbedded there. He paid for thier top of the line paint job, about $1350, then had it flatbedded home. He then wet sanded the car to remove the orange peel and buffed it out himself and reapplied all the trim. All they did was mask it and spray it a light metallic blue. I don't know what type of paint he had them use but he spec'd it out (had to be compatible with the primer he had used) and they were willing to work with him. It was just under $500 alone for the paint materials. The $500 was included in the $1350. If he had wanted the car painted for $200 then they would have to scrimp on the paint as it's not cheap either.
Bottom line is before chosing ANY shop, whether Maaco or regular body shop, visit them and look at the work that they do. Ask to see some finished vehicles and/or get references. Get a feel for how interested they are in your project and if they want to work with you. Like others mentioned, you will get what you pay for. Overall Maaco has a bad rap but there's a few decent ones out there just as there's some bad bodyshops too.
One thing I found out as I was getting quotes to have my '68 Mustang coupe painted was many body shops weren't interested in it. I found these shops only do insurance work as that's where the easy money is. You may find this also.
The one in South Topeka, does some good custom work. They have a pretty long line of classics they've or are in progress of doing, but they're not $250 jobs.
you CAN get a decent job done at either Earl Schieb or Maaco, but you ABSOLUTELY MUST do all the prep work yourself.
The more you can do, the less the shop will scrimp on. Do all the degreasing, block sanding, primer, and tape work, and remove the windows, if you're able, and you can get a good job.
If you don't you won't -because all you're paying them for is a wash and paint.
Of course, by the time you've done all that work, you could probably paint it yourself, too.
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
Thanks a lot for all the advise. Just how hard is it to paint your own car? What are some of the musts, and the tricks to getting a decent job in the end?
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1993 Mustang 5.0 convertible. I bought this car to restore as a show car. It has a performance cam, 3:73 gears, cold air induction, 2007 Cobra rims, Nitto tires and new paint and tires.
Thanks a lot for all the advise. Just how hard is it to paint your own car? What are some of the musts, and the tricks to getting a decent job in the end?
There are so many -do what I did, and pick up Hot Rod's Paint and Body guide.
You can get it at pretty much any bookstore.
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
Around here, we have MAACO and PEACH, both with the lower priced paint jobs. But you get what you pay for; they both offer bare-bones paint jobs for 200-300, but that's a bare minimum of prep and lower quality paint. They both offer full surface prep and higher quality with basecoat/clearcoat, for 1200, and then extra charges for doing the door jambs & underhood and trunk underside. It's also extra if they have to prime the car.
Instead of hearing from people who were not happy with the lower cost paint jobs at MAACO several years ago, I would like to hear from people who had the higher quality paint jobs from them more recently, that would help me decide. I already know I don't want the $450 single stage paint job.
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66 Coupe - CandyApple Red, 2 barrel 289, C4.
66 Coupe - (father-daughter project). Tangier Orange, 302 with AOD, 17 inch Bullit wheels.
69 F-100 - 351c. Emerald Green Metallic paint. Still "in progress".
68 Barracuda - Rusted out project. 318 in the frame rails for now. Maybe a 360 in the future.
00 Mustang - (son's car) V6, 18 inch Saleen wheels.
Maaco paint or not? 
