I have recently purchased a stillen body kit and new front bumper for my 99 max. My car is currently pearl white (beat up pearl white)

The entire car will need to be painted in order for colors to match and look good.

I have 3 color preferences: Pearl white again, Jet black (like 1999 Honda prelude) or Blue like the new Civic's you see on the road.

The interior of my car is black leather. I have chrome rims.

Questions:
What color do you think would look the best (who cares about cleaning) on my Maxima?

What color do you think wouild be the cheapest?

Any suggestions on what to ask the paint shop of paint details? (like im fine with the engine bay staying white.. and the inside of the trunk.....)

Any suggestions on brand names of paint?

Any suggestions on where is a good place in Canada to do this?

Is there any prep work a guy could do himself to help reduce the cost?


Keep in mind I have never painted or prepared any paint jobs. Im not sure of the material but I am willing to work.


Thanks

Please dont flame me, this is a serious post

 

white will be cheaper. I say this because when I went to get my tan maxima painted blue I had to pay extra for them to paint in the trunk, each door jam and under the hood. Normally when they do under the hood they don't take your engine out unless you want to pay a ton for them to do it. Whatever you do don't trust Macco. They are cheap for a reason get quotes from close by shops and tell them you are getting quotes this will give you the best chance of getting a good deal. Especialy when you have one quote in hand and the next guy is higher then you can ask them to beat that quote. Once they do you find the next guy and make him beat that quote before your know it you've saved $300. If you have tuns of money to spend on this I think blue is great. A lot of people have black maximas. If you go with a blue that isn't on a maxima stock that would look sweet. Just remember in the end you have to live with your choice when you drive around.

 

I agree with KJS2023. Painting your car another color will definitly be more expensive than going back with the orginal color. I had my car painted a metallic black last year and spent a ton for the color change. I had the door jambs, under trunk and hood painted which drove up the cost. However if you do not mind having a mixed color car just do the outside. IMO, get a color that is not same as everyone else. Like KJS2023 said you will have to live with the color. The house of kolors has some of the best paint, IMO.

 

+1 on white. Don't get a really cheap paint job though, that Stillen kit doesn't deserve it.

 

white best...not cheapest.

 

i would think pearl white would be very expensive.

imo, black would look the best on your black interior and chrome rims.

 

the best way to save money is sand it down yourself, possibly primer it as well.. i have been painting bodykits for a while now and just finished my first car... pearl white would be best but is expensive since its a 3 stage paint.. meaning 3 coats, white base pearl mid then your clear.. if you don't care about you engine bay or trunk i would go with what color you like best the electric blue you're talking about would be nice on a maxima.. it is easy to paint a car yourself. all you need is a basic auto paint gun $60 sand paper, various grits, tape and plastic drop cloths.. here is a sample of a job i did at home on my 240.. if you have any other questions just PM me..

before and after pictures...

 

flat black. go for that murdered out look.

here's a thread with pictures
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=559269
and as for shops.... try the guy across from erickson nissan on 101 st. FX Designs. I recently had some work done at his shop and it turned out awesome.
780 440.4576 is the phone number.
Most shops prefer to do the prep themselves as that's where most of the time is spent. If the prep is shotty, the paint job will be craptastic as well.

 

I agree with keeping it Pearl white. Pearl is a bit more expensive then regular colors because of the 3 stage process but compared to a color change will still end up being cheaper. If you change the color of your car, the door jambs, trunk and engine bay should be painted as well. Nothing looks worse then opening one of those areas and seeing a different color.

 

thanks for all the input people. I think i will do lots of the sanding myself. I got some rust that i need to take care of in the wheel wells

 

yeah, flat black does look pretty good. check this example out...

 

Come on stay white

 

we already talked.. he's going electric blue but im a major fan of pearl white! just too many steps and too easy to mess up the pearl

 

as long as it isnt the same blue as me im cool with it. Took me a while to pic out a blue that isn't on your average maxima that looks good.... I like being original.

 

no, electric blue is lighter than yours..

 

go chevrolet electron blue off the corvette. i LOVE this color

 

Actually I really like this white.

 

If he is going to paint the whole car, how is pearl white easy to mess up?
I could understand if he was doing certain portions and was worried about it matching, but even then a good reputable shop can do it no problem. I had my front bumper painted back when i did my front end conversion and it came out perfect.

 

if done properly is does look good. On his car though, flat black with the white door jambs. not nice.

 

if you don't do any even coat of pearl around the whole car then it doesn't look the same.. the guy at my bodyshop says that pearl white is the hardest to paint.. don't really know why thats just what he said.. if it was me i would keep it pearl white, but blue is a good change and it will be one of a kind..

 

that IS-F pearl looks like $$. go with civic blue but not the si, i would do the blue that comes on the ex all day....

 

go cadillac pearl white off the newer model sedans, you know the white that has blue sheen to it

 

Thats what i have on my car now.Its a bright white with blue pearl. Had it painted with that 2yrs ago.

 

wow really? got any good pictures of the pearl showing in the sun? yea im about to paint my friends 02 WRX pearl white with pink pearl in it.. sould look good with all the STI emblems.. yes he has a sti engine so its legit!