ok my boy works at maaco and he said 700 for a full paint job. now, a smaller body shop that my neigbhor works at does it for 600. could you guys post experiences, and long term pix of your maaco paint jobs? thanks i want to get the car painted this week because it is so ooogyl

 

I wouldn't do it. Not unless you want to sell the car. Long term or short term, it looks horrible to begin with. Im sure they won't go into the door jams, overspray here and there, it'll just come out looking horrible. I don't know what your standards are, but I would simply never except that. My car is in the shop right now, and a repaint of a different color is costing me 3400. A little pricey, but everything is done right.

Bottom line, not worth it.

 

Never had a paint job myself, but my parents always went to Maaco for their $199 Ambassador (?) paint specials. That was back in the stone ages, but Maaco's prices still undercut most shops today. I am quite surprised you found someplace even cheaper. Anyway, my memories of Maaco are that they do a quick and dirty job. They did a poor job masking and managed to paint the doors shut. And the paint would fade and flake after a few years. All Maaco shops are independent though, so your experience may vary. Sorry I can't help more. Good luck though.

 

simply put, don't do it

 

There was a time that I was like you, didn't believe that you get what you pay for. I would see these ads in the New York Post (I had an auto Volvo), tranny job $99. I asked a friend whose dad owned a tranny shop in Queens what the deal was. He said they pour kerosene into your tranny, flush it, and replace it with nice pink fresh Dexron III. You drive off and love how clean your fluid looks now. And I kid you not, he said they hope you break down after the 6 mo. warranty is up, not before, because in the former they lose $$$. NYC is tough, there aren't that many fools who think they're getting their tranny fixed for $99, so where do you think a lot of business came from? School buses......

Anyway, a paint job is a sufficiently large job where you can cut many corners. Expect it for $700. Not sure what your situation is with the Maxima, but my advice is to keep the factory paint.

 

I would go with the smaller shop any day. Are you planning on changing your color sticking with the stock? Makes a big difference as I am sure you know. Maaco is a crap shoot since they are independently owned. I know one Maaco that refuses to do the cheaper paint jobs. No matter what you do, go to the shop and check out some of their recent work.

 

I'm not sure what he paid but my boy got his 1st gen altima done at Maaco. It was that old school burgandy. He had it changed to this copper color. It's sick and he hasn't had one problem.....just remember, you get what you pay for

 

well my car is ugly about to post pix, i mean i have a new front bumper and grille but not sure if i should get a back bumper. im keeping the car the same color as it is gold. now the thing is ive seen small shop paint jobs and they kind of fade, like you can see the paint just fading away loosing its color. the maaco on both my friends eclipse looks sexy and both lasted long


the thing is im doing a 99 conversion, and ppl are telling me the bumpers are going to stand out compared to the rest of the car...... i have 1gran right now, actually exactly 800 right now.. just do the bumpers then??

 

or maybe... i should just get the car detailed? and paint the bumpers only?? i mean my hood has water saps on it, and thats about it, car has a tiny bruise on the fender, and the molding color on the door is fading. thats about it

 

Just get the bumper and kit painted and get the rest of the car detailed. Or you can wait for the new paint to cure then have the WHOLE car detailed. Don't waste your money on the Maaco paint job. I actually had my old van painted by Maaco (full color change). It held up but I would never do it to my Maxima.

 

ok im going with you guys, any other suggestions?

 

It looks OK on my Dad's truck. Should he have prepped it more by sanding the rust off it would have looked better, but like I said, it's OK. IMO my Maxima is not my Dad's $800 project truck, and in saying that I wouldn't do it.

 

I don't trust any complete paint job under 1.5-2k, same color or not. I'll be paying about 2400$US to have my car redone in black. The paint itself is 800$US alone. But the 2400 quote includes everything, around the doors, ect. and my rocker panels, which need some work. I would probably pay a little under 2k without the damn rockers.

 

all i have to say is 03on18s, look at his kit

 

whose that?

 

Those rims are hot! Anyways, my GF's dad got his old school Camaro done at Maaco. I didn't tell him this, but it looks like crap! They didn't even bother painting around the trunk and door heyholes, they just sprayed that blue with the rest of the car.

 

NO.

Why isn't this a sticky?

 

ok so this is the final thought


paint the new bumper, and grille, well im not sure if i need a new back bumper and then get the car detailed? because i have a lot of water spots on the hood

 

They do ****ty prepping that's why the paint usually the paint chips. If you go this route do your own prepping, and take off most off the parts you don't want painted. Also tip the manager and tell him to take care of the car, and there will be more when you comes back when the job is done well (read this in GRM). Also tip the guy doing the work on it. They usually do a quick job, with a tip they should pay a bit more attention. Remember each maaco is different, so make sure to check out their work and stuff.

 

tip him? dam whats a reasonable tip?

 

You get what you pay for in this business....

 

i wouldn't go with either. unless its a great hookup, the cost of paint is a 1/3 of that price already, so its crap paint or poor prep

 

hhm 70 dollars a quart, 2 quarts for a car right?

 

Why don't you just buy a bucket of house paint and a roller and do it yourself and save some real money, lol?

 

lol yea ok

 

NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! look at my car, then you'll realize!!

 

I say go for it, but don't expect any better quality than what it's worth..........$700...no more, maybe less.

 

Spend the little extra and get it done at a small shop. They usually pay more attention. Had a friend who painted his car at Maaco and in less than a year. It was falling apart

 

did they paint your car a different color....by looking at your cardomain page it appears that your fenders and front bumper are few shades off , if its not just glare from the sun then how did that happen? Did the use the wrong color paint?

 

dam 03on18s they fawked ya shiet up bro! i wouldve at whipped them while they were painting the car

 

Yeeeah... I'd listen to 03on18s on this one...

 

What in tarnation happened, no one with .000025 of a conscious should say they painted that unless they are with BlindBat Kustumz. The paint nooooowhere near matches, I'd sue.

 

"Accidentally" back up into the shop owner's car a few times, I say.

 

This may be slightly off topic, but i'm wondering wut color all u guys would paint a 4th gen max with a tan cloth interior. its gold now but i hate gold

 

black its what i want!

 

maaco sucks i got my old car painted there and i paid a grand for it and it didnt even last a yr w\o problems. they do junk work, however i recently got my maxima painted at earl scheib and they r reasonable and did a good job try earlscheib.com

 

you get what you pay for

 

If you need to ask if you should do it with them, thats an indication its not a good idea. The phrase "you get what you pay for" couldn't be more true in this instance.

 

Get what you pay for. They don't prep enough and use subpar paint and/or not enough coats. It looks better than a rust bucket, but don't expect a quality paintjob that's going to last.

 

ok fawk it im not going to them, this other body shop told me 1200, they take off the modlings and do door jabs and everyting. or maybe ill let them blend it in