Hey everyone. Its been a thought it my head lately as to having the car that is as old as me get a NEW paint job. Its a red 1989 firebird...but more looks like burgandy over the past life of UV and weather wear. Im thinking of a gloss black... However, first choice that comes to everyones mind I would think is the Magical Maaco. However, im not familiar with how they work... I mean...I hear that they are cheap, and provide a decent paint job to get the job done..But is it worth it? Does anyone have past experience with these guys in regards to having work done there? I know that there are a few tiny rust bubbles forming at random spots arround the vehicle, but does Maaco handle these rust bubbles as they go with painting the whole vehicle? Or in other words, Do they treat other problems that they may find as they are painting the vehicle? Such as a rust bubble? And what do they typically do to the coat that is on the car when it comes into the shop? Just sand it down to a point where the new paint has something "grippy" to stick to? Because there is one spot on my car where I replace the mounting tape on the weather stripping and when i pulled he old off it RIPPED THE PAINT OFF WITH IT in a small spot. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thankyou

I personally wouldnt take my car to those kind of paint shops. Ive had friends that tried to cut corners and take it somewhere quick and cheap and winded up doing it all over later on. The things you get are:
-bad body prep work
-halfass mask taping
-overspray
-cheap looking paint
-and tons of orange peel, not to mention paint runs.

If your trying to save money, sand the body yourself then take it to get primered and block it again and again and again until your happy. then take it to paint. All the money is in the prep work, not painting.

You can take your car to macco or earl shibe, just stress how important the quality you want is, then see how it is.
Good luck

I'd take it to a good local body shop,other wise you'll have overspray on everything.

This is the way I'm going for it. Get all the sanding done, remove all the rust, primer it and block it. then right when you get to maaco clean your car with mineral spirits and say exactly what you want, if you don't say they probably wont do it.

a maaco place will work good for a daily driver even a weekender, but its not show winning and doesnt last as long as factory paint...... if you stress and i mean STRESS that it needs to look good, you dont want runs and crap and NO OVER SPRAY, some overspray on the under side or fender well is ok, a little black rattle can will fix that.......but i have seen some good (not show quality) paint jobs from some maaco

also ask to see the shop, or to look at one thats being prepped and one thats just done, see what you think of their work

Earl Shieb is crap, always has been always will be. They paint the fenders, wheels, tires, windows ect. Maaco is hit and miss depending where you go. Dont go to a inner city one. It is a franchise and like any business it is hit and miss. I have had some nice work done not too far from were I work, but I told them exactly what I was after. I had a shitty one closer to town with my daughters car. I walk away from it 3 times, told themquit training the mexicans on my car. Yes, they really were doing that. The next time I went in the paint was excellent, dont accept it if it is not right.

I have not so good overspray from a normal body shop so i cant imagine the overspray from maaco. Ive had one friend who just wanted something painted fast so he brought it there. It had more orange peel than an orange when done. IF you do decide to bring it to them do as the other above me said and do all your own prep work. If its prepped correctly the paint job will be ok and ok only.

I've seen some pretty decent paint jobs from earl schieb. However some were not that great. I think it all depends on who worked on your car that day. It's hit or miss with these places.

I paint any car for $99.95! Riiiiiight.


Yea man, all the paint quality is in the prep work.. I spent months sanding and priming.. and wet sanding, and filling.. The doors are straight.. 1/4's are straight.. Fenders are damn close.. But my hood, for $40 has been a nightmare.

I must have missed a few dings, and a spot right in the middle of the hood (It's a T/A hood) just off the body line has started to bubble up. So, the difference is, I rushed the hood, where I should have taken my time.. Now It's all I see.. Dings and bubbles. Drives some backyard mechanics nuts..

go out on their lot. Lots of times they will have cars that have already been painted and you can take a look at their finished product. Like others have said its all hit and miss when the shop you get. The maaco where i live is great, the one in the next city over is crap. Go to one that takes pride in their work, you can tell if they do when you talk to them, and youll be happy with what you get.

As mentioned above, not all Maaco's are the same as they are independently operated. But even a good one will not give you a great job for under a grand. You need to go with a middle or high end package to get a decent paint job. Remember, labor equals money and if you pay $500 for a paint job, that leaves maybe 2 hours of labor after materials. Not enough time to mask things off and properly prep the body.

I hav e had good luck over the years with Miracle. Whoever you use, Maaco,. Miracle, local shjop, whatever, do not do anything unless you look over the cars they have just painted - if you are happy with those for the price, then go for it.

If you do prep work yoursself in addition to whatever they do your results will be better - they do not remove any trim just tape it, sometimes well and sometimes not, bit overspray can be easily cleaned off (by you). I had Miracle paiunt a 2000 Datsun roadster - it was orange and i had it done i9n black - I removed everything, I mean everything, lights, bumpers, interior - the only thing left when I drove it in was the driver seat (only 2 bolts in) and the windshield, and I had scuffed the paint - I told them to paint everything in and out except the windshield - I knew another guy who had just payed over $2k to get his roadster painted pearl white, when I got mine back together and parked next to his a mutual friend said to him "dude you got screwed".

You can get a very good driver paint job, jsut don't expect a show paint job.

I don't know. I'm trying it myself 'cause I can't really trust a painter I can afford and can't afford a painter I can trust.

I figure this paint job has to last me 5 years, then I should be ready for engine swap, fender/quarter panel replacement and gut my interior. I have borrowed a few things but I think I should finish up under $800. Like I said it only needs to last 5 years then I am planning on doing it again (with experience then).

I have never seen a maaco job I liked. I am in the Car business and have seen a bunch of things they have painted. We even sent a car there at a customers request to save money over having our bodyshop do it, we ended up having to have it redone at ours anyway, cost the customer to have it painted twice.