I THINK MAACO DOES A DECENT JOB ON THE PAINTING PART, BUT FOR THE PREPPING AND BODY WORK, I SUGGEST DOING THAT YOURSELF BEFORE YOU BRING IT IN THERE. USUALLY IF THERE IS ANY IMPERFECTIONS IN THE PAINT OR BODY WORK THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT FIXING IT.

As other people have said, you get what you pay for. Maacos are independently owned franchises, so it also depends on the owner, his work ethic, and how many beers the people working there had the night before. Maaco painted my car, but I also bought Du-Pont Chroma One single stage paint and made them use that, and I also did alot of the body work myself. It came out good nd three years later it still looks good. But again I take good care of it. Another thing to remember is that if you don't tell them to do something and get it in writing, then it probably won't get done.(for example if you don't tell them to fix the little ding on the hood, don't expect them to fix it) Good luck.

I had my car painted at Maaco, I couldn't justify paying $2,000 for a paintjob on a $2,000 car.

I did all of the prep work myself, removed the Taillight assembly, and let them take their time. When they say "when would you like it back?" Don't say Tomorrow. If they have time, they take their time.

I got the middle service, (Ambassador?) With the better paint, clearcoat, rock guard on the lower panels of the door, quarter, and fender, along with the sand and seal for $ 600.00 OTD.

Now, for $600.00, my car looks damn good, and all I have to do if I wanted, is wetsand it and polish.

If your paint is fading, and the luster is gone, you probably didn't get the clearcoat, and you should have.

1. Do the careful prepwork yourself, (that saves a ton of money)
2. Remove the lighting assemblies
3. Fix any small rust sopts and prime before going in
4. Let them take their time
5. Park your car for a week or so after it's done to let the paint
cure
6. Spend the $1,500 you've saved on mods... ;-)

Good luck.

you have any pic w/the paint job done, ugly?

Details?
 

If you are a "details" kind of person, I would stay away. Minor overspray, poor masking, and poor prep are things you might be looking at at those "volume" paint shops. Have them show you a random specimen of their work.
Get their best estimate and take it too a custom shop and have them show you their finished product.
Either way, let them know how serious you are about a quality job.
Good luck.
My paint job cost 2k, with several hours of body work and a luggage rack delete. Bare metal sand-down, 3 coats of factory scarlet red and I still find little things that piss me off.

Every Maaco is privately owned and operated, so to say they are all shitty would be like saying customer service at all McDonalds is shitty.

My dad gets his car painted by his buddy that works at Maaco, and my dad gets the best paint job, and his buddy preps the car, and preps it right. After 5 years, my dads 78 El Camino still shines like new with the Viper Blue w/ pearl metallic.

Keep in mind, a good paint job will only last with good care.

My car's paint is still in just about perfect condition (I am insanely meticulous....)

If I did need a paint job, body shop all the way. If I didn't want to spend the money on the body shop, I would just leave it and not get Maaco. Unless you just want to go from metal to any other color and you don't care about anything else.... Just my $.02.

Thanks,
DoranW

I have been meaning to say something about that. Their customer service does suck :)...j/k...sorta.

I thought they did a good job
 

I got my car painted at maaco in january and I'm very please with the results. I bought the car in august with a pretty danged up passenger door and right front quarter panel, after replacing both of them i took the car to maaco. I didn't get any of the door jams done or under the hood, but the outside of hte car looks great. After almost 6 months I've only found 1 chip in the paint and its right behind the left rear tire, it kinda looks like i kicked up a stone spinning my tires one day and took a piece of paint off. I got their "special", it was during there half price sale so appearently for 273 dollars i got there 500 dollar paint job, but i doubt it. I'll try to get some pictures tomorow and put em up for ya.

do some of you assume if you pay anywhere between $400-$700 for a paint job, its going to be quality? yes and no. you are taking a chance unless you know the guy personally. oh is any of anyones paint jobs done in base clear? if not your wasting your money in my opinion.

I had my car painted there. They did a great job for me. I am very happy. I paid like 480.00, and I did all the prepwork myself. I drove it in mostly maked as well.

Here are 2 pics.

hey EXGMGUY what color is that on your car, i have a 67 fastback that i am getting painted in about 3weeks and i really like that color. by the way your car looks really good

Oops, here is the 2nd one....

Thanks,
It is a Ford color. Light titanium metallic.

Hey raini, doesn't matter what you get. your car is still gonna be the biggest p.o.s. on the planet!:p ...I still get that H-pipe of yours...right...?:D ...j/p.

-Suave

Macco
 

Have had a couple of cars done by Macco over the years. First, you need to prep the car yourself. Wet-sanding and primeing and detail it down to no flaws.
Pre-tape everything accept what you need to leave open to drive it there. Remove all the chrome and trim that you can.
Wipe everything down with wax remover prep befor you do anything.
If you have rust, you need to use a Dietsler or Pittsburg or Dupont rust system on it, and epoxie prime over those areas yourself...befor you take it to Macco...no aerosals.
The rest is up to the painter there. They are all just working guys like us, and if they see you prep a car really well, they'll do a better job.
The actuall process for a really good job is, spray, wetsand, spray, wetsand, and then clear coat if you're useing a clear coat process....
Macco doesn't spend time on that.
In Detroit, a good clear coat paint job, you prep, is $3,000, at a collision shop.
They look alot better in really light, brite colors.
Go into a Macco and talk to the painters, alot of them work at home on the side also....and if possible, don't change color from the origional. And if you can find out who's painting your car, a folded $100 bill in his palm on the sly,will go along way....befor he works on it.

I paid $4000 CDN, approx $2600 US.

I had them do all necessary body work, rust, dents, prep.

That price includes painting the engine bay, door-jambs, and trunk.

I also had them install a new windshield, and I had them repaint all the trim flat black.

The paint is their high-end clear-coat option, and the color is Ford Performance Red.

They spent time prepping the Cervini Cobra R hood, as well as adjusting the hood, fenders, and bumper for better panel alignment.

Naturally, I do find small imperfections in the paint, but nothing anyone would notice if they didn't own the car and build it up in a garage for three months.

I would love to keep the same color but i feel it would cost way to much and it would never be the same, besides i feel the need for a change to black or fire engine red.
thanks again
pics attached


http://forums.mustangworks.com/attac...?postid=164552

I had my first Mustang painted there and it came back with runs in it , However I Just had it painted so I could sell it. So the paint job was a cheep one but the car still looked 100 times better. I did see some real nice cars being painted, It all depends on how much you wanna spend, My buddy is a good body guy and its about 3000 for a show quality paint job NO body work included.