Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:46:44 -0400
Reply-To: robertmstewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: robertmstewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: Painting
In-Reply-To: <c803c1a70610111209g56f323fey4fef89fe04024bab@mail.gmail.com>
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Had to chime in here..
5 days ago I passed by a Maaco paint shop. It was along this road in the
middle of no where in near Middletown NY.
I noticed a nice 60's bus with a 2 tone paint job (cream and orange) sitting
in their fenced in space.
I drove in the get a quote and see the quality of their work. I know that
many people have suggested their work to be poor but I had to check for
myself.
One of the staff there told me that had a van there that was identical to my
88 Wolfsburg which they just completed 3 days before. They all told it
looked great.
Well I checked the 60ıs bus they did, and out 10 I would give it an 8. I was
told it was a complete rust bucket which they had to do major work on. The
color density was excellent, very evenly applied, the body surface was
smooth and even with only one visible artifact which I pointed out. (it was
a small 1/4" long drip that was roughly 1/8" wide). They told me it would be
buffed out before completion. The paint job was two tone and there was a
visible small ridge 1/16th inch between the two paint areas where the color
met but they said it would be buffed and owner was putting some pin-striping
over that area.
So onto the quote for the van, here's what I was told.
Van painting - $600 (this is 3 coat paint job with clear coat added to the
paint during each paint application and the paint is heated and cured
between coats. This paint is guaranteed for 3 years)
Option 2 is a $1,000 paint job which has a base coat and several color coats
and uses an additional final clear coat which is guaranteed for 4 years.
I have some minor rust in 4 seams and asked about the cost to remove it,
they said $400. This included everything needed in a flat price to make it
new looking.
I also have some minor rust on 2 window seams (about 1 inch) they said it
would $75 per window to repair it.
So overall I thought given the quality of the paint job I witnessed I would
go for it. I have seen a lot of work before and this was definitely a decent
job. Itıs no custom shop job with super amazing PPG paints and clear coats
that have super deep luster but for $600 it did look very good. I myself
will probably go for the $1,000 dollar job in the future after I price
compare with the other local shops.
Just my thoughts..
Rob
--
Rob
NYC/Long Beach, NY
88 Wolfsburg, Silver
http://web.mac.com/rmstewart
AIM: rmstewart@mac.com
on 10/11/06 3:09 PM, Jeff Lincoln at magikvw@GMAIL.COM wrote:
> This is just a simple opinion question - I'm sure to get a response :)
>
> If cost is a major option - what are the lists thoughts on having a bus
> painted at an Earl Sceib or similar mass painting shop. I tend to be very
> apprehensive of their claims. However, what is really the difference between
> what they will do for $750 or what a small independent shop will do for
> thousands?
>
> I'm not trying to be cheap but $$$$ are always an issue at this point in
> life.If a $750 paint job is going to last me many years it may be worth it -
> then again I would want it to be of at least good quality and workmanship. I
> know it is sort of a dumb question because what I am really asking about is
> quality but your opinions will help as I have no bench mark or experience
> with any of this.
>
> I'm also once again getting ahead of myself as it will be quite a while
> before I am ready to make any decisions on this.
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> 90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work)
> 86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
> 85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future)