Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2015 22:06:49 -0400
Reply-To: Jack Reynaert <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack Reynaert <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Where to get a decent paint job? (long)
In-Reply-To: <959480160.14481352.1430357631061.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Bottom line... it is the skills of the individual doing the work that makes the difference. Grant it, the shop franchise owner tests and hires those who meet their standards, but not all body/paint guys are the same. So, when you check work quality, check the quality of the individual assigned to do your work. Talk to the guy or gal who will actually be doing the work, and let them know that your vehicle is "your baby" and that they can expect a nice tip if the work is done well! (Dinner gift card, etc.). The quality of the final coat is HIGHLY dependent on the prep and removal of old paint... along with proper primer (Epoxy Enamel is best to retard rust) and worth a few $'s more. Then the base coat and clear coat.
I actually went to a local Auto body Painter's Supply store, and asked them "can you give me the names of a few good private body & paint guys"!
It worked wonderful, and I found this guy who charged $40 per hour, plus materials. And I was able to work alongside him and help where I could.
He was an expert body guy, winning many auto show awards. In fact, he is currently building up a 1940 Ford Hot-Rod for a customer.
Here are links to the job. We tore it down to base metal, removed all windows, doors, added "B-Quite" to the inside door panels.
Making my 84 Westy show quality. All of $8,000 well spent dollars!!! That includes replacement parts as well.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d9eg49zqldz2y62/AABFW1b40gKX6tjQfuZQEoKEa?dl=0
We blasted the van (be EXTRA CAREFUL HOWEVER, despite all my efforts, blast media found its way into the clutch, requiring replacement of the main-seal and clutch.) If I was to do it over, I'd pay a bit more and have the paint stripped by hand.
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of J Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2015 9:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Where to get a decent paint job? (long)
Wow, OK, here is my review of the MAACO in Chantilly Virginia: In 2013 I hit a deer with my 2010 PT Cruiser, a company owned car. I took it to this MAACO to have the damage to the left front repaired. This included the fender, headlight, bumper and driver side door. In my 37 years driving company cars I have had several get damaged and need body work. In almost every case the work was shoddy and the paint NEVER matched. I believe this to be because shops know it is a company car, I don't own it, so I won't care about the quality of the job. Not so with this MAACO, I got the car back and it was perfect. Other than the missing company logo on the door, you could not tell it had been wrecked. A few months later, my daughter wants her 1998 New Beetle repainted. I took it to the same MAACO. Once again, the job was perfect, the car looked beautiful. No one would ever guess it was a repaint. With ANY body shop it is a good idea to look at cars they have just done to get an idea of the quality of their work. Now, I'm sure there folks here who swear by Apple computers, but ask me about my recent experience with Apple-JUNK! they'll never get a penny of my money again! (I know, off topic but just goes to show you can ALWAYS find someone unhappy with just about any product/service.) Jeff
----- Original Message -----
> Here are a few reviews that speak to experiences some customers have
> had.
> http://mythreecents.com/reviews/maaco
> Bernie
> Vancouver
> On Wed, Apr 29, 2015 at 5:38 PM, Jon VO <jondvo@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Well I spent close to $7K for my paint job on a Westy, but the works
> > was top notch and the results look like a new van. I did have a few
> > dents, and very little rust, and the top & windows & hardware were
> > removed. I hesitate to call it a "show quality" but hard pressed to
> > find any defects anywhere. That seems to be common in some good body
> > shops, they don't really do an"economical" job - they only know how
> > ( or only want
> > to) to do a really high quality job, and it costs.
> > The Maaco approach could work fine if one stripped everything they
> > could and made the prep & painter job as easy as possible. Also
> > might be very helpful to see some of the work the specific painter
> > has done. Some of the Maaco people may do great, others not so much.
> > Jon
> >
> >
> > On 4/29/2015 2:40 PM, Dan N wrote:
> >
> >> err... Maaco in Orange County, CA quoted me for $2500.00 for a
> >> tintop...plus some extra
> >>
> >> On Wed, Apr 29, 2015 at 1:36 PM, Jeff Stewart
> >> <fonman4277@comcast.net>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> yes, I do. I'm about to get my van painted at a Maaco that has done
> >>> excellent work for me in the past. They quoted me the same as your
> >>> first one, $1,300.00. They are franchised though, and the quality
> >>> of work can vary greatly from one to another. Jeff
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone
> >>>
> >>> <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: PB <
> >>> pbrattan@GMAIL.COM> </div><div>Date:04/29/2015 3:44 PM (GMT-05:00)
> >>> </div><div>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM </div><div>Subject: Where
> >>> to get a decent paint job? (long) </div><div> </div>I've been
> >>> asking around about the cost of a paint job. The first body shop I
> >>> asked told me it would cost $7,000 and suggested that I try Maaco,
> >>> so I went to 2 Maaco's - only about a mile apart!
> >>>
> >>> The first guy told me that all I needed was their basic paint job
> >>> at a cost of $1,300, including fixing a small dent at the front
> >>> driver side signal light area. About 6 years ago my husband took
> >>> his badly dented 1996 Camaro there and was very pleased with their
> >>> work, service, and pricing.
> >>>
> >>> As I was arriving at the SECOND Maaco, a beautifully painted
> >>> 2-tone car with a graphic design on it was leaving out the
> >>> driveway. In the shop there was a beautifully painted red and
> >>> white VW Camper pop-top BUS that they had just restored. He
> >>> suggested their best paint job at a cost of $2,000, including
> >>> color, sand, and buff.
> >>>
> >>> I don't mind paying an extra $700 if the quality would is greatly
> >>> superior to the econo job. Neither of the guys tried any hard sell
> >>> tactics, and took their time explaining and answering all of my
> >>> questions.
> >>>
> >>> Does anyone have experience with Maaco or any other "econo" paint places?
> >>> I can't do any prep by myself, and not willing to pay several $,$$$'s.
> >>>
> >>> Description of Maaco basic paint jobs
> >>> <http://www.maaco-vannuys.com/auto_paint.html>
> >>> Maaco Platinum Paint Job
> >>> <http://www.maaco-vannuys-north.com/auto_paint.html>
> >>>
> >>> Patti
> >>> 90 Westy Automatic
> >>> Los Angeles
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>>
> >>> *♪♫**♥**♫♪♪♫**♥**♫♪♪♫**♥**♫♪♪♫**♥**♫♪*
> >>> If it's not on my Smart Phone, it doesn't exist...
> >>> ●▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬♥▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬●
> >>>
> >>>
| 
