Before I narrate my story, let me tell you about my car.

I just got a 98 White tiburon. On the hood (near the missing emblem) was a dent and some rust. Also, the right wheel well was rusted a bit.

So anyway, this guy pulls up in a Autozone parking lot and offers to fix it for $100. When I say fix it, he said he would remove the dent, sand it and then primer it. Same for the wheel well.

I offer $75. He gets to work and soon hammers 3 holes in the dent and pulls it out. After a bit of hammering and smoothing it out, he then primers it.

Then he sands the side and is done in less than 10 minutes.

I pay him and he drives off. Was that a good deal?

Before leaving he mentioned that I have some options for painting the car. Since it's white, he said I could do it myself.

Can I? I've never done anything like this before.

My other option is Maaco's $200 something service.


What do you suggest??

thanks

Aviv

 

Well, I wouldn't let someone do bodywork on my car in a parking lot. It can't be done properly with proper surface preparation in the outdoors. But anyway, since it's already done and you're asking about painting it, whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it depends on whether you want it done properly and have the paint match or just want it done as cheap as possible.

You can pick up a can of white spray paint at the hardware store for a few bucks and spray it yourself but the colour won't match the rest of your car nor will you be using proper automotive paint. It's best to let a shop prepare the surface properly and use the correct paint to match your car.

 

white color is one of the most difficult to match.

IMO if that guy can do it on a parking lot, you can do it much better at home.

 

dont ever pay maaco for anything.

 

Well...Im in a bit of a problem then. I have a primered car and I dont know where to go.

Maaco is cheap and all I want is the car looking like new.

BUT if you're advising against it, do you have any other suggestions. I dont think I wanna do it myself.

Aviv

 

I know atleast two people who have had issues with the "quality" of Maacos paint service. By quality I mean lack there of as the case may be. White is a very hard color to match. I doubt it will look perfect if you do it yourself.

 

Please don't quote the person above you.

To reply without quoting, use the ADD REPLY button at the bottom of the page.

And friends dont' let friends use Maaco.

 

lol if you had a random guy fix your hood, then primer on the car shouldnt realllllly matter.

 

I think by saying you could paint it yourself because its white, he means white is such a good color to hid mess ups like runs, scratches, etc. So if you have to proper tools, time and clean place to do it, you could do it yourself.

 

You are the second person I know who had a guy fix their car in a parking lot. Friend of mine ripped the plastic on his Honda's bumper. He was at the mall when I guy rolled up in a truck and said he could fix it for $150. I swear it looks like the car was never damaged.