why MAACO cannot possibly do a good job for $400

[Mike Arman]

MAACO has its place . . . and that place is NOT on an Audi we plan to keep
for any length of time.

I've used MAACO (or similar) on used cars I exported to the Caribbean -
they'll be wrecked or rusted apart long before the paint oxidizes. I
especially liked buying mid-90's GM cars where the factory paint fell off
in large sheets and the car looked like it had an advanced case of the
mange - you can buy these CHEAP because they look so BAD, and a cheap paint
job later, they are on their way out of the country, looking just great,
and sold for decent money, because the car underneath the awful paint is
actually in decent condition.

But here is why MAACO cannot possibly do a decent job on an Audi for $400.

I'm currently painting my airplane, and am buying paint, thinner, gun wash,
tape, tack rags, etc., etc., etc, at wholesale from a local auto body
supply store - the exact same place the local MAACO etc. buys paint and
supplies, and I am paying wholesale prices, exactly the same as the local
MAACO does.

Just out of curiosity, I asked what materials would cost to properly paint
my 5000.

Sealer, about $40, silver base/color coats, two part epoxy, about $100 for
a quart (one quart needed), clear coat (again, a two part process), about
$200 (I can't find the exact numbers or specs this instant, but these
numbers are the result of about half an hour's conversation. These are good
quality duPont paints on a scale of cheap-adequate-good-super)

Basically, the PAINT alone to do the job correctly, with decent quality
paint, will cost $350 to $400. That does not include any fillers,
strippers, solvents, thinners, sandpaper, tape, masking sheets, tack rags,
or anything else.

Figure probably $500 in materials. Lord knows what the time would be to do
this . . . but it is NOT a weekend job.

Best Regards,

Mike Arman