Re: Maaco, Reliable??

[Alex Kowalski <akowalsk@shrike.depaul.edu>]

Cobram wrote:
> 
> 06-20-96  23:30
> 
>  Albert Ng <ang@copper.ucs.indiana.edu> asks:
> 
>  AN> HI Audi fans,
> 
>  AN> I am planning to take my Audi to repaint, but don't know which paint
>  AN> shop  in my local area is reliable. A friend of mine recommanded Maaco
>  AN> to me; he  said it's a pretty decent paint shop, and it's nation wide.
> 
>  AN> Have anyone tired Macco for repaint before? How's their quality?
>  AN> Should  I let them to do the repaint job for my Audi?
> 
>     Depends on the color. I know of many body shops that
>     (thanks eco-nuts) can't afford the equipment to do in
>     house painting and farm the work out to Maaco. One
>     warning though.....If you want a perfect job, you should
>     have the vehicle prepped at a specialized foreign shop
>     and then shot (painted) at Maaco. Maaco does a
>     beautiful job on the paint (they are independently owned,
>     so your observations of the cleanliness are a good sign)
>     on cars with "normal" paint. I would, however, advise against
>     getting Pearl and similar paint done anywhere except a shop
>     that has experience with this type of paint and has a full
>     time paint man.
> 
>     I'm having my '90 V8Q (pearl) repainted at the dealers
>     bodyshop. This was at the request of my friends that own
>     competing body shops. They HATE working with this style
>     of paint (unless it's a complete repaint..without blending)
>     because it's a nightmare to match. Luckily I'm having the
>     insurance pick up the tab (vandalism). It's going to
>     cost $2800.00.  I'm contemplating using the cash for something
>     else on the car...it doesn't look that bad. All this posting
>     of "nailpolish" touch up has me thinking.
> 
>     I don't think MikeL even noticed it when he saw the car, did
>     you?
> 
>     BCNU
> 
> ... Software independent: Won't work with ANY software.
> 
> ---
>  * Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 [NR] *Sorry for the bandwith on this reply:

I also have mixed feelings about Maaco, but it may be because of the car 
I had painted there.  I had my '68 Corvette sprayed by an employee who 
worked at a Maaco shop and was recommended by a friend in NJ who owned 
several Corvettes.  He did the prepping and priming of the body himself, 
but before that he had done some fiberglass work on the doors and rear 
decklid.  You have to "glaze" a Corvette's fiberglass before you prime 
it, and this glaze takes time to completly cure.  Unfortunately, he 
didn't allow enough time.  When I picked up the car (urethane paint 
w/clear coat) it was absolutely GORGEOUS.  I was very impressed in spite 
of the high cost of the job.  Within a week though, there were some 
problem areas where he had done the bodywork.  I wet-sanded the paint in 
these areas and it looks great again now, after quite a bit of elbow 
grease and TLC.

So, I echo the comments of others who say that the painting skill at 
Maaco may be up to par, but make sure you prep the car carefully.  

Also, one other thing:  the Urethane/Clear combination is very strong and 
durable and seems to shug off most road abuse very well.  However, once 
you get the car sprayed, I would allow it at least 1 full week in a cool 
to medium temperature, sun-free, relatively dry garage that is as dust 
free as you can keep it.  I know it's a pain, but my car's paint wasn't 
really <totally> cured for about two weeks.  I think this also had to do 
with the fact that the clear coat was sprayed over the base relatively 
quickly.  

Finally, if you notice any orange peel or scratching that you'd like to 
get rid of leter, I had excellent results by doing a wet-sanding with 
ultra-mega-super fine automotive wet sanding paper followed by an 
application of 3M Imperial Hand Glaze.  This is a tan liquid that you can 
only get at an auto-paint supply house, not your local AP store.  It is 
expensive and only comes in large plastic bottles.  But it works like a 
miracle to to remove and fill scratches and swirl marks.  Once you 
wet-sand, the surface will look very dull and lusterless, but that is 
because you have micromachined the orange peel away.  Once you glaze, 
buff, and wax, it should be mirror-shiny for a long, long time.

Best Wishes,
Alex Kowalski
'84 4KQ