re: Repainting '86 4KCSQ

[Dylan Jenkins <dylan@vt.edu>]

Ian Gall wrote: 

I am looking into repainting my 86 4kq. I was wondering if any listeners out
there have repainted their car and know how much it would cost. another thing
what would be my best bet to go to Audi to have it done or another body shop
for the work.
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Ian, just got done painting (er, having someone else paint) my 85 4kqs. The
answer to your question is dependent on so many variables, all we can do is
relate our BTDT's. Here's my scenario: Dan Simoes beautiful oceanic blue had
been wrecked, I knew it was a moderate project to get back to original, but
the car was/is mechanically great. Still a lot of good paint, and interior
very good. But, very little rust had turned into four out of six body panels
needing attention, some needing fairly significant body work.

Here's a list of the questions I encountered:
1. Is this just a paint job, or does it entail body work also? 
2. How much can you spend?
3. How much time do you have to get multiple estimates?
4. Do you care if paint is perfect stock color match or not?
 
Make sure you have a clear understanding of what will and will not be
painted before the job begins, i.e., door jambs, wheel wells, and other
stuff that isn't obvious but will stick out like a sore thumb and drive you
nuts if not painted, masked, or whatever (thankfully, this was not my
experience). If your not taking out the windows and not stripping down to
bare metal, then don't expect perfection.

I live in a college town, Virginia Tech, and have found that mechanic,
paint/body prices are significantly jacked within 20-30 minutes radius. So I
asked my mechanic and many others for reputable painters both within and
outside this radius (many hang their shingle, not all know how to paint). I
ended up going about a 30 minutes drive and got a really good deal on a
satisfactory paint job - not stellar, but not bad; all the body/rust work
and paint (_3_ coats of Emron) for $1500, not including price of parts door.
Same job in town would have cost me over $2,000 easy. Drawbacks: far from
town, non-stock color (sorry Dan), and not perfect paint job. Positives:
price and quality of paint.

HTH,
Dylan Jenkins