How is Maaco's work????
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 646
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From: Cleveland, TN
How is Maaco's work????
Me and a friend of mine were talking and he was telling me about a place called Maaco Painting and Refinishing...He was tellin me about how cheap they will paint your car/truck for, and that really has gotten me interested because im on a tight budget....So i was wondering, has anyone ever had their car/truck painted at one of these maaco shops??? and if so, how was the quality???
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Their quality varies a lot from shop to shop, but you get what you pay for. If you're looking to restore a '65 Mustang GT350, Maaco is NOT where you want to go. If you just want a cosmetic "20-footer" job, you can't beat their price.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 878
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From: Cornelius, Oregon
I've never used Maaco, but I've heard some horror stories. You get what you pay for is pretty much right. They don't do any appreciable prep-work on the car (unless you pay a bunch extra), all they really do is mask off stuff and shoot over your existing paint. The paint is pretty much bottom of the line, usually single stage paint instead of base-coat/clear-coat. As was said before, if your looking for a show car Maaco ain't your place, but if you just want a quick and dirty (literally in some cases) paint job at a cheap price, go for it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,967
Likes: 7
From: Eccles, WV
The census has spoken, Nope, Not Me, Not Even Going To Ask.
Just had to say that. It is true, no prep work, they will wash the dirt off, partially tape it up, spray a coat of bonding sealer and then acrylic paint.
Would not let them do my mower!!!
Just had to say that. It is true, no prep work, they will wash the dirt off, partially tape it up, spray a coat of bonding sealer and then acrylic paint.
Would not let them do my mower!!!
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
I had a hood on my truck painted from those guys one time, they painted it the wrong shade, and when i asked them to repaint it, they said no and they got the color code of my truck, like no kidding maaco, people change from the original paint all the time!
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 55
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Caveat Emptor? Or something like that. I heard it means buyer beware? Like 1956MarkII said, they vary from shop to shop. I recently had reason to get some quotes for body and paint because of an accident, not of my fault. One shop quoted me $2800 which included one rear quarter panel replaced and painted to match the rest of my bronco. Maaco quoted $1500 bucks to have thier body man pound out my quarter panel, clean it up (not just slap mudd on it) take a few more dings out of some doors and my hood and paint the whole damned thing with matching color, and clear coat. I believe the paint job alone was @ $500 bucks, but it was guaranteed for 3 years. Here in AZ with all the gravel trucks that's pretty good. Anyway, my '86 bronco "Big Red" in in my gallery. Take a look and tell me which rear quarter panel they worked on. If you can. All in all. Well worth the $1500 bucks I spent. Guess which quote I gave the other guy's insurance?
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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If you do all the prep- work before taking it to them, and than give them $2,000 they will give you a $2,000 paint job that will last you for approx. 6 months before it bubbles up and ****s up. Happened to a co-worker with his '67 camaro anyways, and another buddies '68 chevelle, i told them it's cause they were chevy's but we all know it's cause "uh oh better not make it maaco"
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 478
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From: Washington
I think that it would be fair to say that each shop is individual in the quality of the work that they put out. Just because you have your paint and body work done at a shop that doesn't have the name Macco out front doesn't mean that you will get quality work.
I had my 67 Fastback painted along with a little body work at our local Macco for $2,400 five years ago and it's a real head turner and still looks like new. Sure, if you get down there with a microscope you can find a few minor flaws but it was way better than the $7,500 our other local shop wanted.
Would I use Macco again? Absolutely, unless I was building a concourse car. But then, I can't afford that anyway.
I had my 67 Fastback painted along with a little body work at our local Macco for $2,400 five years ago and it's a real head turner and still looks like new. Sure, if you get down there with a microscope you can find a few minor flaws but it was way better than the $7,500 our other local shop wanted.
Would I use Macco again? Absolutely, unless I was building a concourse car. But then, I can't afford that anyway.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,402
Likes: 1
From: Delisle/Vanscoy, Sk.
Back in the 70's the maaco shop that was here did poor work. If you wanted to sell a car and have it look nice, then go there it was cheap. Problem was go to a car wash and powwr wash and the paint all peeled off. When I worked in the body shops then, we use to have fun washing the paint off. Just to see who got the biggest strip off. Todaythere is a another Maaco shop back in town. I have not heard of the horror story's of the past happening there. They charge about $300 for a paint job, but any dents or rust is all extra, even two tone is extra.
I still don't trust them due to the previous work I use to see from them, I would only use them if I was selling my vehicle, but I still do my own paint jobs, so need too.
I still don't trust them due to the previous work I use to see from them, I would only use them if I was selling my vehicle, but I still do my own paint jobs, so need too.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 715
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From: Long island NY
My truck was done by maaco, it looks sharp 15 feet away, or up close at night, but they left a few runs, and the shop closed down a week after they did my truck. look at my before n after and expect thats about the worst, because they were allready closing shop when my truck went in.
it cost me about 1800 including rust and dent removal.. err crater.
it cost me about 1800 including rust and dent removal.. err crater.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 137
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my sister had her truck backed into .. rear 1/4 dont know what the other est. were but she took it to maco and was proud of the profit in her pocket ,,,, but paint is peeling off all over the truck where its peeled u cant see any scuff marks .. to me its shody prep.. but isntnt that where the finished results lie??? i read a sign in a shop that went something like .... a bad experence will be long rembered after a really really good price ...
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,967
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From: Eccles, WV
Swamp, you will get what you pay for.
If you need good repair work, contact the local office of State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate, Progressive and find out who their VPR shops are. Then drop in on the shops un-announced and check their operations. They may have signs, but just walk through and look. If you see a lot on filler being used, go to the next. A good shop works the metal, a poor shop just replaces parts or fills the damage with filler. Any shop that uses more than 1/4 inch over five inches is production and not quality. Production will fail within three years with blistering paint, popping filler, and wavy panels.
Also, look at their spray booths. A good shop will have a quality line downdraft spary system that is in a separate section of the building.
If you need good repair work, contact the local office of State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate, Progressive and find out who their VPR shops are. Then drop in on the shops un-announced and check their operations. They may have signs, but just walk through and look. If you see a lot on filler being used, go to the next. A good shop works the metal, a poor shop just replaces parts or fills the damage with filler. Any shop that uses more than 1/4 inch over five inches is production and not quality. Production will fail within three years with blistering paint, popping filler, and wavy panels.
Also, look at their spray booths. A good shop will have a quality line downdraft spary system that is in a separate section of the building.
New User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 14
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Maaco has got to be one of the biggest ripoffs in the aftermarket automotive industry. True, if you want to make a vehicle you're selling look presentable it MIGHT be worth it. But if i was a prospective buyer and the seller told me he just had it painted at Maaco i would walk away! Had them paint a vehicle of mine in my younger(naive) days. There was filler slopped all over the place , runs, orange peel, and the paint blistered and flaked off almost exactly after the warranty ran out. You DO get what you pay for. Go to reputable autobody shops and get estimates and compare. You'll thank yourself later.