Paint

[Batan]

Who do you guys recommend for a decent affordable paint job? I'm trying to plan my Super Beetle shopping and modding and it would be nice if I was not limited by colour choice. In case I found an orange one, well, I'd keep it orange. Same with some other colours but ideally, it would be great to make the choice myself. I'm thinking getting something that does not really need bodywork, just the interior/exterior paint. 

[steveo_32]

What are you comfortable spending and what is you out of range price?
ie: I have 800 for bodywork and $800 for paint.
It will let us know how screwed you are 

[egspot]

It will let us know how screwed you are 

Compared to who?

You are looking at 2=3K just to paint it by someone in that business Because their name is automatcally on it and they have to guarantee their wotk.  A friend with no name would let you buy the paint and paint it for you for about 500.00. If you have a shop to work on it and pait it, you can get a compresor, hose, paint., ect. for about  700-800 and do it your self.

My 2  cents ( I have been wrong before.)

[Batan]

What are you comfortable spending and what is you out of range price?
ie: I have 800 for bodywork and $800 for paint.
It will let us know how screwed you are 

Well, I'm not really sure about the budget as I'm trying to figure this out ahead of time. Ideally I want to get a car that does not need a paint job. But I'm trying  to figure out if I don't have a shop, that's the whole point of asking the question. When I did my Ghia, I had the conditions(my brothers garage/shop) so did all the prep, my brother sprayed the primer, I did the prep again, and then I payed $450 for the spraying inside and out by my friend's bro who owns a professional paint shop. It was cash kinda of deal. However, the car was delivered in primer ready to paint with no trim or anything. This time, I can't really do that as my conditions have changed,  I would be able to deliver it w/o the trim and such but not really do any prep.

Let's say I want an orange Beetle, just for the sake of it. Let's say I'm looking at two cars. They are both comparable and in pretty good shape, but the orange one is $5000 and has a decent paint. The second car is $3500, and also has a decent paint but it's yellow which is a colour I don't really like at all. I', trying to figure out if I'm better off buying the yellow car which gives me extra cash to paint it any colour I want or the more expensive car that is already colour that I like. I'm making this up of course. Does this make sense?

You are looking at 2=3K just to paint it by someone in that business Because their name is automatcally on it and they have to guarantee their wotk.  A friend with no name would let you buy the paint and paint it for you for about 500.00.

That's kinda what I did with my Ghia. In the case of my next car, if I'm gonna throw 3k on paint, I'm better off finding a car in colour I like. However, if it can be done for under $1500 bucks, then it's starting to make sense.

[egspot]

I do not know about you but,  Anything I have to do with cars and I try to cut my cost tends to cost me more in the long run. If you like orage, Buy orane. Then you ca cocentrate on other things.

My two bits

[Batan]

I do not know about you but,  Anything I have to do with cars and I try to cut my cost tends to cost me more in the long run. If you like orage, Buy orane. Then you ca cocentrate on other things.

My two bits

It's true. But it doesn't need to be about cutting cost, but about finding the best car. I might face a crappier orange car, vs. better yellow car kind of thing.

[egspot]

I do not know about you but,  Anything I have to do with cars and I try to cut my cost tends to cost me more in the long run. If you like orage, Buy orane. Then you ca cocentrate on other things.

My two bits

It's true. But it doesn't need to be about cutting cost, but about finding the best car. I might face a crappier orange car, vs. better yellow car kind of thing.

Find a friend and take him with you to see both. Someone who ca be critical and perhaps see something you may not.

[silas]

it is quite possible that you could open up a whole can of worms that you might regret opening with "just a simple paint job". are you prepared for that?

it all depends on how far you want to go and what you what the outcome to be.

I might face a crappier orange car, vs. better yellow car kind of thing.

bottom line....find the most solid (rust-free, un-hacked and un-hit) and complete (no missing parts) car you can and go from there. if you're ok with orange there seem to be alot of orange cars out there. if you're looking at a more specific/custom colour it'll take more time/patience/money.

[Batan]

it is quite possible that you could open up a whole can of worms that you might regret opening with "just a simple paint job". are you prepared for that?

it all depends on how far you want to go and what you what the outcome to be.

I might face a crappier orange car, vs. better yellow car kind of thing.

bottom line....find the most solid (rust-free, un-hacked and un-hit) and complete (no missing parts) car you can and go from there. if you're ok with orange there seem to be alot of orange cars out there. if you're looking at a more specific/custom colour it'll take more time/patience/money.

Yeah, I know I know. Doing the Ghia was a good learning experience.  And yes, Orange is actually one of the colours I like, so I might be in luck,



But let's simplify this whole discussion. What do you guys think a decent two stage paint job(with a colour change) can be done for, providing the car does not need bodywork and is delivered to the painter w/o the interior and trim. I was kinda hoping somebody on here would have a lead and say "Bob at Perfect Paint did exactly that to my '65 for $2000, $4000, $1200 etc" and it was a nice job, give him a call and see. Or something along those lines. Coz, the way life usually is, I will find a very clean car at a good price in a crappy colour. LOL

[slammedbus]

Silas is so right with finding a rust free solid car. You will save so much money in the long run. Have you ever looked at purchasing something already completed or partially done. I find in most cases you can purchase something like for pennies on the dollar.

As for answering the "how much will my paint job cost?" My answer is "how long is a piece of string?"  There are so many factors that will change that price even during the job. There will be damage found that you will want repaired, things you may want altered or cleaned up better, etc, etc (it ALWAYS happens when you get into the job).

If you want paint and body work done, find someone you trust and tell them what you want for a finished product. That way you won't get screwed by a guy you don't know and trust. Bring you car down to Stephan and have him look at it. He is honest and does nice work. 

[josh]

If I were you i'd be looking for something in original paint or mostly at least.......not sitting in primer with nasties hiding.

Ask me how I know

[Batan]

If I were you i'd be looking for something in original paint or mostly at least.......not sitting in primer with nasties hiding.

Ask me how I know

Ah, no no. I', not doing THAT! I too have learned my lesson. This is my Ghia when I bought it:



LOL

Two years later:




So, I DO know what's involved and how things go. But still, somebody somewhere's gotta have some kind of experience with somebody who painted their car past the answers of "speed cost money how fast do you wanna go".  I budgeted my Ghia resto and it did turned out that my budget was in the right neighborhood.

And I'm not doing that again. This time I want a car with no bodywork needed. But as I would most likely be redoing the interior, so stripping it for the most car inside, I could buy a car with a  "wrong" colour and I'm trying to figure out if it's it's worthwhile to get one with a wrong colour at all even if it's a perfect car and a very good deal.

[steveo_32]

If ya like orange and ghia Your laughing! Just go find a Cali car for a few thou and get her inspected and yer done!!

I agree with all above, Find color and body you like, Don't get into it, Bad things always happen.

[Batan]

If ya like orange and ghia Your laughing! Just go find a Cali car for a few thou and get her inspected and yer done!!

Hahaha... no Ghia this time, it's Beetle time! But yes, orange is one of the colours and there seems to be quite a few around.