3 Stage Paint?

[ekolpack]

I have an 08 Cruiser that needs some paint. The paint code is 1F7 (silver metallic) but Maaco has told me this vehicle requires 3-stage paint. How does that work with only one paint code? Are there multiple paint codes for the different stages? Or some special process for applying different stages? Or perhaps Maaco is full of it? Thanks fellas!

 

[ElJayBird]

Pretty sure it’s primer, base color (color code), pearl, then clear.

But I’m wrong a lot so…there’s that.

 

[TimCFJ40]

Go to a good reputable local body shop if you can find one that will do the work. Lots of them do basically only insurance work, and don't like to deal with individual jobs. MAACO is generally the place to get a s***ty paint job for a cheap price. I wouldn't subject a cruiser to a MAACO job unless it was a real beater. But, to answer your first questions, the paint code is just the middle color coat.

 

[ekolpack]

Go to a good reputable local body shop if you can find one that will do the work. Lots of them do basically only insurance work, and don't like to deal with individual jobs. MAACO is generally the place to get a s***ty paint job for a cheap price. I wouldn't subject a cruiser to a MAACO job unless it was a real beater. But, to answer your first questions, the paint code is just the middle color coat.

There's a whole thread about Maaco paint jobs on here and tons of info online. The long and short of it is this, Maaco is great at shooting paint for cheap, that's about it. They are not great at prep work or taping or body work or anything else.....they shoot paint for little more than it costs for a DIY'er to buy the damn stuff. That is their value.

If you do amazing body work, prep work and tape for overspray yourself and everything is ready to go, find yourself a GOOD MAACO (not all are created equal, they are a franchise and some are great, some terrible) and have them do primer and paint and it will look as good (or damn close) to any pro body shop out there. If you really need that extra show quality finish, you can wet sand, buff, polish afterward yourself and it will look gorgeous, better than OEM. Again, it's all about prep. You can pay a local body shop $10k+ for all this, or do the time consuming junk yourself and take it to Maaco for what they do well; spray for cheap. Up to you. Most people that own 200 series Cruiser probably don't think twice about dropping $10k on a paint job for that little extra shine. I am not one of those people....especially since my Cruiser will spend much of it's life off-road in the forests of the PNW. It will get scratches and dings and dents....it's not going to be a show car or a parking lot queen to keep up with the Joneses. But to each their own. YMMV. Aloha!

 

[TimCFJ40]

There's a whole thread about Maaco paint jobs on here and tons of info online. The long and short of it is this, Maaco is great at shooting paint for cheap, that's about it. They are not great at prep work or taping or body work or anything else.....they shoot paint for little more than it costs for a DIY'er to buy the damn stuff. That is their value.

If you do amazing body work, prep work and tape for overspray yourself and everything is ready to go, find yourself a GOOD MAACO (not all are created equal, they are a franchise and some are great, some terrible) and have them do primer and paint and it will look as good (or damn close) to any pro body shop out there. If you really need that extra show quality finish, you can wet sand, buff, polish afterward yourself and it will look gorgeous, better than OEM. Again, it's all about prep. You can pay a local body shop $10k+ for all this, or do the time consuming junk yourself and take it to Maaco for what they do well; spray for cheap. Up to you. Most people that own 200 series Cruiser probably don't think twice about dropping $10k on a paint job for that little extra shine. I am not one of those people....especially since my Cruiser will spend much of it's life off-road in the forests of the PNW. It will get scratches and dings and dents....it's not going to be a show car or a parking lot queen to keep up with the Joneses. But to each their own. YMMV. Aloha!

You've definitely done your research on MAACO, and it seems you know what you are getting, Kudos for that. Most folks that bring them up don't, and they get the results they get.

Generally, a trail rig I wouldn't paint or do bodywork at all on, and a beauty queen I would spend the money somewhere else because I know I do not do amazing body work.

Are you repainting the whole truck, or just one part?

 

[ekolpack]

You've definitely done your research on MAACO, and it seems you know what you are getting, Kudos for that. Most folks that bring them up don't, and they get the results they get.

Generally, a trail rig I wouldn't paint or do bodywork at all on, and a beauty queen I would spend the money somewhere else because I know I do not do amazing body work.

Are you repainting the whole truck, or just one part?

Yeah I'm not too worried about cosmetics, but figured I'd "split the difference" as it were and try my hand at bodywork and painting. It needed a new pass fender, pass door, rear bumper and driver quarter panel. If I don't paint at least those panels, it'll look pretty busted with a ton of different colored panels. Maaco will do the whole job for about $1600-$1800, which is tempting considering I've got so many panels to paint. But I can probably do it for about $400-$500 after paint and materials, and if I'm careful, I think I can get it looking pretty damn close to OEM finish.....or at least close enough to be a part-time daily, part-time off-roader.