So What's Wrong With Maaco?

[BigJon34]

It's like this...I'm tired of driving stock. Seriously. Of course I'm on a budget right now. Custom paint is out of the question right now. The kit and rims are of a much higher priority but I am sick of this green color. I didn't want it but I wasn't thinking cosmetics at the time at the dealership. Just thinking about the good deal on a good car.

Ech...Green. So I'm researching Maaco's and they are dirt cheap and the guarantee the upmost quality. I figure if I buy their most expensive package (basecoat, clearcoat, urethrane) I should be pretty satisfied and still save myself a couple of thousand dollars.

What do you guys think? Is Maaco really that bad?

[aleroman8]

My friend had his car painted there and it looked horrible. Worst paint job I ever saw. My dad's friend had his truck painted there, too. They had to paint it three times to get it to look half decent. After seeing their car's, I wouldn't think of having Maaco paint mine. Just my opinion.

[BigJon34]

I never actually seen a maaco painted car. I just figure...poop...they're a big ass company. How can they not be half decent?

[Crolero]

Why dont you just go to a Maaco shop and look at the work that they are doing. you'll see if its worth the money. if its crap then green is still better than sloppy blue or pinky red.

[Sundayalero]

Originally posted by BigJon34@Jan 4 2005, 04:39 PM
I never actually seen a maaco painted car. I just figure...poop...they're a big ass company. How can they not be half decent?
Same reason that a big ass company like McDonalds can't make a half decent burger...

[jonez]

One of my buddy's got his jeep paint there. From far it doesn't look that bad. It is when you get up close you will notice. Around the bottom of the doors was nasty, plus they didn't paint behind any of the trim. So if it is temp job it might be ok, if it is one that is going to be for a while I would say no.

[SikMindz]

One of the biggest reasons going the Maaco route isn't worth it, lay in their prep time- or rather, lack thereof. Horrible masking jobs and improper sanding down and priming will result in a shoddy outcome. From the couple Maaco jobs I've seen, it looked like the painters pretty much just sprayed primer on the existing paint and painted over it. Even though you're looking at like 1/2 the price of a decent paint job, you'll be making up for it when you have to repaint the car AGAIN within a year.

[Redog]

You'll spend more, trying to get it fixed :rolleyes:

[isellalerodrop]

To get a good paint job at Maaco you need to do the pre work yourself , by that I mean the sanding portion because unless you pay the extra 190 for them to do it wich there policy for there prep workers is one car per 15 min so its not the best prep, if not they just use a red scuff pad to prep the car before they tape and spray.

Secoundly the paint portion, Maaco uses du pont single stage paint wich has the clear coat mixed into the paint already, unless you go with the highest paint package then they use du pont single stage with an intergrated protective clear coat as they call it .If you get the lowest package and add the clear coat its an extra 140, and its the same paint work they use for there highest package.

To get a good paint job from Maaco you need to prep yourself if possible to ensure has been done with some attentio and go with the extra clear coat its still afordable and should look good when done .

How do I know this you ask my friend Tim is shop manager at a Maaco in Fall River mass, hope i helped.

[Sno]

My dad took his old 68 chevelle, not to maaco though, to a local body shop to get it painted, it was tripple black with red pinstriping down the sides, it looked beautiful, however, he was toying with the idea of going to maaco, but when he went to go look at the work they did, he said that the paint would probably come off the first rain... lol, but yes, maaco is cheap and not worth it, if you have/save up some extra money go to a body shop and ask them for a quote or something... <_<

[3.4 Euro Alero]

I just visited Maaco X-Mas eve cause a moron nailed me from behind, and they were the only bodyshop open. Basically, like veryone has said the single stage paint sucks (trust me I had 3 vehicles done in the early to mid '90s) and fish eyes were common on every one. If you go to their top of the line, then you will likely get better results, but once you get in their top 'o the line price range, it is damn near the same as a reputable painter.

The 3 cars I had done were:
1983 Chevy Celebrity
1987 Pontiac Grand Am Se
1988 Lincoln Continental

Every One had paint issues within 12 months!

Bottom line, I would only recommend Maaco if you are trying to sell a car and want it to look fresh for a short period of time.

[mixmastercase]

I have found maaco paint jobs to be pretty decent. I have seen a bunch up close and they look great and they weren't the top of the line prices. Which one did you got to 3.4 Euro. I'm in Ottawa as well.

[kwhauck]

Originally posted by Sundayalero+Jan 4 2005, 04:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Sundayalero @ Jan 4 2005, 04:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-BigJon34@Jan 4 2005, 04:39 PM
I never actually seen a maaco painted car.Â;-) I just figure...poop...they're a big ass company.Â;-) How can they not be half decent?
Same reason that a big ass company like McDonalds can't make a half decent burger... [/b][/quote]
LMAO :lol: :lol: :lol:

[3.4 Euro Alero]

Originally posted by mixmastercase@Jan 5 2005, 11:31 AM
I have found maaco paint jobs to be pretty decent. I have seen a bunch up close and they look great and they weren't the top of the line prices. Which one did you got to 3.4 Euro. I'm in Ottawa as well.
To be honest, I do not exactly recall, but I believe The Celebrity had an Ambassador first, then got in an accident and had the Presidential the second time. The GrandAm was Presidential and I think the Lincoln was Supreme.

The Celebrity's second paint job was fairly nice aside from all the fish eyes on the C pillars and above the rear window, The Grand Am wore like poop within 1 year, and the Lincoln was supposed to have been prepped and rust removed, but it started rusting again within 6 months.

[Nate's Alero]

Thanks I Almost Went There!

[[ion] C2]

Posting to over 3 year old threads really isn't a good idea.

And Typing Like This Really Is Annoying, Not Sure How You Can Do That And Lose So Much Typing Speed And Fluidity

[NickAlero2000]

noob alert!

[cherrington17]

wow.. bigjons been gone for a WHILE. wtf nate.

[Nate's Alero]

Hey still getting used to the fourm thing god!

[Nate's Alero]

sorry having a hard time breaking the habit! i didn't realize that the post was three years old!

[Oldsman]

FYI................Maaco painted my hood for those of you who didn't know...........lol.

the one blinging below...............hehehe

[YALEROYNOT]

a buddy of mine owns a body shop and he takes cars there for paint when he is sellin the car. all the ones I have seen have looked good. but I would guess it depens on the macco and the people working there. lots of people bad mouth jiffy lube I take my car there for every oil change. but my brother is the general manager and hires and fires people so I know they are good and I get a great discount ;)

[[ion] C2]

this thread's over 3 years old

but maaco's depend on which one you go to and who's painting it. i've heard mixed reviews. the only time i went to one the customer service reps were jackasses

[paulyb]

The problem with macco from what I have always heard is there lack of prep work with paint packages 1-3. The 4th is there highest level wich gets the whole d-a, minor body work etc.............I know a few people who preped there cars and brought it there and there paint was decent but definitly not show quality.....

[FrankTheTank]

i dont think they wetsand or buff anything, otherwise some of their stuff would actually be nice.

[paulyb]

i dont think they wetsand or buff anything, otherwise some of their stuff would actually be nice.

your correct they do not buff or wet sand anything. pritty much just spray, sit and dry, then wash it before you pick it up...lol

[lonnie]

When I had my Nova years ago I pondered taking it to the local shop, but didn't have the money at the time. I can honestly say that not all MAACO shops are the same, but for the most part I have heard pretty bad stories all around. Its up to you really what you want to do, but remember this...You get what you pay for....hands down!!

[Oldsman]

your correct they do not buff or wet sand anything. pritty much just spray, sit and dry, then wash it before you pick it up...lol

they wet sanded and buffed my hood but i requested it and the guys there were cool.