Advice on Paint desire better than new

[sturgedm]

Yea i know the restoration is more than value, but 1 - i never considered this car would be anything other than an expense, i.e. it is not an investment. 2- I do not plan on selling it 3 - i just put a new engine in it less than 10K miles ago.

and 3 - I have found allthough the concept of trading up, for example in stead of putting 15 k in new engine and 4 K in new paint and leather sell car for 10 K and take the $25k to trade up to a newer Boxster makes sense - once you get your new car you just want to start customizing the engine, suspension, paint and leather anyway.

I found people are happier with a car they have customized or restored regardless of the fact they have invested far more than it is worth. After all if it was just performance per dollar we all probably should be driving some sort of car from Japan, or dare i say it? ... a corvette!

Ouch that hurt, I am sorry I take it back ....

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by sturgedm

Yea i know the restoration is more than value, but 1 - i never considered this car would be anything other than an expense, i.e. it is not an investment. 2- I do not plan on selling it 3 - i just put a new engine in it less than 10K miles ago.

and 3 - I have found allthough the concept of trading up, for example in stead of putting 15 k in new engine and 4 K in new paint and leather sell car for 10 K and take the $25k to trade up to a newer Boxster makes sense - once you get your new car you just want to start customizing the engine, suspension, paint and leather anyway.

I found people are happier with a car they have customized or restored regardless of the fact they have invested far more than it is worth. After all if it was just performance per dollar we all probably should be driving some sort of car from Japan, or dare i say it? ... a corvette!

Ouch that hurt, I am sorry I take it back ....

Where are you located ? Maybe someone on the forum can recommend an excellent "painter".

[sturgedm]

I am South of Philadelphia, and North of Wilmington Delaware. Member of Delaware's PCA.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by sturgedm

I am South of Philadelphia, and North of Wilmington Delaware. Member of Delaware's PCA.

Thats interesting, my vehicle came from southern Delaware. In any case, if you are willing to travel, I can recommend a phenomenal "painter" up here in Massachusetts.

[blue2000s]

Be prepared to spend $8-10k for a complete repaint including door jams and compartment interiors. You didn't mention if you're changing color.

Dupont and PPG both make excellent quality paints, but any shop that does this on high end cars will be using a good paint. The real quality is in the preparation and application, even more so than in the materials themselves.

A really good paint job will include stripping off all of the existing paint and starting from base metal with compatible primers and fillers. They'll put on several coats of clear and color (wet) sand and polish until the car is a colored mirror.

When you look at shops, insist on seeing the work they've done on other cars and have them step you through their process. After you go through a few shops, you'll get an idea of who's really putting the effort in and who isn't.

By the way, some of the most impressive painters I've found work out of small garages at their homes.

Check out the two attached pictures. The Rx-7 has a pretty decent paint job, it was about $8k several years ago. The reflection of the Boxster in the Rx-7 is pretty clear and smooth.



Now look at the Rx-7 in the Boxster and see how wavy it is. The Boxster is the factory job.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

Be prepared to spend $8-10k for a complete repaint including door jams and compartment interiors. You didn't mention if you're changing color.

Dupont and PPG both make excellent quality paints, but any shop that does this on high end cars will be using a good paint. The real quality is in the preparation and application, even more so than in the materials themselves.

I would say $8-10K easy. And thats assuming, that the original color is going to stay the same, and that there is no real damage that has to be repaired. Also, I agree with Blue 2000s regarding quality work that can be found coming out of "small garages". In all my years as a car enthusiast, finding a skilled "painter" has always proven to be one of the most difficult tasks. Over the years, I have seen literally "concours" quality paint work and restoration emerge from some of the most spartan and basic of shops. On the other hand, I have witness utter "crap" being pushed out the doors of some of the most sophisticated facilities.

[kpm]

Don't limit yourself to DuPont or PPG. BASF, ICI, Spies Hecker, Sherwin Williams Automotive, Sikkens, are all top quality.

If you wait too long, you will be faced with the possibility of having to find a shop that does waterborne paints.

The undisputed leader is BASF Glasurit 90 Line. They have been developing this line for over 20 years.

If you are in California waterborne is all that CARB allows. It's much higher strength tints mean less color needs to be applied for total coverage.

But like previously stated it's all in the application and the pre-paint prep.

edit: I see you are in Pa. Joe from PA just had a front bumper replaced. He had high praise for a shop in West Chester,Pa.

Here's a link...
http://986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25877