Topic: Car repaint

[susan_t]

Hi, did anyone miss me??? hehe.  I don't think I asked this question on this forum. I've asked around in others and was hoping to get more help from you guys. I want to repaint my entire car.  It's the 95' Integra, silver. There is rust on the wheelwells and some stonechips on the hood.  
I called 3 places so far and I'm getting different answers from them.  The prices seems to be around the same ballpark.  I wanted to know how many coats of base and clear is the proper way of repainting a car. So far I got 1 coat of base and 1 coat of clear.  Another place said 2-3 coats of base and 2 coats of clear. And another 2 coats of base and 1 coat of clear.  Price ranges from $4300 and up.  Does anyone know any good paint shops in Toronto or within Toronto where I can get a great paint job for a lesser price?  The places that I called are expensive shops and the other is associated with a dealership.  Sorry for the long post.  It's been awhile, so I thought I make up for lost time.  Thanks.

[articsteve]

Go cheap as you can because you will never get rid of the rust and it will just keep popping out here and there.

Or take a course on spray painting, buy some equipment which is fairly cheap, so you can re-paint the rusty places every other year or so.

[susan_t]

Hey Steve,

I was told if they replace the area where it's rusted with new metal, the rust will not return. And for the surface rust, that can be sanded down and repaired that way. As for the rust that is under the car, that's another story.

[ericthejet]

The prices that you have been quoated sound about right.  I used to paint my own wheels with a foam brush and quality paint, looked factory.

No matter what you pay for a paintjob this is generaly discouraged as you'll always get rust back within a few years.
I think we already mentioned this but I would bank the cash and drive the car. $4500 bucks buys alot of coffee or a good dpayment on a house etc. etc.
The rust under the car, you are kidding with us right?

[susan_t]

Ericthejet,

Ahh, Steve said the same thing about the rust coming back. I didn't want to hear that.  I was under the impression that if it's not major rust, that it could be fixed and it won't return if I do the Crown Rust Control every year.  Am I being misguided?

I have no idea what's under my car.
I have a rusted muffler.  But that's not major. I just have to replace it.

[slybry]

Hey Susan

    Sounds really expensive to me. I know good places in Montreal area that would not be near as expensive. Top dollar does not assure a good job. I would talk to co-workers and friends and see if any have had good experiance.

  To spend $4300+ on a ten year old intergra may be a mistake in my opinion. Your spending close to the what the car with be worth (even after you fix it up). Too big an investment and if you have a major mechanical issue after spending that kind of money on body your kind of forced to fix it.  

  If you have rust on wheel wells you most likely have rust on underbody. Next it will be your gas tank, gas lines and brake lines going.

   In the past I commented on another post. Here is some of what I said. I think it applies to this situation.

Are you sure the car needs a complete paint job. If the finish on most the car is still very good. A good body shop can repair only those areas that need work (hood and wheel wells)and blend the paint so it does not show. You should try and retain as much of original paint as possible. A repaint will never be as durable as the original.  

If your paint finish is looking a little tired I think you would be amazed of what and good polish and wax job would do. If you took the time to do a 3 step process with cleaner, polish and wax I think you would see a great improvement. Do this and only repairs needed and you will be happy.  

I can spot a repainted car in a minute. Unless they do and exceptional (and very expensive job) you are going to see indications of some slight overspray on rubber and chrome pieces around windows, doors and lights. The only way to avoid this completely is to remove everything and not just tape around it.  

Once bumpers are repainted the paint will crack and shatter and the slightest bump.  

Only do complete repaint when truly needed.  

Dealer will charge you top dollar and may not do work any better thatn other body shop. There are paint shops that can do good work at 1/2 the price. I would ask friends and co-workers to find a place where they have gone and ask if they were happy. Most paint jobs look good the day you pick the car up. Ask them how the paint job held up over time. Look at their car. What they think is great might not please you.  

If you get it painted protect your investment and get it oil (or chemical) sprayed. This will keep rust away and extend life of your gas lines brake lines and gas tank. Try Rust Check or Dura Check.

If you have always done the spray treatment you would not be faced with fixing the rust today. $100 a year is pretty cheap when you look at big picture.  

That is my 2 cents on this.

[articsteve]

I was told if they replace the area where it's rusted with new metal, the rust will not return

Unfortunately the above statement is way too open ended. Hondas and in particular Integras are plagued by rear quarter panel rust about the wheel openings.  Unfortunately, these panels (inner and outer) are welded into place unlike the front.  To real get rid of that rust permanently would take some MAJOR metal fabrication and sand blasting.  In addition, you will have other points of rust just below the surface.

This is your future winter beater.  If you have been using Krown then the underside could be perfectly good.  It is just that the rear wheel opening areas on your type car are a bad scene.  Do not fix the AC.  Sand the bad spots yourself.  Apply some Marglass, sand some more, apply bondo, sand some more, apply primer, apply paint from spray bomb.  Keep applying the Krown.

Long and short of it is, save your money that you would be certainly flushing down the toilet on this car and look for something mint.

We will be happy to help you search for another good weather car.  Mechanical repairs can take their tool, but rust repairs are the kiss of death particularily in this enviroment.

[susan_t]

Hey Slybry, wow, thanks for the write up on repaint.  I bought this car used last year and it was in an accident (not major) so, certain parts of the car was repainted, very cheaply I might add. There's quite of bit of stone chips on the hood (previous owner must've did alot of hwy. driving and I can see the previous owner did their own touch up on the hood and trunk. I don't think this the previous owners ever had Krown Rust Control done to this car. Why did I buy this car?  Because I love Integras and it took me over a 1.5 yrs. to find a silver 4 door sedan.  Last year I did quite of bit of stuff to the car, from the timing belt & water pump, major tune up, interior shampoo etc. Acura told me the car is in great shape mechanically. I stored the car for the winter, got it back on the road last week, finally.  Did a tune up at another dealership and they told me the car is in great condition.  I know it's a 10 yr. old car, but I plan on driving this car to the ground. I'm not happy with the existing paint. It doesn't have that "silver" look anymore.  I don't know if it just got discoloured because it doesn't have that nice metallic finish to it anymore.

Steve, this is the 95' not the 90'. The 90' is my winter beater. I don't ever plan on using the 95' in the winter. Eventually when the 90' goes, I will buy a new car and use that in the winter.  Call me crazy, but I want to store the 95' and keep that baby going as long as I can take it. I now rust is a killer.  
I called another body shop and he quoted me over the phone anywhere between $1500-3000 max. The $3K depends on how much work needs to be done to the wheel wells. He told me they do 4 coats of base and 4 coats of clear base.  Is 4 coats of clear base too much??

[Craig]

There is a guy on www.clubel.ca who seems to work at a T.O. body shop attached to a dealership, advertising that with a $10 clubel.ca membership, they'll repaint a 1.6EL for $1600.  The Integra is similar in size.  Might want to get in touch with him.

[articsteve]

I called another body shop and he quoted me over the phone anywhere between $1500-3000 max

To absolutely fix permanently is to remove both the entire inner and outer fenders of a 95 integra (both sides) and weld in new pieces. That alone would cost 3K tax in I would say.  It is a nasty spot.

Talking autobody is like comparing apples and oranges.  The proof is 3 or 4 years off.  It is a losing battle and a waste of money on an Integra that has already given into rust.

[barrie1]

Susan the colour Silver is one of the hardest colours to maintain on any car. The chemical make up of the paint is such that the silver particles are the largest of all used in paint. Keeping a clear coat and lots of wax helps keep the particles from being worn down by the wind and weather. I would shop around on the paint job and take your time in finding the right shop. The guys are right on the rust problems as in time they will return. I would think about only doing the bottom area of the car as it will be cheaper and the paint can be blended in.

[slybry]

Many comments you are getting are trying to tell you not to go ahead with full restoration. Many of us suspect the repairs you make will not hold up for long term.

Judging by other posts you have a car that needs a new muffler, has problems with AC, has been accidented, cheapy re-painted, is ten years old and rusty.

Like I said before if your car has not be oil sprayed and is rusting I can assure you that the wheel wells are not going to be the only issue affected by rust.

I will be blunt.... You are making a mistake. Your better off buying a car in pristine condition that has been treated with TLC and then spend your time and money keeping it that way.

A car that has never rusted is far far better than a rusted car that has been fixed.

Just think about it logically. Judge what you can sell your car for today and then add to that the total amount you will have to spend to get this car back to 100%. My bet is that with that money you can go out and buy yourself a better car.

I like Integras but your are not restoring a classic car that is going to go up in value.

If you want to keep car just fix problems areas and have paint blended. I just had this done to my mother's 1994 Sentra. No rust but fixing all the dents and scratches and banged up bumpers (My mother seem to drive by ear now...But that is another story). Got everything fixed and blended for about $600. It not perfect but really improved the car's appearance. Once again I did not want to spent $3000 on a 1994 Sentra that is worth $2500.

Just being honest with you....

[mrthompson]

Just hit it with some Tremclad.  

[ktm525]

Or a roller and some leftover housepaint.

[ovr50]

Good post, Sly, a lot of truth in what you say and Susan_t may not like it, but your comments should be taken to heart. I do agree that pouring money into a soon to be 11 year old car is not wise, particularily one with rust already.

[mrthompson]

Ktm525, I was serious!

Have the 'paint person' at the local hardware store to match the Tremclad to your current paint colour.  Repair any rust spots with fibreglass/body fill.  Give the entire car a light sanding.  Clean off any dust.  Mask the areas of the car you don't wish to paint.  Using a Wagner (or similar) paint sprayer, prime & paint your car with Tremclad (thinned as required).  And voila, you have a freshly painted car.  

I'll admit, it's a 'redneck' approach, but it's cheap and it works.  Would you rather have a rust bucket car, or one with a cheap paint job?

[susan_t]

Cphansen, thanks for the info. I will give them a call.  

Steve, I understand now. That is alot of Ka-ching to fix it properly.  Thanks.

Hey Barrie, I didn't realize silver was the hardest colour to maintain. I thought colours like charcoal grey, shades of blue would be harder. The problem that I can see with my car colour now is, I think the shop will have a hard time blending the colour in since someone had already repainted a section already and there are a number of touch ups done to it. My old car was hit a couple of times and an autobody guy can spot the repainted spot from a mile away and it's Gunmetal blue. Yeah, Steve has explained that to me clearly and now I'm finally understanding it. Thanks for your suggestions.  I will continue to shop around and see what comes out of it.

[susan_t]

Slybry,  I needed a new page for you. Ok, the A/C problem has to do with my older car not this car.  Yes, this car does need a new muffler, was in an accident where they took it to a cheapy shop to do the repaint. There are a number of sloppy touch ups done on the hood and trunk.  I don't want to leave the car in this state.  I am fully aware of future mechanical problems that could occur on this car as I have already experienced with my 90' Integra. I know everyone on this forum is against the paint job. But I am shopping around in hopes of getting a cheaper quote. If I can get it done for about $2500, then I will do it. There are alot of small shops that don't have the big overhead like where the dealerships send them to.  That's where I got the $4300 quote from. I know you think I'm better off saving my money and buy a new car with no rust. These days, a really good new car will run me up to $40K. I'm in no position to do that right now or in 3 yrs. I plan on driving the 95' to the ground, hoping to get another 7 yrs. out of it. I know repairs will come into play. But if I can get another 7 yrs. out of it, don't you think a $2500-3000 paint job and rust repair is worth it?
I'm glad to hear you like Integras. I know it's not a classic car. But I happen to love this car even though it's not considered a classic car.
Thanks for being honest with me.  I really appreciate it.  Man, you are good!!!

[Mdxtasy]

A really good car can be had for much less than 40K Susan.  A newer Integra (2000 and up) is a good bet, a good Prelude...a good Celica....a good Accord, Camry, etc. can be had for mid teens low twenties.  You don't need a new car to get into a reliable vehicle.  Even in the 30K range gets you an exceptional vehicle on the used market.  Depreciation is your friend.  

While I know you like your Teg....I think most people here don't like to see you throw your money into a pit...as long as you know this car will be worth more to you than anybody else in the world...do what you want.

[articsteve]

A mint Integra can be had for $7000 in the GTA.



The wheels are off this car now and replaced by Si alloys so it looks more main stream. Keep your 95 as a parts car and drive this for 7 years.

Susan, go for the lowest repaint price because it will end up going downhill fast anyways whether it is a $1500 fixer or a $4500. fixer.  Entrenched rust is entrenched rust.