I would take the chance with Macco. What happens if you get a 3k paint job and you crash it on the way home. Will the insurance co. pay for it?? You wouldnt feel as bad with a $500 Macco job.
When I first bought my 90 vert, it was painted by the previous owners insurance company due to his ex girlfriend taking a key to EVERY PANEL!!! I had some extra work done to it while it was at the shop and total teh aint job was near $5000. Two years later teh front end looked like it had been through a sand blasting (yes I follow to close) and although the apintjob looked pretty good it was NOT worth $5000. So fast forward to about three years ago, I did not have much money to blow so I decided om Maaco...what the heck I knoew it would look better. I had it painted when tehy were offering thier 1/2 price special. I got the top of the line pint job for around $300 out the door, teh next day it was at a car show, FFW in Atlanta, and getting complements on the paint. There certainly were flaws, a little orange peal, adn a fender that had some sand marks in it (they later fixed it) but for $300 it looked great.
The point.... its not always what you pay but WHO paints it. The painter proiduces a quality. If he knows how to spray and works for Maaco, then you get a good job. But if you have some scrub that thinks he can spry but cant, it wont matter where you go or how much you pay. I would ask to look at some of thier completed cars so you cxan get an idea of the quality they put out.
By the way, Maaco will not guarantee ANY work if you do teh prep work. I asked, thinking I would be a bit more careful. But that may depend on the individual shop....good luck.
I do bodywork for side jobs now and have worked in a resto shop and collision shops for around 7-8 years. You definetly get what you pay for. I am in the middle of my paint job and I just picked up all the paint for it. $930 for just sealer, color and clear and all the reducers and catalysts. I would save your money find a bodyman who does it on the side and get it done once. Get it done right or you will pay again. Maaco and Sheib are an insult to the proffession.
i got this one, http://www.earlscheib.com/pro3.php and they had $100 coupon in august when I did it, all i did myself was take off the headlights but some of the body was spot primered here and there because of the parts i added on
i was honestly suprised, the masking was good, there was no overspray and i got a 6 year warranty with it
Scheib had my last job for 1 day. They use quartz paint dryers so that it can cure quickly. I would go by there a couple of times a few weeks before you want yours painted and see what kind of job they'll do for you by looking at other cars before you give them your car. If you like their work get the additional clear coat on top of the integrated clear for the extra $100-$150 Make it look like glass.