I had heard that the worst thing Maaco does is prep the car. If you did the bodywork and sanding prior to the Maaco job, you could end up with something better than the typical Maaco job.
Another thing that affects your paint price is the type of paint that you want. A basecoat/clearcoat paintjob is more expensive than an enamel paint job. An enamel paint job isn't all that bad and if you're willing to wet sand it and buff it (after the paint fully cures i.e. a few weeks) you can get it looking pretty good.
Did anybody say Maaco yet???? That would be your cheapest way out. I know a few people that have had thier cars done there. The worst is the prep work. Do the prep and the disasembly work yourself and just let them pain it. I'm thinking about doing the same..
See I really wish I was in Nebraska... As I would like to do it myself but by the time I buy all the stuff needed it is more than the cost to get it done (I don't have a big compressor yet)....
Anyone in the NE area that wants to help a stanger out?
I'm in the same boat. My car needs paint too and i'm a college student so I have no extra money. I have some nice black paint already with activator. I plan on doing the prep work myself but I would like it sprayed on with the right equipment. Would it be cost effective (about how much?) to rent an air compressor and just buy a spray gun? The gun is only like 50 bucks.