Let's talk about paint (please).

Well, so far my experience is showing that I DO NOT want to deal with Earl Scheib. I have no idea about their paint quality, but their Web Site customer service is VERY poor.

The several e-mails I have exchanged with them so far has me not wanting to ever deal with them.

Believe me, you're not missing much. Paint jobs are truly one of those things where you get what you pay for. If you get a cheap paint job, you will NOT be happy with the results, and it will just be a waste of money. I've seen the work that Earl Scheib and Maaco do, it has always looked from bad to terrible.

If it were me (and I've had to have some accident repairs done), I'd find out from your local Volvo dealer what shops they use for body work (most dealers don't do their own), and then negotiate with those shops for a total paint job using the original paint specs.

As someone said, you'll get what you pay for, and it sounds as though your car warrants a quality fresh coat, given what you already have in it.

Hi Jamie,

I have the following observations regarding paint. As others have said, you get what you pay for. The discount paint shops (Scheib, Maaco) will offer you their best job for somewhere between $500 - $800. For this, they will just tape the areas that don't need to be painted, and spray-paint the rest (after removing the old paint).

In addition, they'll charge between $50 - $100 for each door jamb.

If you want a really good job, they have to take all the panels off etc., and that adds considerably to the cost of the paint job - now you're looking at $2000 - $4000.

Minor body work (pulling dents) at the discount places will run about $50 an hour.

It all depends on how long you want to keep your car, and how good you want it to look.

I know you've said that your phone experience with Earl Scheib was not very good. I've used them and have been satisfied with the results (for the price). I've also used Maaco.

Good luck, AC

Since Maaco and scheib do so many cars, the spray technique of the painter can be very good. Prep and paint quality....ah...leave something to be desired.

I know of some people who have prepped their cars first, removed trim, masked what they could, and supplied their own paint, and paid one of these shops their normal fee. And they were very, very happy. That presumes you want and are able to properly prep the car.

Last car I painted myself was a '73 ES. I used PPG single stage paint. Including primers, reducers, activators, paint, and all, I spent almost $600, and of course have lots of each left. If I had macco spray the car, I could add at least $300 plus a tow bill each way ( it was stripped to a rolling shell)

All of the sudden I would have just as well off at a real body shop, where they use materials they are familiar with, don't have the massive waste, and most of all, being in control of the whole process, are more likely to stand behind the paint work.

(BTW, after this last car, I'll not paint one myself again...I'll strip it and do the basic rust repair and/or dent repair, they can finish it up, and paint it. It'll be a better job, no more expensive, and far friendlier to the environment)

Ron/Champ 6

Thanks for all of the replies!

Just to re-cap: The sides are fine, the paint is in REALLY great shape on the sides. I just want my hood, roof and trunk painted.

Thanks! Jamie

Then a GOOD body shop is where you should take it...Why? because even though the sides are in great shape, there is imperceptible fading...at least until you see it against the fresh paint. A good painter can better match the color, and properly blend in the new paint to make it nearly undetectable.

Ron/Champ 6

Take it to a body shop and get an estimate, they paint individual panels all the time and can fix any dents or dings in the process.

Thanks again to all. I telephoned a cousin back home who is a professional painter for an automobile dealer. I was surprised to learn that the estimate for my car at his professional shop was about $500 @ $40/hour. He said $400 - 600 to prep and paint the hood, roof and trunk. For a car the size of an Accord, he can do a complete, 1st class paint job for as little as $1200.

This is great, because I might drive home in a month or two (400 miles away from where I live) and get the top parts done. I really think the sides are OK, but can always do them later. (Money doesn't grow on trees.)

I may do the whole car if the budget allows.

Anyway - $500 is not bad for a professional job, I suppose.