custom paint shops

[Hemi-Cuda]

there seem to be a few car buffs around here, so hopefully i can get some answers. i need to have a lot of scratches and paint chips repaired on my Mazda3 that i suffered through the winter, and as i've come into a bit of cash lately i was thinking i may look into going a step further and doing away with the boring grey color i have on it now entirely. what some places around Calgary i can look into about getting a custom paint job done, and roughly how much am i looking at spending? i don't want anything too extravagant, probably just one color with possible shading, but no pinstriping or decals or anything like that

[snappyk]

look up the boys at Screaming paint works, they are over by the Port O Call inn, nice guys

[Bill Bumface]

For a good job you're looking at $5K.

If your car is a year old you could just sell yours and buy a brand new one in the colour you want for that much.

Thats $5K you'll never see when you go to sell it either.

[Draug]

Is it still only $5K? It was $5K 10 years ago when I was getting a good paint job. I would have guessed it might be as high as 8 or 9 thousand dollars now.

You want to get all removable peices taken off - mirrors, door handles, bumpers, lights, plastic trim and effects, etc. The key is to paint inside each of the seams these pieces create so that the paint doesnt peal outward from those seams.

Hulk is right - you'll never get that money back when you sell the car.

[Hemi-Cuda]

wow, i was thinking more along the lines of 2k. well guess that idea is out the window then and i'll just get the original touch up job done

[Bean]

Not to hijack the thread but can anybody out there recommend a good detail place? I've got some very small scratches and swirls that I'd like to get rid of but I don't know of a reputable place to go to.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Bean

Not to hijack the thread but can anybody out there recommend a good detail place? I've got some very small scratches and swirls that I'd like to get rid of but I don't know of a reputable place to go to.

Sunshine Carwash in the Palliser Parkade... the guy is amazingly thorough!

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Draug

Is it still only $5K? It was $5K 10 years ago when I was getting a good paint job. I would have guessed it might be as high as 8 or 9 thousand dollars now.

You want to get all removable peices taken off - mirrors, door handles, bumpers, lights, plastic trim and effects, etc. The key is to paint inside each of the seams these pieces create so that the paint doesnt peal outward from those seams.

Hulk is right - you'll never get that money back when you sell the car.

You're right. If you redid the same colour probably close to $5K, if you change colours you need to have the engine bay, door jambs, inside of the trunk etc all done, and you are for sure looking at significantly more.