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Wow - I expected the usual amount of negativity toward Maaco, but didn't expect this. The reasonable responses suggested that I choose my shop based on the painter's talent, remove trim myself, etc. The unreasonable ones suggested that I should go to Vo-Tech school, go out and buy painting equipment and do it myself, or just stated that I'm lowering the value of a car in which all appreciable 'real value' has already been depreciated out for many years now. This is what I'm talking about. Let's say I have $10,000 to spend on a car that's destined to be a Daily Driver, as well as something I like to look at. I decided to spend my $10,000 this way: '94 300zx NA 2+2 - $4500
120K service/fixing various leaks - $1500
Brakes/ABS/sender unit - $ 500
Spoiler/bodywork/repaint - $1000
Stereo upgrade - $1000
Soundproofing - $ 500
New leather seatcovers and trim - $ 500
Registration/title/insurance - $ 500 Sure, I could continue to drive my old '94 Saturn SL2... that gets 40mpg, that cosmetically, looks like an ax murder was committed in the back seat, BUT simply WON'T DIE... or I can spend a REASONABLE amount on a Z... and STILL have a happy wife, a daughter (who's playing soccer, eats cellphones and iPods for lunch, AND grew four inches last year), and a few bucks in the checking account. But it's not really a question of money. I don't need to 'save up'. The $10,000 limit is self-imposed. It's ALL I WANT TO SPEND to make this $4000 car as nice as it can be. For some of you, this is an all-consuming hobby that you sink every spare dollar into. For me, it's to get me a nice-looking, well-performing car that will get me back and forth to work. Perspective, people. Sure, I could put more money into the painting... IF I wanted to skimp on the leather seats, or buy a lesser audio upgrade, but I'm going to be spending most of my time IN the car, instead of looking at it. And I want better tunage, nicer leather, and suede trim that isn't worn smooth to the plastic in places. As you can see, the majority of the money went to the car itself, and maintenance work it needed to 'get current'. I WISH I had the skill (not to mention the time) to tear down engines, change timing belts, and do second level maintenance...but I don't. And no amount of justification to wife, daughter, and boss will make more room in my 24-hour day to allow me to pretend I'm 17 and start tearing down engines, go out and buy/practice with painting equipment, or (chuckle) go to Vo-Tech school... I'm here to learn what I CAN do... things that are reasonable for someone with my kind of time to invest. But please remember that the VAST MAJORITY (10,000+?) of us who occasionally inhabit this site, do NOT treat this car as a major diety in a pantheon of Automotive Godliness. It's a car...
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18:36:27 03/29/10
