I was going to get my car painted this spring - $300ish for new taillights, $180ish for a new driver's door skin (mine's crunched a bit), $2500 for paint & labor (I have a hookup), and $200 for a windshield (mine is sandblasted all to hell).

However, I was thinking. For much less than that, I can do this:

Quick ratio steering pinion (possibly last production run - the guy who makes them is getting out of MR2's. $100 off for preorder)
Aluminum shifter base bushings - stiffen things up
Floormats (which I need badly)
Shift kit (because epic shifting is epic)
Brake lines (because 20yo rubber brake lines are not epic)

I could also get a small (probably 10") sub / box to put behind one of the seats (and an amp for it). All of this will be about $2000 cheaper than paint, and will improve just about everything about the car (except looks).

What would you do? I think I've made up my mind, but I want to bounce it off a few more people.

What kind of toyota do you have? And are you getting it painted for preference or (I'm assuming because of the door/windshield) because the current paint is all jacked up?

I saw a thread somewhere with a guy claiming that you can paint cars for $50 if you do it yourself and use a different paint. It sounds really sketchy, but he had lots of pics to back it up. I'll dig around for it, if only for lulz.

All aboard the man-mobile. Toot toot haaaay~.

Paint-Your-Car-With-Rustoleum
and
Poor man's paint job

The first one is what I was thinking off. The guy sprayed high gloss Rustoleum paint on his car, sanded it, and put a finish on it. It looks pretty good and is still good to go a year later.

I still don't know what kind of car you have, but if its an old clunker I'd definitely do this over paying $2,500 for a paint job.

I've seen that before - not interested, but thanks for the tip. No old clunker here.

I have minor rust in the rockers (not actively rusting, but there are small holes), the driver's door is dented a bit and the clear is basically gone from the whole door (it's more of a matte black than gloss). The windshield is just worn out.

'91 MR2 Turbo:

That's great looking for a '91. If I were you, with my limited knowledge I'd go for the parts. If those pictures are up to date then it looks fine from the outside. Besides, you're going to spend more time driving the car then you will staring at it from the outside.

Those are pictures from the good side. They're also from the summer before last. I now have tree sap on top and I can't get it off, even with claybar.

The driver's door is black, but off color - like it was repainted with crappy paint, and there's a hand-sized scrape/dent at the front of the door. Otherwise, it doesn't look too bad until you get really close...which is exactly why I am leaning towards the parts.

Seeing as you've got a decent amount of work done to your car, I'd say go with the paint. You can always rest assured that the upgrades will come some day, but walking out to your car every day to see all of its cosmetic imperfections will eventually get to you.

The guy who makes the quick ratio pinion for the steering rack is getting out of MR2's. This could be the last run, and he's only making 25.

I would get the steering pinion and the paint/body work. The rest can come as you get more money. Next in line for me would be the windshield.

For the tree sap, try polishing compound. I had a white car that I had to park under a tree and EVERY time I washed it I would have to get rid of the yellow sap spots. Go easy on that stuff though, it picks up the paint and moves it around basically. Use just a little bit and go super easy on pressure when you do.

That puts me over budget - I can't afford to drop $3500-4000 right now. Even $3000 for paint would be a stretch..couldn't do it for a couple of months at least.

How bad are the dents? You may be able to just pop them out. Or failing that, fill them and repaint it. $180 doesn't seem worth it for a door skin. With less than $30 in materials (bondo, paint, clear coat, polishing compound) it's worth a shot.

I'm skeptical of this. Rustoleum makes some very high quality paints, but I'd feel uneasy about using them on something as high-wear as a car exterior. I would be particularly worried about UV damage and susceptibility to moisture creep and rusting from underneath. Perhaps Rustoleam makes UV-resistant paints.

Honestly, I would just get it professionally done. That's a fantastic car and I wouldn't risk doing it myself. Even with high quality paints, the actual painting process requires a fair bit of practice and finesse.

The clear coat should be pretty easy to do on your own. You don't have to worry as much about consistency because it's just clear. A few coats, a bit of sanding and polishing, might do it.


Also, this has some truth to it:

I have a 95 Cavalier that's an awful teal color. It has moderate rusting on the bottoms of the doors, around the fuel tank door, has a smashed right front fender (headlight held in place with aluminum tape) and a bashed right quarter panel. I'll be honest, if the color wasn't so awful I would probably replace the fender and do some body repair on the rusted out parts. But I just can't stand that it's such a terrible color, it seems not worth it. The car's certainly not worth painting.


...that being said, your MR2 is a great car to begin with and still looks fantastic for the most part. Might not be worth putting that much money into just minor imperfections (at least when there are better upgrades to be made).

Tail lights, brake lines, floor mats, then whatever else you have money for...

Do important stuff first, cool stuff last.

*sigh* I want to get my turd painted and the dents fixed, but I need new brakes, need to fix the headlights (foggy) need to get the tires rotated, front end alignment, windshield wipers need a new connector rod (they get sloppy)...

Damn machines.

I was hoping this thread would be you asking for help from Transformers.

I'll go take photos of what's wrong with the body...will post them up in a bit.

I was extremely skeptical too but my friend painted his wheels, and by god it turned out pretty decent, and the paint hasn't chipped off or anything a couple years later.

I am too much of a perfectionist with body work on this car to even think about doing it myself. I couldn't do the rust repair either. If it was 'just a car', that's what thing...but it's my baby.

If you want it done right, do it yourself.

You've got to be kidding.

Well maybe not for you, but I'm too picky to let someone even TOUCH my cars with a wrench or what have you.. And I've got the skills to work on it so

You can weld, fabricate partial body panels, and have a painting booth? More power to you!

I do mechanical work - I'm not a body guy.

http://forum.svrider.com/showthread.php?t=82312&page=1




On this car, I have removed/reinstalled or replaced-
Springs / struts
Sway bar endlinks
Ball joints
Turbocharger (gasket replacement) - necessitated removal / loosening of everything down to and including the exhaust manifold
Exhaust, downpipe, intercooler, intake, boost controller
Axles

Plus regular stuff - brake pads, spark plugs, oil changes, etc. I do not have the equipment or experience for painting.

That's easy stuff

But as far as the OP, I'd say your body is in decent shape, sleepers are better anyway

Out of context this could seem kinda gay.

While I wouldn't say it's really hard, pulling a turbo from an MR2 does not fall under the "easy" scale. "Easy" is brakes and stuff.

Pardon the dirt - she's been in a barn since December.

Your first priority should be fixing rust. Next should be the brakes if there is not an issue, if there is it should take top priority. Then get the steering pinion since it's likely your last chance.