Car painted by Econo. Need tips on how to take care of it.

[Clean_4th gen]

Whats going on guys. Just had my '91 Nissan 240sx(hatch) painted by Econo. I got the Presidential paint/labor so I'd like to last a few years. Any suggestions on how to take care of it.

[Graves]

Save for a better paint job. I have seen very few Econo jobs last, even when taken care of.

[The Hedgehog]

How much did you pay? It's going to last for as long as a $400-$600 paint job would.

[REY]

1. Save your money
2. Have it painted properly base/clear before the econo stuff starts to peel/fade (they ALL do)
3. sell the car before the paint peels/fades (as they ALL will do) and buy another car
4. There is nothing you can do to maintain an econo job - whether its the ambassador/emperor/presidential/dictator special
5. I know people that paid for their TOP service, like 1200 bux, car was garage kept, pigmentation and color turned and faded anyways and on some it started to crack and peel
6. If you DO repaint it right, it will probably cost you more because in many cases, all of the econo crappy paint needs to be sanded off
7. You probably have your mouldings, rubbers about windows, tires and subframe full of overspray so a new paint job wont fix that.

I speak from extensive experience before you reply noobish

[markstheman365]

ive had 3 econo jobs done with there $150 special. I couldn't be happier. Yes, they are cheap paint jobs, but when you drive a mismatched 240 they are perfect. My first was on a honda, I paid an extra 100 bux for another clear coat. It came out nice, just some orange peel. That paint lasted about a year and a half with out cracking, fading at all. Still looked like fresh paint, then I sold car. Next was my s13 hatch, Gloss white. This was my favorite, because i sanded and primered and sanded again before dropping it off. I think the paint looked miraculous. The white hid orange peel really well, and after a minor buff and wax it looked pristine. Last was my s13 coupe. My friend did some bondo spots before paint, and did a poor job, but besides that it looks pretty good. Sometimes there black tends to look plastic-y lol. But like I said, unless you drive some mint condition newer car, Id say there great. And if it only lasts 2 years and fades, o well. You only lost a few bucks

[Thatguysstuff]

I have had 2 cars painted there.. Both surprised me on how they came out..

But I did do a lot of prep work to both before taking them in. Over spray like always. Champ white paint came out very nice with minor imperfections but for 400.00 for paint and body work I could not complain.

[*JamReX*]

Im not guna get into this argument over what a 'nice paintjob' is to people. Theres a reason maaco/ econo type places charge a fraction of the price legit places charge.

Hint: Its not because of the office supplies.

[Niburu]

Im not guna get into this argument over what a 'nice paintjob' is to people. Theres a reason maaco/ econo type places charge a fraction of the price legit places charge.

Hint: Its not because of the office supplies.

it's the in-between step
better than a rattlecan spraybomb
and not as good as a professional job you could be proud of

Why would anyone spend thousands on a paintjob for a 91 240sx?
the Econo job may have been overspending in my book

[markstheman365]

Which one did you go to, and how much did you pay.
There stupid flexible on their prices, if you just make a fuss they will drop like 100 bucks off the price.

I did a color change (extra 50 bucks) and the presidential or what ever cost 299. So 350 total. I walked out paying 185 and some change. Maybe its because I prepped it myself. But the econo on florida has an asian dude named HONG i think. He has a green s14. He gave me awesome deals on all of my econo jobs.

[REY]

Bottom line is: It's all about what you are willing to accept, live with, and be happy with.

The bug that gets me is the ones that go to Econo/Macco and get their car painted there and it looks like shiny crap, are the same ones that are the biggest critics about everyone else's car down to the smallest detail. and when in turn someone points out their econo spray bomb, they all reply the same way "it's my daily, i dont care" or " i drift it, i dont care" ect...... Then why paint it at all?

I swear, once you have tasted the sensation of looking at your car painted all crisp and nice and guaranteed to last 10+ years, you'll never go back to dime-a-dozen paints. Until you do this, you will never understand.

Plus, I know where you can get a decent prep job, mask job, quality paint and clear at around 2k give or take and it may sound like alot to some, but its worth every cent if you plan on keeping your car. I knew someone that spent Tens of thousands in mechanical, suspension, interior upgrades and had some econo shmuck paint their car - at the end, all of the paint issues wouldnt let you get past it so that you can see the rest or even care about the rest of the car....

I understand being in a budget, but be realistic as well if you plan on keeping the car for a long time...

[neondriver]

econo is called "econo" for a reason! i took my truck for an estimate on just my front bumper...they showed me there work and i left shortly after.... quickly taking them off my list of possible shops. i knew a couple people years back who got their cars painted at econo and also eventually re-painted their cars 2 years later.... you get what you pay for.

[senor honda]

The secret to a good paint job is the prep work underneath.
Do that part yourself.

Unless I was hiding from the law and needed a quick color change, LOL,
I personally would probably get it painted somewhere else.-Bob

[REY]

Prep work IS the foundation for the paint job. BUT, Materials play a HUGE role on the overall outcome and durability.

There are SO many different clear coats for so many uses. I can get a non-UV protection clear for $75 a gallon Kit. Layed out right, it will shine really nice, even after a nice wetsand and buff. But, it will NOT protect the pigment of the paint underneath. It will dull out. I like using the RM Diamont 5335, 5300 by BASF. Lays out well, UV protection, lots of sheen and will last you a 10 years+ (if not a lifetime as long as it's maintained.)

this is just an example.

No matter what, you DO get what you pay for. You can prep the living daylights out of the car and still end up with a crappy paint job that wont last you long. There is no way around this.

[1BADP71]

Whats going on guys. Just had my '91 Nissan 240sx(hatch) painted by Econo. I got the Presidential paint/labor so I'd like to last a few years. Any suggestions on how to take care of it.

keep wax on it -> NuFinish brand , but once every two/three months (its proven and its cheap)

Car cover -> $39.99 for your new best friend

[Silvia_San]

i was thinking about going to econo for my shitty 240sx but i decided to just prep and spray it myself. single stage tractor paint lol.