I’ve got quotes for paint jobs ranging from 150k, to 20k from various garages. Paint job is for a saloon car. I want a nice job at a price between 25k and 30k though I can go higher with guaranteed quality, perhaps up to 40k. I am interested in a garage that will strip down the car entirely and not those that will tape off certain areas before repainting.
I have seen a friend’s car that was done fairly but could have been better with a little attention to detail. I want something that will stay a couple of years looking new instead of a paint job that looks old in six months or a year. Not interested in those garages that say “paint tutamixiwa pale Toyota Kenya” then source their paint elsewhere.
It would be better if you went there with your vehicle for assessment to determine the extent of the job and the pricing. I can refer you to the Manager, Bharat who is a friend of mine.
That step I’ll take a bit later. I know it’s difficult to price a paint job before an assessment because things like dents, cracks etc will alter the overall cost. But it’s equally hard to shop for a paint job especially when the budget is limited.
That said I would like to know the cost of painting a dent free Mazda axela for example. If it’s a fair price I can go in looking for a hard bargain. It’s hard to convince an auto specialist to revise his cost from say 120k to 40k and it would be a waste of time for both of us.
This is how you go about it. First, find a garage that has something close to a spray booth (most garages will allow you to hire the spray booth for a small amount). Second, find a spray painter who is an old hand at the job. Let him give you a list of all the required items. Third, do some research and only buy the best brands for materials. Third, make sure you supervise the job progress at every step. You will spend about 25K for a top-notch job and still have some change to celebrate the achievement.
Sounds splendid
But getting the right personnel on your own is a hard nut to crack.
Would prefer giving out the job for a complete makeover without necessarily chipping in all the time
That’s awesome…talk about getting value for money. Looks like you’ve got to be an insider to execute this plan perfectly. Any recommendations like one for an"old hand"?
I may not have one on my phone book at the moment. I did my last paint job some years back. However, if you have a good mechanic friend, they can always give you leads. Just let them know you want someone who is extremely experienced for an extremely important job. The thing is you have to put in some effort but you will be assured that you get the desired results.