Paint Job Cost

[rbgosling]

OK - I think I've finally found the guy!

The sort of person I like - older guy working for himself, out of a pair of large farm barns in the middle of nowhere. Doesn't have a website, doesn't advertise (except a line in Yellow Pages), not even a sign showing where his business is, which indicates to me someone who's good enough that enough work finds him, through repeat customers and word of mouth, that he doesn't need to advertise, nor has ambitions to grow beyond his one-man business. A good long talk shows me he sounds like he knows his stuff with fibreglass. He wants the car for the best part of a month, which indicates he'll take his time to get it right rather than rushing it. Also indicative of that is he won't commit to fixed price, since he doesn't know what is needed until he sees it. However, he did say £2,500-£3,000, and won't charge over that top estimate regardless of what he finds needs doing.

Paint will be clear lacquer over base, same as Lotus put on in the first place.

He can start in mid-April, so not too long to wait, but I think I'll push that back to 3rd May so I have the car to take to Donington!

[MetBlue]

I like your reasoning for selecting this guy. I'm sure you'll be delighted with the end result.
Looking forward to seeing the car one day. If you do delay until after Donny, be nice to see the before and after.
Tony

[rbgosling]

And we have a new winner for Most Outrageous Quote! The latest comes in at £8109. Bonus points for taking 1 month and 2 days to get back to me, from the day they inspected the car. Even if the price was acceptable, they've come back long after I've already made a decision.

[bash]

Was the £9 the important bit ?

[rbgosling]

Was the £9 the important bit ?

That's for the "Environmental waste disposal charge for hazardous waste".

To their credit, they have given me the most detailed breakdown of the work. Apparently they reckon it takes 30 hours to remove and refit bumpers, lights, wipers (should I negotiate for a discount as there's only one??), door handles, mirrors, spoiler and badges.

[AndyC]

Perhaps they've allowed time for:
Drill, grind and then epoxy the captive nuts of the handles.
cut off, then set new bolts in the bumper black pads.
And so forth.

[CID]

Well my Excel just came back from the painter.

Set me back 3500€ and I dismantled the car myself.
Only the windows stayed in. All other stuff removed rubbers, bumpers, trimline. etc..;

I have to go back for further detailing and polishing some dust spots out.

Must say I'm pleased to see her "as coming out of the factory"

RGDS Curt

[rbgosling]

Glad you're happy Curt. I hope mine turns out as well!

[rbgosling]

Update time - the guy has had the car for a week, and apologised for not getting quite as far as he'd hoped, while he gets other stuff finished off. No matter.

All he has done is remove the rear bumper, spoiler, door handles, and mirrors (which he said took a good while!). He's also sanded down a patch at the rear of the roof, to see if there is any underlying problem causing the microcracks there or if it is just in the paint (which it seems to be).