LexLuger94

i just got a 97 es 300, it's tan and has a lot of scratches. I want to make it a dark blue, but don't want to spend too much money. People have been telling me to go to MAACO and that it's 500 dollars. i have heard good and bad reviews so I was wondering if you had any input.

below are pictures of my car now, a photoshopped picture of what i want it to look like eventually (but a darker blue) with gold emblems. and the last is the in between stage, i plane to paint it blue in march when the weather gets better and paint my stock rims black and possible black out the tail lights. then in april i will buy gold rims and gold emblems

I am tinting my windows in about 2 weeks. and hopefully getting a new intake. if you have any suggestions for DIY or cheap mods let me know!

thanks a lot for looking

KLF

For $500, they really can't do a proper color change. To do it right, you need to pull the car apart, engine needs to come out, hoses, gaskets, door sill trim, etc. Very expensive. Anything else is gonna look like crap as soon as you open a door or the hood.

Power6

cheapest way is sell car --> buy blue one

speedkar9

Don't do it. Leave the electric blue and gold rims to the Subaru WRX and Mazda 3's.

Has your car been in a major accident before? Those are some gaping hood gaps.

hypervish

Don't do it. Leave it as is.

PuReChaos

I would wager yes, look at the grill in the second picture.

As to the OP, I would leave it as is. To do the job right will cost at LEAST twice what maaco is charging.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Just get some plasti-dip, less than 300$ for a kit, enough to paint the whole thing, not just new 'top' paint and old beat up bottom half.

And peel it off if you don't like it. https://www.dipyourcar.com/

OceanView

I'm in a similar situation with my black ES300.
I want to change the color from black to white but a good paint job is gonna cost more than what the car is worth.
Not a good investment.