GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

the paint started flakin off after my wife came back from Iowa while I was gone, Im wantin to take it off and degrease and sand it to prepare it for paint, has anyone had any experience with mako paint shops? or any other uggestions?

Where'd it flake off?Any pics?I remember one member postted about this problem on the plastic cladding

Common issue on the Vibe with previous members

Ill get a pic soon, about a fist sized spot in the middle of the top portion of the bumper and then the bottom half which was replaced by the previous owner, was replaced with the flat gray/smoky black, piece was painted with what seems like a rattle can and thats just all comin off in spots lol, do they have maaco shops around here? Im from Iowa originally, where they are pretty common

the member I'm thinkin of posted a pic of his and it was on the side skirt i think.I just remember it flaked off in the shape of a bunny lol

this is whats comin off on the upper part of the bumper

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and the lower bumper as well

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It looks like she was driving through a sandstorm!!The cladding should not be painted, unless it was painted body-color from the factory. Yours appears to be/have been what's known 'round here as a "two-tone," gray cladding/black painted body.The issue you are experiencing seems common among owners of first gen water based automotive paints. My own '04 Mazda3 has paint that chips pretty easily, but so far, no flaking. I knew a girl that owned an '05 Mustang, and my older brother an '03 Explorer that have major paint flaking issues.Macco? You want to take the car to Macco? Nah, I wouldn't. They use inexperienced people (cheap labor,) and the cheapest off-shore paint they can find. People used to use them if:1) They wanted to turn the car fast but make it look good (for a while,) or2) They didn't know any better.

Maaco.Well, be selective. Maaco paints a LOT of cars, for all practical purposes that is all the painter does. As a result he has a lot of experience laying down color.You need to check out your Maaco's paint jobs from a given painter. Look for orange peel, look for drips, look for general sloppy application.Now keep in mind they use CRAP paint!! at best it will last two years, at best the color will be close but will NOT match the rest of your car.IF you source quality paint or ask them to (ask for left over paint and original containers) and if you are able to have a given painter paint your car, not just any schumuck but the guy who's work you checked out and IF you do a quality paint preparation and masking job, you can end up with a high quality paint job.Keep in mind Maaco paints cars for LESS than quality paint costs to paint the car. They do it by using crap paint and by not taking much time doing preparation work. If you can do the prep work and supply quality product you can end up with a a nice job.Dave

the car had front end damage, enough to total it but not enough to mess the frame up,I had it checked, I think the guy found a junk yard vibe with the gray cladding and just painted it, but06pvibe, you would not paint the cladding even in its the only gray cladding on the car and it was given a quality job?also djkeev, what your sayin is look for the best painter at theyr shop and supply my own paint?