I agree with Brandon on the cost of paint. Maaco would definately be cheaper than buying a decent automotive paint. I painted my sister's '83 Cavalier myself, and all the primer, paint, clear, and thinner came to around $400! Maaco could've done the job for around $300 or $350 or something, but the catch is, is that they use a real real cheap paint. It peals and chips badly after just a few months. The paint I got was the standard laquer based paint. It's been 2 years, including 2 harsh winters, and there's no chips or big flakes pealin off. Prior to painting the car for real, I sprayed it with Rustoleum spray cans. The spray cans held up OK, but I bet they would hold up a lot better if you thinned it out and applied a few good coats with a spray gun.
