Changing a car's color (i.e. spray painted)

wishes · 07-12-2006, 03:21 AM

I've been waiting 4 months for a black pkg 5, have to wait more but am looking at other dealers now to see if I can't my car elsewhere.

There's a silver package 5 coming in to my dealer (who I hate, but whatever). I really, REALLY am not fond of the silver, but with the money and time I'd be saving vs. going to another dealer (having to wait for the car and paying MSRP) maybe I could just change the color of the car myself.

Anyone know how much it usually costs to get the whole car spray painted? Do they do a good job? (My brother got his white car changed to blue, and they did a good job). Will it be the "same" black as the black it would have come in originally?

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance

Godiva · 07-12-2006, 04:17 AM

I suppose you could get it painted the official Toyota black by an authorized Toyota Body shop. But it is going to be really expensive. Rough guess would be about $500 per panel. Four doors, hood, trunk, four fenders, two bumpers, back...uh....$6,500 dollars? Maybe you could get a deal for half that. Still seems very expensive. Cheaper to just buy a black Prius even if you have to wait or pay MSRP. And I think repainting the car would effect depreciation and lower the resale value too.

rufaro · 07-12-2006, 05:54 AM

Also, I haven't ever seen a re-colored car that didn't show some interior edge bits in the original color...Are you SURE waiting wouldn't work better for you? Or trying to call around to other dealers and try to find an "unclaimed" one. I found a black package 3 in about four days, calling dealers up to a couple of hundred miles away, and ended up with one 20 miles from home, from a truly excellent dealership. (I am REALLY not gloating--I'm just trying to be helpful, and I was looking for a lower package anyway, so it was likely much easier...plus, I didn't get to pick the interior color, which would NOT have been the bisque that I got...)

hwalker911 · 07-12-2006, 07:05 AM

I think you would be making a big mistake having the vehicle repainted. If you really are thinking of doing this, then I would suggest you taking the vehicle to a shop that does vehicle restoration...now you are looking at some serious money to have it you way. I would be shopping the eastcoast for a dealer who may have one. I saw one at Rice Toyota in Greensboro North Carolina this week, I don't know what package it is, but their web site is ricetoyota.com

Good Luck

kDB · 07-12-2006, 07:21 AM

unless you want a non-prius color, it's not worth it. for a good paint job your looking at $2000+. and you'd have to let them have the car for about a week, unless the shop pretty much has nothing else to do.

it would be cheaper to look at dealerships in the another state.

FJRCRAZED · 07-12-2006, 07:45 AM

NO,NO,NO. Nothing is better than a factory paint job, unless you are going to spend $$$$$

wishes · 07-12-2006, 09:01 AM

Thanks for the info everyone! I CAN wait (I've been patient this long, I know I can wait some more...it's just HARD) and I have already applied to several dealers to get some quotes/waiting times. So, we'll see.

BTW, I thought there was a way to "special order" a Prius and it would be built and shipped within 6 weeks. Manager at the dealership said there is no such thing.

daronspicher · 07-12-2006, 10:49 AM

This depends on how vain you are.

If you're pretty relaxed overall... You could do the job for under $100.

Get some newspaper, masking tape and some high quality spray paint and go at it....

4 or 5 hours, the car will be black... no biggie..

Betelgeuse · 07-12-2006, 11:07 AM

If you really want a black Prius and really feel like you can't wait, I think there's a better way to go about it than painting a silver one. Figure how much a good paint job would cost, and go to dealers prepared to offer that much over MSRP for a black Prius. If you're willing to go $2K over MSRP (the MINIMUM I can imagine a decent paint job costing), I'll bet you can find a dealer that will offer you one.

That said, if you widen your search radius, you definately should be able to find one at MSRP; it just takes a little work; Prii aren't nearly as rare as they used to be, and even several months ago, there were stories of people buying them within a week of starting to look.

mikepaul · 07-12-2006, 11:16 AM

Maybe there's a TV show that'd be willing to pimp your ride for free if you volunteered the car?

Can't hurt to ask...

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07-12-2006, 03:21 AM	#1
wishes Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nuevo Jersey Posts: 52 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I've been waiting 4 months for a black pkg 5, have to wait more but am looking at other dealers now to see if I can't my car elsewhere. There's a silver package 5 coming in to my dealer (who I hate, but whatever). I really, REALLY am not fond of the silver, but with the money and time I'd be saving vs. going to another dealer (having to wait for the car and paying MSRP) maybe I could just change the color of the car myself. Anyone know how much it usually costs to get the whole car spray painted? Do they do a good job? (My brother got his white car changed to blue, and they did a good job). Will it be the "same" black as the black it would have come in originally? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

07-12-2006, 04:17 AM	#2
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,340 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 7	I suppose you could get it painted the official Toyota black by an authorized Toyota Body shop. But it is going to be really expensive. Rough guess would be about $500 per panel. Four doors, hood, trunk, four fenders, two bumpers, back...uh....$6,500 dollars? Maybe you could get a deal for half that. Still seems very expensive. Cheaper to just buy a black Prius even if you have to wait or pay MSRP. And I think repainting the car would effect depreciation and lower the resale value too.

07-12-2006, 05:54 AM	#3
rufaro WeePoo, Gen II Join Date: May 2006 Location: Palms, Los Angeles Posts: 2,836 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Thanks: 39 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts Friends: 39	Also, I haven't ever seen a re-colored car that didn't show some interior edge bits in the original color...Are you SURE waiting wouldn't work better for you? Or trying to call around to other dealers and try to find an "unclaimed" one. I found a black package 3 in about four days, calling dealers up to a couple of hundred miles away, and ended up with one 20 miles from home, from a truly excellent dealership. (I am REALLY not gloating--I'm just trying to be helpful, and I was looking for a lower package anyway, so it was likely much easier...plus, I didn't get to pick the interior color, which would NOT have been the bisque that I got...)

07-12-2006, 07:05 AM	#4
hwalker911 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Piedmont of North Carolina Posts: 84 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I think you would be making a big mistake having the vehicle repainted. If you really are thinking of doing this, then I would suggest you taking the vehicle to a shop that does vehicle restoration...now you are looking at some serious money to have it you way. I would be shopping the eastcoast for a dealer who may have one. I saw one at Rice Toyota in Greensboro North Carolina this week, I don't know what package it is, but their web site is ricetoyota.com Good Luck

07-12-2006, 07:21 AM	#5
kDB Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fenton, MO Posts: 243 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	unless you want a non-prius color, it's not worth it. for a good paint job your looking at $2000+. and you'd have to let them have the car for about a week, unless the shop pretty much has nothing else to do. it would be cheaper to look at dealerships in the another state.

07-12-2006, 07:45 AM	#6
FJRCRAZED Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: S.E PA Posts: 100 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	NO,NO,NO. Nothing is better than a factory paint job, unless you are going to spend $$$$$

07-12-2006, 09:01 AM	#7
wishes Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nuevo Jersey Posts: 52 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Thanks for the info everyone! I CAN wait (I've been patient this long, I know I can wait some more...it's just HARD) and I have already applied to several dealers to get some quotes/waiting times. So, we'll see. BTW, I thought there was a way to "special order" a Prius and it would be built and shipped within 6 weeks. Manager at the dealership said there is no such thing.

07-12-2006, 10:49 AM	#8
daronspicher Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,205 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	This depends on how vain you are. If you're pretty relaxed overall... You could do the job for under $100. Get some newspaper, masking tape and some high quality spray paint and go at it.... 4 or 5 hours, the car will be black... no biggie..

07-12-2006, 11:07 AM	#9
Betelgeuse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northampton, MA, USA Posts: 1,459 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 2 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 1	If you really want a black Prius and really feel like you can't wait, I think there's a better way to go about it than painting a silver one. Figure how much a good paint job would cost, and go to dealers prepared to offer that much over MSRP for a black Prius. If you're willing to go $2K over MSRP (the MINIMUM I can imagine a decent paint job costing), I'll bet you can find a dealer that will offer you one. That said, if you widen your search radius, you definately should be able to find one at MSRP; it just takes a little work; Prii aren't nearly as rare as they used to be, and even several months ago, there were stories of people buying them within a week of starting to look.

07-12-2006, 11:16 AM	#10
mikepaul Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,757 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Maybe there's a TV show that'd be willing to pimp your ride for free if you volunteered the car? Can't hurt to ask...