Painting issue...

My '98 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is in desperate need of a paint job. The rear bumper has crumpled and uncrumpled, causing the paint to chip off in those areas. I've been keyed really deeply on the rear side panel. The hedges of my yard have scratched the sides all up (I tend to run into them all the time pulling in and out of the driveway). The hood has a large gouge in it thats been there since I bought it. Basically every panel has something on it that needs painted or buffed. This is my first car and I'm very new to the automotive world. I guess I'm just wondering what I need to do to get it painted for the best deal and best quality. I just graduated high school so I do have a good amout of grad money, but its not all that much. Any tips or suggestions? I was planning on going to maaco for an estimate but would you suggest going to a bodyshop instead?

Thanks alot! :)

Lauren

The best place to go in any case is the dealership. Now, that will obviously cost the most. No place will be perfect because it is not the original paint job. Maaco has many different paint options, all of which range in pricing. The higher the price, the better the paint job(generally). You kind of get what you pay for. It's really up to you to decide how much you are willing to spend. Going to Maaco is fine over a bodyshop, but if you get the cheapest one, its obviously not going to top the work of a bodyshop. In the end, it really depends on the money. Get estimates many places, as painting takes hours to prep(in order to protect parts that are not being painted). Hope this helps

I would take it to a body shop. But make sure to check if the hood and deck lid are fibreglass, as they are on my 97 vert. My bodyshop didn't realize it when they quoted me the price, but I was having them do some other work covered by insurrance, and I have been a loyal customer so they only charged me what they quoted.