I will be getting a complete paint job for my 04 s2000. What brand/type of paint would you guys recommend and about how much am I looking to pay for materials...My budget allows for about $500-600 in materials alone...

 

I recomend PPG. I have always used the DCU2021 clear but have heard the DCU2002 is supposed to be alittle better. It will run you atleast 600 depending on the color for everything.

 

is this the best stuff i can get or is there anything better out there. i plan on keeping this car for a very long time and do not look forward to painting again...

 

this is why i need new paint, check this out

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/ind...13&hl=

do i just need to sand down and spray clear or would i also have to spray some basecoat on there?

 

PPG is VERY good stuff. Once you get up there in that price range, most of the good brands are the same. Just a matter of what you want. Try using a claybar on your car first. I don't know why a car cover would take off the clearcoat.

 

Damn that's messed up. That's got to be non OEM crappy paint to stain the clear that deep. I've never seen a fabric material do any thing like that. How long have you had the car?

Sneezin is right pretty much all top brands are comparable. Personally I prefer BASF Diamont line. Anything I spray w/ RM Diamont has a lifetime paint material defect warranty. PPG has a similar program. Just make sure the workmanship preformed on the car is top quality along with the materials.

 

^^^
Exactly

 

Word to the muthafuka

 

definitely crappy, non oem paint. Ive only had the car a couple of months but got it used and apparently the seller screwed me with the paint as you can see

 

how many coats of bc/cc do you guys recommend?

 

There is no set amount of base coats without knowing the coverage ability of the specific mixed color and without knowing the color of the primer or sealer being used. What ever number of coats to achieve full coverage. If your priming or sealing the whole car with a similar shade primer and your base covers well, 3 base coats will do. Clear varies, you can do 2, 3, in one step or do a 2 step process and clear 2/3 coats - harden/cure - wet sand - re-clear for a nice flat surface. I would do 3 clear coats at least, if you plan to knock down the clear, cut/buff finesse work.

 

is it absolutely necessary to primer and seal the car or can i skip that step?

 

400 Grit the whole car.

use a nice heavy filler primer.

3 coats of base

3 coats of clear

Wetsand and buff.


Get a gallon of PPG Chromabase.
After using reducer you will have two ish gallons, which is more than enough for a little ar like the s2