Color change, what's it worth?

I've got a 2012 Taco that was in an accident and after repairing the mechanical end of things and driving the truck for a while I'm getting ready to repair the cosmetic end of things.



But I really don't like black. So I'm thinking of a color change. Has anyone paid to have a total repaint on a truck? Maybe even a color change?

What was your experience like and what did it cost?

I already painted the rims... I like the way they look with the black but they'll also look good with any color I would change to.

 

Something you may want to consider is having it wrapped. You could go with a solid color or create a graphic, the sky is the limit.

 

I bought the PlastiDip kit and shot my F150 in the yard. Turned out pretty good for a first time. going on two years, no issues, and lots of comments. I just did Matte Black, but they have everything. Tons of videos on YT.

In fact, my Taco is black too, and I am going to plastidip it a burnt orange this Summer, if we're all still alive.

 

My truck began as black as well and I got tired of looking at all of the natural pin-stripping down the sides from branches, so opted for a wrap. I'd 100% do it again.

 

What did the wrap job cost all in? If you don't mind me asking.

 

2500 for the full truck ... but the price can swing quite a bit. I got quotes between 1k-5k.

 

I had it priced once.

Since places you can get them down to 3k for a bare bones full wrap.


They wanted 9k for this satin red, and that was three years ago.

 

Damn, that's cheap. I'd do it too at that price.

 

I like that satin red, but 9k no way!
$2500 seems fair.

 

That will fit right in with all the background radiation...lol

 

Are you going to put the truck back together the way it came from the factory?

If you are ,I'd re paint it black if it's an authentic Baja from the factory. Even if it's not painting the truck it's original color would probably be the easiest.

You could still wrap it after painting it.

If you repaint a different color I'd go with a Toyota color. Pyrite Mica, Falcon Gray, Cement, Cavalry Blue, Lunar Rock, or Incognito Gray.

 

How long have you had it? And how has it aged?

I had a partial wrap for awhile on another truck and loved the look, but I don't think the guy that did it knew what he was doing. It had a lot of odd places around door handles, etc that looked wonky and eventually some began to separate and get loose.

Yours looks like it fits like a glove, and professional. Has it gotten any loose spots?

 

Is it true that it’s not a good idea to get an old vehicle wrapped?

I mentioned it to a few friends who claim to be “car people” that I might get my truck wrapped a few years down the road once the paint starts to wear. They acted like it was the stupidest thing they’d ever heard.

They were saying that wrapping a vehicle is only worth it if it’s new and if you wrap a truck with paint blemishes, it only accentuates the flaws in the paint.

I’m hoping that’s not the case because I’d love to do a wrap in a few years.

@boogie3478 maybe you can help out with this? It sounds like you got your truck wrapped after it had some decent pinstriping.

 

Yeah, stock from the factory. But the black has to go. And I'm not going to do a wrap on a new paint job. So it's wrap or paint, not both. I was thinking about Quicksand...

 

A proper color change paint job will cost way more than I'd want to spend on a 10yo plebian vehicle.

By proper, I mean look everywhere that's got black paint, thus needs to be redone. It's practically a full vehicle disassembly.

A great wrap will cost almost as much as a good paint job (in black), and with the wrap you'll still have lot's 'o black. A good wrap shop will want the underlying body as prepared as it would be for paint, because irregularities will show in the wrap.

While I know you don't like black, keeping it black and doing any required paint correction work will be the most budget friendly choice.

 

I thought I added Quicksand to the list, I did not QS would look good.

I like how blacks looks on that truck, but I wouldn't want a black truck given the choice.

I would still paint that truck the original color.

 

Wrap has been on the truck for about 4 years now and it does show signs of wear and tear like scratches from offroading (surface not through the wrap), minor discoloration in some spots, etc ...but it hasn't started peeling anywhere. The good thing is that you really have to get close to even see any of the wear and tear.

 

If done properly the wrap is going to protect the paint underneath in whatever condition it was in when the vehicle was wrapped. So a brand new vehicle would certainly be great since the paint is pristine, but I don't think there are any issues with wrapping an older vehicle assuming there aren't any paint chips or other kind of damage that would actually be visible through the wrap.

 

Got it, thanks for the info!

 

Was the price that high at that place just because of the "satin red" color choice?