Body-Paint-Shop to repaint vehicle completely, swiftly and in good quality?

[J D Sauser]

I am looking for a clean, capable and reputable body-paint-shop which can and will change the color on a vehicle. I am looking for a place which will disassemble the vehicle (without loosing or selling off all parts) as necessary, repair some minor dings, sand it and repaint in a new (non-metallic) color in very good quality and swiftly (meaning working continuously on it, not only serving colorful explanation as to why... blah blah blah). (I know, I am asking a lot).

I would prefer a place on the greater POP-North Coast (Cabaret thru Puerto Plata) but would also consider Santiago.

I also have a question to those who may know about the legal aspects of changing a vehicle's color: The registration shows vehicle color. Does anybody have recent first hand experience as to what is involved in having the registration amended on the color entry?

Thanks! ... J-D.

[Rocky]

J D,
I know the best place in POP and the results are excellent, but if you are expecting it to look organized like they are in the industrialized nations, forget it.
We have several friends who have used them, including myself, and the work is always top notch.
PM me for directions.

[JDJones]

There's a shop on the road behind Caribe Tours in Puerto Plata that does absolutely excellent results. He does most of the work for insurance companies on the North Coast. For the life of me, I can't remember his name right now.

Not only that, but his turn around is the fastest I have experienced, here or in the states. He has it down to an art.

Maybe it's the same guy Rocky is talking about.

I don't know all of the specifics but I do know color change requires posting an ad in the paper for three days, then a copy of the ad has to be taken to the local office to get the matricula changed. I'm betting there's also a stamp or two that needs to be purchased.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by JDJones

There's a shop on the road behind Caribe Tours in Puerto Plata that does absolutely excellent results. He does most of the work for insurance companies on the North Coast. For the life of me, I can't remember his name right now.

Not only that, but his turn around is the fastest I have experienced, here or in the states. He has it down to an art.

Maybe it's the same guy Rocky is talking about.

I don't know all of the specifics but I do know color change requires posting an ad in the paper for three days, then a copy of the ad has to be taken to the local office to get the matricula changed. I'm betting there's also a stamp or two that needs to be purchased.

That's the one.
You wouldn't think so when you walk into his shop, but he does top notch work.

[J D Sauser]

Thanks you two.
Is that the little service road that goes between the pawn shop and the Caribe Tours plaza (parallel to the main road coming from the Jimenez stores towards La Javilla)?

I'll check'em out. I am used to "funny" looking places... they weren't any less chaotic in Ecuador... always wondered how they could get the paint on a body without having mosquitoes, flies and lizards stuck into it.

Thanks! ... J-D.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

Thanks you two.
Is that the little service road that goes between the pawn shop and the Caribe Tours plaza (parallel to the main road coming from the Jimenez stores towards La Javilla)?

I'll check'em out. I am used to "funny" looking places... they weren't any less chaotic in Ecuador... always wondered how they could get the paint on a body without having mosquitoes, flies and lizards stuck into it.

Thanks! ... J-D.

That's the one, just before the tiny muffler shop.

[AK74]

Originally Posted by Rocky

J D,
I know the best place in POP and the results are excellent, but if you are expecting it to look organized like they are in the industrialized nations, forget it.
We have several friends who have used them, including myself, and the work is always top notch.
PM me for directions.

Thank you far valuable info! I will give them a try myself too.

So far all the paint/bodywork jobs that I saw in DR were plain horrible. A dealer can see that the car was done from across the street. Without even taking a paint thickness meter from his pocket.
Runs. Orange peel. Dirt in the paint. Overspray.Color mismatch. Failed gaps. Bent rails.
Tons of Bondo. Cheap low quality Chinese aftermarket replacement body parts that won`t fit and rust right away.
Here at Manheim a car with these things would sell for 30% of its normal price.

Thank you for the great info one more time!

[Robert]

Like any country, you just need to know the good and bad places. I have seen some outstanding paint jobs here, it all depends on what and who you know.

[JDJones]

They use a spray booth for painting, hence, no bugs. They are also anal about body fit and function.

I am amazed at their expertise. I watched them repair a Toyota landcruiser that did a nasty rollover. Every side bashed in,(not a big deal) and the top pushed in to the seats. When they finished, I couldn't believe it was the same vehicle. Impressive stuff.

I spent the entire day yesterday trying to remember the name, and even tried getting drunk last evening, hoping that would refresh my memory. Zilch! Zip, Nada!!

Getting older is a beach!

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by JDJones

They use a spray booth for painting, hence, no bugs. They are also anal about body fit and function.

I am amazed at their expertise. I watched them repair a Toyota landcruiser that did a nasty rollover. Every side bashed in,(not a big deal) and the top pushed in to the seats. When they finished, I couldn't believe it was the same vehicle. Impressive stuff.

I spent the entire day yesterday trying to remember the name, and even tried getting drunk last evening, hoping that would refresh my memory. Zilch! Zip, Nada!!

Getting older is a beach!

A R T H U R O ? ... does that ring a bell?
I went by yesterday but they were closed already. But I could get a glimpse at the shop and it is impressively better organized than most I have seen so far. They got a frame adjusting rig and an oven to bake the paint on.
On the way out of there, I got stopped and invited to a beer by some old neighborhood campo "tigueres" which have the same vehicle I have... so we chatted and got introduced to one of the shops workers (who now has a shop of his own)... so, I got some insider info too.
I'll check'em out Monday again.

Thanks to all! ... J-D.