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Topic: Nac vs Mexico [for coach body work] (Read 717 times) previous topic - next topic

Nac vs Mexico [for coach body work]

Thinking ahead a bit.

We have some body work that we'd like to have done sometime. Nothing urgent or structural, mostly cosmetic. Xtreme gave us an estimate last summer. I know some of you have had work done in Mexico, so that brings up the question: how do the two compare? I understand that it may be cheaper in Mexico, but is anyone there as good as Xtreme? I'm not too excited about paying someone $4000 for work, not be satisfied with it, and them paying Xtreme $12,000 to do it again. Cheaper just to pay Xtreme the $12,000 to start with.

On the other hand, if the Mexican work is every bit as good as Xtreme's, I'll gladly pay the $4000.

Re: Nac vs Mexico

Reply #1 –
I've seen, several jobs that hav been done in Mexico, They look great for the money. However if one is going there for a 4K job expecting a 12K job, one might just go leave your $$$ in Nac. Also consider the age of the coach when spending cosmetic money. JMHO
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Nac vs Mexico

Reply #2 –
In general, LatAm bodywork is suspect. While it can be done right, it requires knowledge of body work with a lot of oversight. Think of the saying, lipstick on a pig.

Personally, I would find a happy medium- find a shop that is stateside and will do it for somewhere in between, ie 6-8K using your analogy.
Jason
2000 U295 36' Non-slide  ISC350

Re: Nac vs Mexico

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Jason –
Think of the saying, lipstick on a pig.

Super happy with the lipstick they put on my Foretravel South of the border. Paid nowhere near $4 k, could not have had a fender fixed in the states for what they charged.
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Nac vs Mexico

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Doug W. –
Super happy with the lipstick they put on my Foretravel South of the border. Paid nowhere near $4 k, could not have had a fender fixed in the states for what they charged.
looks great too
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Nac vs Mexico

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Doug W. –
Super happy with the lipstick they put on my Foretravel South of the border. Paid nowhere near $4 k, could not have had a fender fixed in the states for what they charged.

Note I said bodywork, not paint work. This includes straightening frames, cutting/welding sheetmetal, excessive bondo, etc.

I have read the PP paint thread, they do a fine job for the price.
Jason
2000 U295 36' Non-slide  ISC350

Re: Nac vs Mexico

Reply #6 –
The poster said cosmetic. If you have the money, Extreme is your place.
1994 U280, Build 4490
Deming, NM.

Re: Nac vs Mexico

Reply #7 –
For my money, Twig is spot on!  We had work done in Mexico and came away well pleased.  When a coach is 20 plus years old, money is the subject, in my opinion.  Just an FYI!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus
 

Re: Nac vs Mexico [for coach body work]

Reply #8 –
If you don't get exactly the paint job you expect, don't blame Mexico, check the mirror instead. A good percentage of our airlines have their aircraft painted in Mexico. I've seen aircraft not only painted but built from scratch at Lake Chapala with craftsmanship that would win a prize at Oshkosh. Many of the cars we drive were built in Mexico. I remember years ago when Mexico's Dina Bus company bought MCI, the maker of Greyhounds. Sure, PP is convenient and has the ocean right there for fun and food but cities like Monterrey have all the state of the art facilities and not only do to paint and interiors of airliners but also service companies like Hawker-Beechcraft of instance.

We were the first Foretravel to have David Munoz reupholster our seats in our U300 in Puerto Peñasco. The material was not only better than the OEM but the workmanship was also perfect. That's also why I go to PP for my dental work. Inexpensive and excellent.

While Sacramento is a top medical destination with Kaiser and UC Davis Medical, Guadalajara scores even higher. See: https://www.numbeo.com/health-care/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Mexico&city1=Guadalajara&country2=United+States&city2=Sacramento%2C+CA

Sure, it's a strange country speaking another language but get your ducks in a row before selecting where you are going to have your coach painted. For $4K you can get an excellent paint job but for an additional one or two thousand more, you could get a shop like the airlines use.

You also have to know why things are less expensive. Look at the cost of education, property taxes, utilities, taxes, etc, etc.

Plus, where can you find someone like Antonio to paint graphics even half as well as he can?

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)