cost of paintjob

The primer/paint/clear will typically cost $1000. After that your into the detail/talent/finish/hours.

Paint jobs can cost $2000 to $20,000, all in the details.

If the shop has done good work that you have been pleased with them, they are likely quoting a little higher price then you expected as they want to show off their work on a car that is going to be "shown".

The price does not seem unreasonable to me.

 

On the other end of the scale are those "economy" paint places (like Maaco) that will paint a car for $225-$500. Single stage acrylic paint. The paint itself isn't an issue, take care of it (wax 1-2 times a year, keep under a carport/garaged) and it will last 5-10 years. The level of preparation is the key. I've had a few cars painted by such shops, and the paint lasted as long as from a regular body shop. But I removed all the trim and wet sanded and do the body work I wanted before taking it. All they did was a final fine sanding and run a tack rag over it.

If you take it in with all the trim on it will either get masked poorly or sprayed over, and just enough sanding for the paint to stick. All dents and dings will stay, unless you pay extra to have them removed, so the $250 job becomes a $2500+ job fast. I had one done that had to have all the upper surfaces (roof, hood, trunk, tops of doors) sanded to bare metal due to fine cracks from a very old repaint. That was years ago when the "premium" paint job was about $200. Cost me $800 total, but car looked good for the next few years. 

If you want a show car you don't go that route. If you want an inexpensive paint job it's an option. Just do the body work (or most of it) yourself. Those guys can spray better than I can even if they've only been there a few days -- they spray several cars every day, so that's more practice than I've had. I've sprayed primer and the interior surfaces (inside door jambs, dash, etc.), but never the outside of a car for that reason.Looks good for a few years until you can afford a better pain job if nothing else. Otherwise it's $5000+ for a good paint job. so the $4500 you were quoted I'd say is good.

   but again to agree with the others if you had work done by them before and were happy . you are the one that needs to be pleased so Go for it