Repaint Options - Imperial Jade Mica vs. Army Green

Hello, Tacoma World friends. John DeRose here, making my first post.

I'm looking for opinions re. my 2002 Pre-Runner with 80K that has severe clear coat failure on the hood and roof. The rest of the paint is holding up, yet the body has numerous chips and scratches. A fresh coat of paint would do miracles for its appearance.

0) At a minimum, I need to repaint the hood and roof, but I'm mildly concerned about mismatch with the rest of the body after living outside in Colorado most of the past 20 years. Thoughts on how obvious that difference might be? Thinking this will be $1200-1500.

Alternatively, I'm considering a full re-paint with a couple options:

1) Imperial Jade Mica (original, somewhat boring), guessing $3-4K; or,

2) Army Green (color code 6V7), which was released for TRD trucks a few years ago and is now available for the rest of the line. A classic truck in a contemporary color might be amazing (or hideous?). I expect the cost for this option would be highest, even excluding areas like the engine bay, thinking ~$5K. Other considerations: I would probably replace the wheels with modern TRDs or similar, and possibly replace the chrome bumpers with black. Good idea or terrible idea?

I realize color is a personal choice, but if you have meaningful thoughts or even relevant experience with this type of process, I'd appreciate it. Thanks, JD

 

If you plan on keeping the truck forever I would paint the truck. I painted my truck for 3,500 (Lunar Mist) and it was worth every penny.

 

@Runninrutt painted his First gen Army Green and it turned out pretty sweet. I personally like first gens in some of these newer color offerings, certainly over sun damaged paint.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/painting-my-1st-gen.753993/

 

Imperial Jade Mica is flaked and Army Green is solid. You'll probably hate seeing the two clash when you open the door or the hood. I would just do the OE color if you want to retain maximum value.

 

I'd go for the original green. It has a nice flake. Army Green is a really flat color, it's up to you if you want that look, I think it would stick out in a not-great way on a 1st gen. All a matter of preference. Have the new one ceramic coated and get paint protection film to help keep it protected.

You might be able to get away with only painting the hood and roof. If you want a professional opinion, take it to a good detail shop. If you really want it to match, you'll want to get the original paint corrected and detailed so it doesn't clash with the brand new paint. The detailer will tell you if the paint is a good candidate for paint correction. Of course if the tops of the fenders, doors, etc has failing paint like the hood I'd just paint the whole thing.

2nd or 3rd gen TRD wheels on a 1st gen truck however, look awesome. Again, my opinion. Good luck. Good on ya for making an awesome older truck like this look nice again!

 

While I like the army green on the new toyotas, I personally dont think it fits well on 1st gens. Imperial jade mica is also a personal favorite for me on these trucks, its a meh color when its faded, but it looks so good with a fresh repaint.

 

Your estimates may be really low, assuming you're interested in another 20 years of ownership.

Before deciding on color, spend a bit of time getting written estimates from various shops.

 

Ford Eruption Green, because people will probably mistake it for imperial Jade Mica. I have seen a few 2dr Broncos in that color, sometimes it looks good, other times not as good. Maybe Ford has two shades of darker green?

 

It cost me 7500 to get my single cab repainted in socal. Your estimates are grossly underestimated

 

As others have said, a color change is going to be very noticeable any time you open the doors or hood, unless you opt for a (very expensive) full body paint job.

Also mentioned is the effects this would have on resale. If you don't plan on selling it any time soon, do whatever you want with it. If the different color on the door sills and inside the engine bay don't bother you, do it.

Another possibility is a wrap. Although from what I've seen, a good wrap job costs about as much as a decent paint job, but only lasts a few years, and you still have the same issues with the color not matching in the door sills.

 

painting top and sides won't show as bad as sides and not top.

Army green may look amateurish as it's flat. Those that will know will know. Most will think 'old'.

My expeirence has always been jinxed with paint jobs. Defects and accidents every frickin' time.

 

I just saw an Army Green 1st gen the other day and DAMN it looks good. I would definitely go Army Green.

 

Oh yea, that looks great. Not what I think of when someone says 'Army Green'. I guess I've never seen it before.

Looks like just as expensive as any other color though, I'd stick with original color if going for a nice paint job.

OP, you could take his lead and just do the top/roof yourself for a couple hundred. Do roof first cuz 'who cares' and then you'd know how for hood.

 

I met a guy here in STL a while back who wanted a Super White 040 100-series Land Cruiser, and got there by having the burgundy red one he found wrapped in white. Looked pretty good, I gotta say.

Have you looked into wrapping v painting?

 

Wrapping is still super expensive to have it done correctly. Looking at about 3-5k from what I've seen.
Could do it yourself but thats a ton of work as well, I have a friend thats a decal installer for emergency vehicles, he spent $800 on just material and multiple weekends to wrap his personal truck and its still not near as nice as paint.

 

It's my understanding a wrap needs a smoother surface to adhere to than paint.

Kind of kills the effectiveness knowing prep work is the biggest cost of a paint job.

 

Imperial Jade OE all day.

 

I like the AG, I may try DIYing it at some point for funsies, in the same boat with peeling IJM

As stated prior a member did it and it looks killer

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/painting-my-1st-gen.753993/

 

Thing is, new paint looks like new paint. Going original would look good too and probably hide a flub easier being metallic.