Daughters first car - 9-3 Saab 2008 rusty wings

[saxon]

Hi there,

Hoping someone can help - My daughter's first car is a 2008 Saab 9-3 convertible which truth be told was a bit of a wreck when we bought it rather foolishly at a distance. We've finally got it sorted mechanically (at rather more cost to Dad than I hoped!) but the drivers side wheelarch has a rust patch at the top about 2 inches by half an inch. There's mild paint bubbling on the two rear arches too. The other front arch is fine because it was resprayed after a minor accident last year. I did suggest (because I'm sick of putting my hand in my pocket on this car!) that maybe we should sell it and buy a nice boring but reliable Focus or Aygo but she was rather upset at this idea so here we are calling on the bank of Dad again!

I'd like to get the remaining 3 wings attended too. I have been advised that for the front it will be best to just buy a decent front arch from a breakers and have it resprayed. For the rears these can hopefully be sanded, treated, filled and sprayed in situ.

My intention with this car was to see her through university and into her first job with a fun, cheap, safe and reliable little motor and she loves it to bits but it's never going to be a concourse car so it doesn't need to be an Aston Martin worthy paint job.

If anybody can give me some idea of the costs involved and maybe recommend some decent sprayers who won't charge the earth I would be most grateful.

We're in the South East but I have mates in Bristol and Suffolk and don't mind travelling to a decent place that will do a fair job for a fair price.

Many thanks,

Saxon

[Demelitia]

Rather than finding an arch and having it resprayed, there’s the simpler but not necessarily eadier option of finding one in the right colour.
The paint costs are hard to judge; there’s quite a few variables that can quickly turn a cheap job in to an expensive one.

The best thing to do will be to drive around a few paint shops and see what the range of prices are like.

[Belle427]

Will probably cost more than the car is worth but all depends on how bad the rust is really.
Not sure what pattern wings are like for these but may be an option as second hand ones may have the same issues.
Obviously if not done properly the rust will come back fairly quickly.

[QJumper]

I'd also be wary of the other front arch, as the respray could be hiding anything that might appear over time.

Personally I'd sell it and move on, as whatever you spend will possibly be more than the car's worth and, unless done properly (expensively) will mean that it'll be lost money, as the car won't be worth much when you do finally come to sell it.

That said, if you're determined to do it, depending on where you are in SE, I've used B&R Autos in Brentford, and they were pretty good.