# 2007 Toyota Prius - Paint it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota\ **Created:** [December 13, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627 "2019-12-13T18:07:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nancy43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5e925/32.png) [@Nancy43](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nancy43)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627/1 "2019-12-13T18:07:46Z")
My Prius has never required a major repair, usual maintenance done, 50 k miles, in city driving only. Since the car lives outdoors, the paint lacquer is peeling. How do I determine if it is $$$ cost effective to have the car painted? I know within a year I will need to replace tires and shocks. I do not know a mechanic. I feel if I took the car to Toyota for evaluation they would want me to get a new Prius which is definitely not happening. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627/2 "2019-12-13T18:12:34Z")
> [@Nancy43](#): > > How do I determine if it is $$$ cost effective to have the car painted? I know within a year I will need to replace tires and shocks. You have a body shop give you an price and then you decide if you want to do that . Don’t waste your time going to the dealer as you are out of the warranty period. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627/3 "2019-12-13T18:23:15Z")
> [@Nancy43](#): > > Since the car lives outdoors, the paint lacquer is peeling Perfectly normal for a 13 year old car. As long as it is just the clear that is peeling, you can ignore it if you don’t mind driving a rather tatty looking car. Only consider fixing it only to satisfy yourself. It won’t matter for resale on a car this old no matter how many miles are on the odometer. ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627/4 "2019-12-13T20:49:01Z")
I love the advice above. A well-painted old car is a hassle. I’d learn to love it for what it is. Warts and all. Doing cosmetic work on a 12 year old vehicle seems like it will end in disappointment. Save the money for the tires and don’t replace the shocks unless you have a trusted mechanic tell you why they need to be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Nancy43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5e925/32.png) [@Nancy43](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nancy43)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627/5 "2019-12-13T21:03:21Z")
Thank you everyone. Guess I will just drive a really, really tatty car. Nanc ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627/6 "2019-12-13T21:19:16Z")
Good luck Nancy. I do have one comment. For me, fresh paint on an older car is a red flag, what is being covered up? ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2007-toyota-prius-paint-it/154627/7 "2019-12-13T21:42:26Z")
How long do you plan to keep the car if nothing major fails?