Yes paint and bodywork is not cheap.If you use good materials that will cost you an arm and a leg too.
True, materials have gone through the roof, paint is really expensive compared to about 10 years ago, I do my own body and paint, because I know that no one is pickier then me about my own car, if you have a place to paint, it's not as hard as you think. There are alot of resources out there, it will take some practice, and you will make mistakes, but if you have any mechanical ability at all it can be done. If not, you will pay the big buck's to have someone else do it, just like doing anything on your house!
Jeff
