Chrysler Repair: Body Paint Repair Cost, chrysler sebring, support pillars

Question
I'm thinking about buying a Chrysler Sebring from a private party.  We are currently deliberating over the price of the vehicle, but I don't want to buy it without knowing how much the repairs will cost.  It is in very good condition overall, but it seems this current owner had a tendancy to put stuff on the roof of the car, causing several scratches.  Some scratches are very minor, but one is deep enough to feel.  Do you have a rough idea of how much it costs to buff out and repair an area approx 12"x12"?  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Emily,
I can't give you a specific cost estimate but let me offer a couple of comments. To make a repair that looks unremarkable you will find that the entire roof of the car will need to be prepared and painted so that there is not an obvious color difference in the repaired area. Usually you will want there to be an unnoticeable seam between the new area and the original painted area where the panel becomes narrow (at the base of the roof support pillars, for example). Otherwise it will look quite clearly like a patch job.
I think the least expensive approach would be to ask at a franchise shop that specializes in repainting (Maaco or Scheib) and inquire as to the amount that you might expect to pay to just have the roof repainted and the scratches filled and properly primed so the new paint will adhere.
Because they have paint jobs for the entire car that are reasonably good in quality and longevity in the range of $750, I would guess you could get the roof done for under $400, depending more on how much time is required to deal with the scratches then anything else. We had a '91 VW completely repainted several years ago at Maaco at a cost of about $900 with maybe $100 of that for minor body work. The paint is adhering well and we chose to keep the identical body color so the interior paint on the door frames, etc. is not a giveaway of the repaint.
That $400 probably the range of cost that you will need to anticipate. I would not go to a conventional body shop unless you are prepared to spend a good deal more, perhaps more than the price of the car? (You didn't say what year Sebring it was and what was the price you might pay.) Let me know how you move ahead on this, and good luck with your bargaining. Used is a good way to go if the condition of the vehicle mechanically is sound.
Roland