I agree with HGW and Phil.
If You paint go to something different but it will be costly to do it right. Use a skilled master of which few exsist anymore but, just a good panter could run as high as $4000 to $10,000 depending on what You want done and how right You want it to be. Cost of paint is not why it is so expensive but, it is the labor that makes up most of the cost. All this has to be done by hand especially a complete color change. i would not even do one if I could not do it right. I would not want someone asking who in the world did that and get a bum rap because it was the customers choice. Now there are plenty out there that will becuase they are looking at short term and changing business names and moving across town. Allot will shoot You a low ball but, paint will stop at door edges etc. If We just do a graphic on an existing paint We pull door panels and make graphic go all the way into the door jam and disappear behind door panel. Most cut it of at the door edge and looks cheap. We want graphic to follow rider into the car. We pull most all the interior out for a full paint change and paint enything that could have red on it. Thus allot more money. If they do it right they will remove allot of the interior to get rid of factory paint. Have You thought about the fact the engine bay is color matched to ext. That has to all be done and everythig that can be removed and then that which cannot has to be taped up. I'm chroming the metal in the inside of My engine bay all away around the engine and all the way around the outside of the engine bay where hood closes and You do not see it except at shows. It is taking us a whole week to do this just so that We do not miss covering gray where We want it covered. We are not even covering all the gray because it is just impossbible to do so without pulling engine out. So We developed a patern to blend the gray into the scheme. Think about 2 guys for a week just to get the engine bay to match the outside color change. Next if You paint, keep good records and should You sell get a carfax immediately as it will be looked at as salvaged so it can hurt the value repainting it if not documented properly. I'm intentionally putting a scare in You because it is a daunting task and expensive. You would be better trading for a new one. WE do this every day on tuner and rice rockets, as well as Hummers and I know what it takes to do it and the cost for an H2 would be ridiculous. I'm just fortunate Mine is done by My guys. But, We know not to paint the whole H2 thus We are using pearl in clear to work with gray and a patern that I will not mention because i do not know who I will be competing agianst. But We are sure it has not been seen before just like most of the other stuff We are doing. One of a kind that We built. Just to scare You more My show ride will have $100,000 in it with sponsor's money and some are here in this forum and most national companies or I would not be able to afford it. Included and the paint is going on at the same time We are making all the other goodies on it and installing. We have been working on it for 1 month now and I have driven it one day because i could not stand it anymore and have another 2 to 3 weeks to go before i take it into south Texas for a big show if We finish paint in time. If NOt I will skip and try for the next weekend if not I will skip. Our goal is HGW and WoO sprint Hummer competition in Pittsburgh. I do not care if I make another show as long as I'm ready for that one. I'm hauling My baby 15 hours to gee there so distance should not be someone's excuse for not going. Soory for the side track just wanted to promote the big show. I need some competion there.
It really is very hard and We are not even changing colors but being very careful with the pearl and halogram in the pearl.
So paint is High.
What I recommend is taking the ride a to good techie paint shop and let them photoshop different colors and schemes and let Her set there and make choices. This way She can not be mad at You. We photoshop evey customer and even add chrome acc. on it so they can see what it looks like. The red lends itself to look good with allot of chrome.
Now all that is the hard way. Find out what colors she does like. If it is silver which would work real good with what i'm going to suggest but, many colors will work just depending on her preference. Let's take silver. You can have rig wet sanded and a heavy or light silver pearl, white pearl which is absolutely beautiful, add to clear coat and that can be photoshoped to see how much to use before doing it, but it can almost change the color without changing the color. It is easier but, make sure they go inside the door and remove kick plates and door panels so it follows the rider into the ride.
We photo shop everyone to get a good idea of what they want and help them to be happy. Like I said many colors would work here. Do not change the color of the original. To costly and the pearl and silver in clear is simplier and still title looks good with out explanation and You both get to go through the process together.
She will be very happy and love the H2.
I went through this fast but, if You want to talk more I will be glad to help. PM Me at rltazh2.
Oh they even have a halogram material that can be added to clear and it will change colors as You walk by. You do not use a rainbow holgram but, they make halogram in different shades to accent the base color of Your ride. I would say so many different varieties of holgram that You can think of. They mix several different that would look good on Your red.
Well hope I have been helpful.
In fact evryone is on holiday but, if You like et some accent colors in mind and i will have My partner do some photoshop for You just to get you started. We have pearl accents in Our data base. In fact if You waite a few weeks We had a paint company come buy and had seen Our work and asked to replace everything We got including partial used paint if We would switch to their system. So We are. Plus they are going to send what ever i need to paint My show girl and We have a holgram in mind We are not good enaough or anhyone We know of for a wide radius around but, they are thinking about sending their air b ruch guy to us to do it to be a sponsor of the girl. I will help the best We can but, I mention the change because it is going to be costlier paint but, many more choices and less waste.
Sorry for the side track i just hate to see a Forum buddie go out and spend money and hate it.
I forgot go to veilside.com/veilsideusa/aero/Hyundai/Tiburon.htm
This is a year model of Tiburon I hate, but look at how nice it is. My daughter wanted a white one and after We finished with blue pearl in the clear along with this bodykit I figured I better wait to see the finished project before cutting out any idea on a project. So if You can make a tiburon look decent i believe now after this experience you can make anything look good if not hot. Click on the pics and see the difference the Tiburon almost disappeared but, the same thing can be done with just adding to the clear coat on You red H2. It will just change the color enough that it is there but, not.
TAZ