If your a beginner, I wouldn't suggest a single stage with metallic in it. Whatever it looks like, you have to live with it, because you cant buff single stage metallic paint jobs, you'll wreck it.
Basecoat is easier to spray, you can fix a bad spot, wet sand it, and then spray on more base. The trick is to spray on the clear good. Start in places like under side of the deck lid, or the floors until you get the hang of it.
When I paint a car, I usually go through about a gallon and a half for the entire car, but that's 5 coats of color and then 5 coats of clear.
When I paint a car the paint products costs me any where from $700.00 to about $1500.00 depending on what color, single stage or base/clear etc.........
I've been restoring and painting cars for 21 years, what i have always said is " anyone can paint a car, but what makes you a real good painter, is knowing what to do if you run into troubles".
Here is a link to a good website, it's got a lot of good stuff on it.
http://autobodystore.com/forum/index.php
Good luck with the project, and keep us posted!
