The biggest determinant of final quality is the prep that goes into the job - the sanding and body work. This part is labor intensive and therfore expensive. Will they tape things off, have you got is disassembled, etc? These details will make a difference in the cost and quality.

The part of the country you are in makes a difference. IS the painter going to do this in his home shop or a pro shop with all the good air filtration and such? (better, but will cost more)

Does the price include the final buffing?

The last car i paid to have painted cost me $1000. Retired friend of my father in law. I was very disappointed. the prep work was fine, the overspray on the leather interior, on the engine and inner fenders was VERY VERY VERY disappointing, to say the least. It was a tape job (no chrome was removed) and i was very pleased with that part of the work.

The paint is not the expensive part, so i'd say $2500 is fair to low price wise, assuming you get a god job.

See if you can look at other cars he has done and talk with the owners and see what they paid and how it turned out.