Laquered or not

[Biggles456]

Looking at faded paint on a Red 2004 Fiesta. Would this have been laquered or not. Will it come back with a good T cut and polish or is it done? First car for my lad who’s at Uni. and for the youngest to learn in. Thanks in advance. 

[alanfp]

I'm not an expert, but I THINK that solid colours didn't have lacquer , so T-cut should work. But I'd suggest trying somewhere inconspicuous first (you know, like when you apply Grecian 2000 to your hair 😁).

[isetta]

I don’t know the answer. In the past I always thought that non-metallic had no clear lacquer but I recall my in-laws getting a new 1991 rover 216gti in non-metallic red and  a few years later clear lacquer starting peeling in a few places .   As per other reply, just try it. 

[TomsFocus]

Colorado red on Mk6's is lacquered.

We'd really need a picture to see what's happened to it.  These don't usually go pink like some other cars!

[Matt Alsop]

If it's faded or gone dull I suspect it's not lacquered. If you try some T-cut and you see some red appearing on the cloth you are using quite quickly then there was no clear lacquer. I have used T-cut carefully on lacquered finishes including my current car which is a race red Fiesta and it does still work for dealing with light scratches or damage from bird "waste". You just need to be careful and polish by hand instead of using an electric polisher if you are going to T-cut a lacquered finish.