Hello,

I am looking at buying a 1997 850R. How do I tell if it really is an "R" version?

Thanks,

Sean

 

Here's a thread to show how to make sure it's an R ECU.
How to tell if I have an R ECU

The R only came in Red, White, and Black in 97. It has leather seats with atacama center sections.
Black R seats


White R seats



It should have a different front bumper and a larger rear spoiler.

Front bumper


Rear spoiler


Also, running a check on the VIN should tell you if it is an R.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

If it's an original 1996-97 R, it will have:

"58" as the 6th and 7th digits of the VIN.
The numbers "628" on the ECU per the above link.
Suede seat inserts with leather bolsters in either black or tan.
Suede door panel inserts with a leather "cap" on them.
Fake wood trim in dark walnut on black interior and birch on tan interior.
Steering wheel with interior color leather on the bottom.
Anthracite Volan 17" rims - though some cars came with 16" rims as a no cost option.
Front spoiler with fog lights.
850R emblem on the back.
Rear spoiler on sedans.
Some wagons will have a spoiler at the top of the hatch but not all. I think this was an option. My '96 wagon didn't have one.

That's basically it. Pretty easy to tell really. These cars aren't high dollar enough so that someone would go through the trouble of making a fake with enough detail to fool anyone who knows these cars.