V70r or not?

[Andz81]

I have just bought a 1997 v70 t5 and when I insured it they told me it is a v70r but I don't think it is. Can anyone tell me how I would know whether or not it is please?

[byootox]

Lots of differences to be honest if its an R
But some of the immediate ones are the dials in the instrument cluster are blue.
Front bumper has a spoiler on it at the bottom.
Top engine cover is blue.
The engine is a 2.5 rather than a 2.3, worth looking at the timing belt cover for the engine ID label to confirm.
Generally there loaded with all the toys like both front seats being electric.
Insurance companies regularly get models wrong.
I had an Astra G , Irish import which effectively made it a very basic model, the insurance company tried to say it was a model above what it was...
Some of the guys on here might be able to help with specifics if you can give the chassis plate details.
What does your V5 document say on it ?

[IC]

Originally Posted by Andz81

I have just bought a 1997 v70 t5 and when I insured it they told me it is a v70r but I don't think it is. Can anyone tell me how I would know whether or not it is please?

Hi, here's a post I wrote way back in 2011, I hope that it may be of some use:

V70R/S70R Specifications 1997/1998

The question of S70/V70R specifications comes up so often. I have indicated in some cases what items were also available on a T5 as an option. The R series were/are top of the range cars with almost all options as standard (in the case of the Classic range discussed here). The T5 is of course an engine option that has associated upgrades that come with the engine option (not a series like the R). The fwd T5 of this generation have front and rear shock absorber kits as standard. The part number for the front shock absorber kit is 9204 141 and the rear is 9204 142, many T5s have the 302 front discs. The T5 option has the Perfo 16" alloy as standard and a different gearbox to the 2.5 engined cars with the same manual ratios as the R.

What the '97/'98 R has as standard
An asterix beside a listing means that the item/s were R only. The four wheel drive aspects of the V70R AWD are not discussed here.

Comet 205 45 17" alloys in silver bright or anthracite (T5 has 205 50 16" Perfo alloys as standard)*
R leather and alcantara heated electric seats with driver memory (grey or beige)*
Rear safety nets that pull out of back seats (option on T5)
Matching front and back leather door cards (available on CD spec T5)
R Aluminium dash trim(3 part) - option of wood with matching gear stick and steering wheel (not an option at the time, however run-out Classics in 2000 may have aluminium dash).
Climate control (available on CD spec T5)
Blue-backed instrument dials*
Information centre
Leather gear stick (if wood option trim matching auto wood gear stick)
Electric Glass Sunroof
Illuminated driver's vanity mirror
R logo mats*
Door kick plates (available on CD spec T5)
Pre-wiring for rear 6 CD changer* (option on T5)
SC 900 RDS Stereo 3 disc cartridge CD/radio (option on T5)
50 watt stereo amplifier (option on T5)
Pull-out cups holders in central armrest (available on CD spec T5)
limited slip diff (Viscous Coupling)* (Manuals only)
Traction Control - TRACS
Lowered R suspension (lowered sports suspension was available as an option on the T5)
Stronger anti-roll bars
Rear Nivomat suspension (keeps ride height consistent when carrying loads) on estate
Folding down rear bumper protector
Manual has 18T turbo/automatic has 16T turbo (T5 has 16T)
R front bumper (different lip spoiler to standard bumper) with different design plastic grilles*
R leather and alcantara driver's wheel (alcantara is a synthetic material)*
Rear pull out material bumper protector (estate) (option on T5)
Headlight wash/wipe (available on CD spec T5)
Colours:
Black Stone 019
Nautic Blue (pearl) 417
Silver Metallic 426
Garnet Red (metallic) 428
Saffron (pearl) 435

The manual is 250 bhp and the automatic 240 bhp. (The manual '97/'98 T5 is 240bhp)

*The 18T of the manual R will give better performance than the 16T of the automatic.
*The manual Rs have a better official 0-60 time and a slightly higher top speed than the automatic.
*The manual T5 is faster than the automatic R (just a few tenths of a second!).
*The AWD cars are heavier and slower than the front wheel drive cars, especially in automatic. __________________ __________________

[Andz81]

Thanks for the replies,it definitely looks like it's not an r from what you have said.

[ITSv40]

Ask your local dealer for the car's spec. If they are anything like mine they will be able to give you a print out of the as built spec and the designation.