another thing to look for is the exhaust. if the exhaust is stock, then the pipes on a turbo car (94~96 turbo, 95 t5r, 96~97 r, 97 r, 97 glt) will have a square exhaust tip

Thanks for the information! I still feel like a speed demon in my 850 GLT!

Christopher in San Francisco

Just like Rick, I also have a '97 850R (Black) and baby she is so sweeeet!!! I would just like to add to Rick's comments on the "R" model....every rice boy in their civcs or integras likes to line up on you on the light, rev up their silly grossed out rice cookers and see who is the quickest. Boy, they sure get disappointed and pissed when that high pressured turbo comes on and they eat dust. Lots of it!!!!!

I own a 97 850-R. The best way to tell the difference is to drive one if you can and then immediately after drive a GLT model.

I bought from new a 94 base model 5spd 850 and sold it to buy this car new. I like both very much, however I still wish that Volvo engineers had put more emphasis on a softer suspension for the R and T5R. I believe the harsh suspension is its biggest drawback, but I like this car a lot. And now there are plenty of new cars on the road boasting hp ratings that make the R look slow. It's all relative.

The differences are: The R is much faster; The R has alcantra leather seats-meaning suede leather insets--which I prefer because it keeps me from sliding around in the seat; 17" wheels-different designs for different years; rear spoiler-different designs for years, although some of the turbos also came with spoilers; Wood laminate trim-if you could call it that; 240 hp vs 222 for the standard turbo vs 190 for the light pressure turbo vs 168 for my stock 5spd; Special front air dam; and Most of all----A hefty price tag-$39995 new--luckily I didn't pay that.

Rick in Denver

165hp for the glt 240 for the "R" plus 17" wheels and handling package,

The "R" of the T5R are Volvos version of the bmw M.

I would love to own a "R"