He's bought a car and can't get to the engine easily?

You sure you're not just checking up on him to see if it's the grown-up gay's version as opposed to the little boy gay's version?

The stop light you mentioned wasn't standard on VVCs until 1997. In standard trim the VVC should have [over the boggo 1.8] ABS, a stitched leather steering wheel and PAS as standard from launch [wasn't standard on the 1.8 until end of 97].

If he can check the steering wheel, or see the stop light, he can pop the engine cover and get the definitive answer!