Vin Code # Significance

I've been scouring a few dealer web sites looking for cabs and checking serial #'s to determine the age of the car. Reason being the longer it's been on the lot- the better chance of getting a better deal. I understand the meaning of all the VIN #digits except for the 9th digit. I believe it is an NTSA code # but I can't determine what the difference is between the #'s. Does anyone know why one car will have a 2 , another will have a 7, and another will have an X etc? They could be just fillers but that does not make sense.

Here's my understanding of the VIN, using a 2002 Carrera coupe as an example: W = West Germany P0 = Porsche A = Coupe A = Destination America 2 = Restraint System: Manual Seat Belts w/ Dual SRS Airbags 99 = First and Second Digits of Type: 99 of 996 3 = Test/Check Digit 2 = Model Year: 2002 S = Build City: Stuttgart 6 = Third Digit of Type: 6 of 996 2 = Body Engine Code: US Carrera 0592 = Serial Number The last 3 digits will tell you which car (of same type) was produced earlier.

There was a discussion regarding decoding the 996 VIN in March on this forum. You may want to search for the thread. According to the info I have, the Ninth position is simply a check digit per NHTSA code. I don't have any specific info on what a number or letter means, if anything. I hope that helps.

I did try to find a thread in the search engine but I came up empty. The 9th digit may mean nothing but it is bizzare that there appears no rhyme or reason for the digit that is used, but every other # has a unique meaning.

Fantod: I did a quick search and found this. It still doesn't answer your question but is good guide to break down the VIN. I found it when I did a search under VIN # decoding. Credit goes to DavidinPDX. VIN breakdown Porsche Model 99 6 (996) Example --- WP0AA2992XS621365 First and Second Position WP = Porsche Third Position 0 = Sports Car 1 = SUV Fourth Position � Model Type A = 911 coupe, 911 Carrera 2,4, 911 turbo coupe, 924S coupe, 928 S4 coupe (1991), 944 coupe, 944S coupe, 944 turbo coupe, Cayenne B = 911 Carrera 2,4 Targa C = 911 Carrera 2,4 cabriolet, Boxster D = 911 Targa (M.Y. 1996 on) E = 911 Targa + cabriolet, 911 turbo, Targa, cabriolet (prior to M.Y. 1989) J = 928 S4 coupe, 911 turbo coupe Fifth Position � Engine Type A = normally aspirated, V6 Cayenne B = Boxster �S�, V8 Cayenne C = Turbo Sixth Position � Restraint System 0 = Active 2 = Passive Ninth Position � Check Digit Per NHTSA code Tenth Position � Model Year B = 1981 L = 1990 Y = 2000 C = 1982 M = 1991 1 = 2001 D = 1983 N = 1992 2 = 2002 E = 1984 P = 1993 3 = 2003 F = 1985 R = 1994 4 = 2004 G = 1986 S = 1995 5 = 2005 H = 1987 T = 1996 6 = 2006 J = 1988 V = 1997 7 = 2007 K = 1989 W = 1998 8 = 2008 X = 1999 9 = 2009 Eleventh Position � Production Plant N = Neckarsulm S = Stuttgart U = Finland (Boxster) Thirteenth through Seventeenth Position series number Porsche Models 911 477 (924/924S) 928 (928/928S/S4) 930 (911 turbo) 944 (944,944S) 951 (944 turbo) 964 (911 C2, C4, M.Y. 1989 � 1994) 993 (911 M.Y. 1995 � 1998) 993 (911 turbo M.Y. 1996 � 1997) 996 (911 M.Y. 1999 � on ) 986 (Boxster) 9PA (Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo)

See: http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/NHTSA_vehicle_identification_number_content.html About half-way down it shows how to calculate the 9th digit from the rest of the VIN, to ensure the integrity of the entire VIN.