ayap888

Click the link below and your VIN is there:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...01-022-04.html


The dealer could have reflashed it but dont be too sure. I got mine and I know it's been sitting on the lot for awhile. I called Mazda and Mazda said the dealer did not reflash it. So, I took it to the dealer (after I bought the car).

Tayninh

Looks like I am ok then. The car was built June 04. The dealer had to get it out of state from Texas. I am in Colorado.

bmcc49er

My 8 is a Oct 03 build date. I have gotten just under 20 MPGs on every fillup. I had them do the M flash and ac TSB before pickup and the vin cancelled out most of the other tsbs out there. I expect to top 20 mpgs soon. Very close today's fillup. I have washed the car numerous times and zero rust on the roters. Only problems so far(fingers crossed) missing grommet and rear defrost button cracked. Will be getting those fixed at first free service...

ayap888

Just make sure because your VIN number is within the VIN range of the advisory. it's possible that it was built earlier but delivered recently. I have two dates on my car ... the first is when it was built and the other is when it was delivered to the US (I think).

Tayninh

Yeah the defrost buttons seem to be a problem with many RX-8. I looked at mine today and so far they look fine. No hub rust yet but my car is only a few days old. Its an 04

mysql101

don't worry about hub rust. It will happen to every rx8. In fact, within 5 mins of washing your car, you'll see rust form on the rotors. It's due to the materials used, not because of a defect.

Tayninh

I checked and my VIN is higher than the M-flash range. The car responds well and have not had a flood yet but I always let it warm up before shutting it off. Car had 7 miles on it on Thurday and now it has 124 on it. Still breaking it in.

Astral

Bah, I'm all worried now. heh... I'm thinking everything will be OK, and I'll try the mileage test (I think I'll try 30 miles... afraid to ask for 50, you know, before signing on the dotted line).

No easy sleep for me tonight, heh..

Tayninh

Astral: Sounds like a good car. Sorry to hear you put so much miles on any car a year. I would try to get the highest grade tires I can considering the winter driving up in your area. You should keep this car for 200,000 miles if you change the oil per the miles in the manual. Might need to go for the all weather floor mats to keep the original mats clean and in good condition.

Rob Tomlin

I sold my FD today, so I will be shopping this week. There is only one car anywhere within 100 miles of me that even comes close to what I want. So my question is this: I can get the VIN number from the Mazda website, but how can you tell what the build date is from the VIN?

mysql101

My vin is in the 127000 area, and it was made in Dec. 2003. Pick any car with a VIN larger than that.

Tayninh

My VIN is in the 1400000 area and it has a build date of June 04. Not sure how to read the VIN for made date

mysql101

heh. It's really the last 5 digits that matter, the ones you turned to 0's

RenoIV

Rob,
I'm not sure you can get a list... If the car is nearby look at the sticker on the driver's side it has the build date. Open the door and look at the sticker on the right side.
Too bad you parted with your FD ... Great car!!

Astral

He probably only meant to type 4 zeros there, since serial numbers start with 1.

Rob Tomlin

I agree that the FD is a great car. I will miss her greatly. That being said, its not the most practical car, or the most reliable for that matter.

I had her for 7 years. I put about 45k miles on her, and paid $18,000.00 for her. Sold it for $14,700. So I lost $472.00 per year of ownership. Not too bad! I defy anyone to do better than that.

Thanks for the info re the build dates/VIN number.

I am in the same situation as the original poster. I MUST have the NAV system, and it must be Velocity Red MT with GT package (preferably black leather, but I could accept the Red too).

There just are not many cars that fit this criteria. Those that do, also have a bunch of stuff that I DONT want, just as Jason indicated.

So unless I get a great deal on one (to offset paying for things I don't want such as the app. package) I will just have to order an 05.

Rob Tomlin

Ok, here is the VIN of the car I will be looking at. Based on Jason's post, it would appear this car was made some time in 2004, correct?

JM1FE173540140813

G8rboy

Definitely...

Astral

BTW, when I asked them to check the miles, they said that the battery was discharged, and so they had to hook up the charger to it to check the miles. Now, the sales guy who tried it didn't know that you had to turn past accessory and into "on" to see the miles, so maybe he just never turned the key all the way and presumed the battery dead.

However, I wonder, in case the battery was indeed dead, whether the discharging is bad for the battery. Like, if it's done once (I can only assume), is it bad? Should I demand a new battery or just go get the battery replaced when it fails? I'm concerned that it will fail in a cold winter or something.

basisguy

Here is some info I collected on the VIN's when buying my 8. Most of it pertains to the earlier numbers.

JM1FE17**40124611 -- built before 11-12-2003
JM1FE17**40100053 -- 401116133 April 10, 2003 - Aug 29, 2003
JM1FE17**40100053 -- 401131563 April 10, 2003 - Jan 28, 2004
JM1FE17**40100001 -- 401118171 Up to 9/11/03 production
JM1FE17**40100001 -- 40135536 Vehicles prior to March 12, 2004
JM1FE17**40113721 -- Before August 7, 2003

G8rboy

I wouldn't worry too much about that- many of the cars I looked at had weak or dead batteries, especially the showroom models... I also had to have mine jumped to get it out of the showroom. My battery stayed strong all of last winter, including a week of 10-15 below zero mornings.

Rob Tomlin

Got my 8 today! Pick it up tomorrow.

VIN 140811, build date was June 04.

The salesman knew all about the M flash and other issues when I asked about the build date.

I'm a happy camper!

bmcc49er

Congrats Rob! Had mine since 15 Sept. Cleaned this car more in 2 weeks then all my cars owned combined Just went to the store because its so fun to drive. Any other time I would have waited until I was out doing something else to stop by the store. Its just a pleasure to drive, esp. at night. Love the interior lights while driving. Had this kid burn rubber in front of me. Followed him a little bit but he didn't want any Since I have owned it I get a serious amount of revved engines my way, esp ricers?? And the looks, enjoy!

mysql101

Rob, congrats! Did you get exactly what you were looking for? What options, price, etc?

Rob Tomlin

Thanks guys. Really glad to "officially" be part of the club now!

I got everything that I wanted (and some things that I didn't want).

Velocity Red MT, GT package, NAV system, Black leather. Came with the Appearance package which I didn't want at all since I will be getting MS body kit. Also came with 6 CD changer which I didn't really want to pay extra for, but I wont exactly mind having it either! :D

Depending on whose figures you believe, I got it for either $650 under invoice (my figure based on Edmunds) or $800 invoice based on their figure (they showed me their invoice, but I didn't look that closely).

I wasn't going to haggle too much over a coupe hundred bucks, especially since I received a $500.00 rebate form from Mazda in the mail several weeks ago that I applied to the purchase of the car! This promotion was for prior owners of Mazda vehicles (I also own a 2002 Protege5).

Got my own financing at 3.65% through Auto Club (3 year loan). After putting down $15,000.00 (with the help from the cash with the sale of the FD) my payments will be less than $550 a month. Purchase price was $30, 850.00

I'm happy!

Still having some very slight second thoughts on the color....as I was leaving the dealers lot, this Sunlight Silver really caught my eye! Then again, I had my Silver FD for 7 years, so time for a different color!