I know this is kind of a lame question, but I was hoping other Shinka owners or any one on this forum might have an answer.

Out of the 2150 Shinka's made, how do I know what number mine is?
Have any other owners wondered this? I would have thought that since it was a limited number they would have said.

Thank you!

 

you know what? I've been thinking about this too. How come Mazda never gave me a certificate-like paper stating my Shinka is number###? You think for a limited edition run they would give you something substantial.

 

I believe it's in your VIN. I'm not sure but I think the last 3 or 4 digits.

 

The VIN's did not specify the Shinka from any other car..

It would be nice if they broke it out that way.

 

I thought about that after I posted above.

 

Clueless..all I know is my date of manufacture is March.

Also, I was told there were only about 1,000 produced, NOT the 2150 as planned due to the plant problem. Anyone know the truth of just how many were produced?

 

the less the better...

 

I heard the same thing from a dealer, but I think it was a sales ploy. From everything I have read on Mazda, the RX-8 production was only SLOWED because of a fire in the #2 plant. It doesn't appear to have limited the production. I had one dealership say yes it did, and one say no it didn't. I am personally leaning towards the no it didn't limit them because the dealership that said it did was a higher price.

 

The Shinka and its' production volume was announced back in February well after the fire. But, you're right, the number has been slightly modified -- 1,357 Shinkas have been shipped to the US. Production stopped the first week of April. But it had nothing to do with the fire, and was probably due to very lackluster sales this year on the RX-8 as a whole and the fact that Shinkas seemed to be building up on the lots pretty quickly. Whether that means the number will never reach 2150, or whether those 2150 were shipped elsewhere in the world, I don't know. Mazda didn't make it clear whether that 2150 was the total production or the US allocation only.

I guess it'd be cool to have some sort of certificate, but, despite the hype, the Shinka really isn't that limited; 1357 Shinkas is 10% of US sales. Some of the dealers around here still have as many as a half-dozen on the lot, and there's more Shinkas on lots in the area than Nordic Greens or Winning Blues, and almost as many as there are Titanium Greys.

But, if you really want to know your Shinka's number, I can help you out. I can't give you a certificate though

Just get your VIN and then go here:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...on_Numbers.pdf

 

Here's the listing of all Shinka production. Find your VIN and you'll find out what numner you are....

I have lucky number 1111 out of 1357 total. 513 Autos and 844 Manuals

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...on_Numbers.pdf

 

Woot 989!! Kinda cool to have a number to put to it.

I wish dealerships wouldn't have treated them so damn special then. :p
I had a hell of a time trying to get a test drive on a car that I was planning to buy anyway and had the finances to prove it. Oh well, I got it, I am happy with it even though I could have probably paid less...live and learn!

BTW, how did you find it on that website, I really looked good I thought...lol

 

A Google for "2005 Shinka Production" brings it up first hit.

 

Same born on date, LI !! but I'm I'm 8 units YOUNGER!!!

1119

 

:o I tried to look for it on the site itself
:Time to hide in shame, damn that google!:

 

There was a member here from Guam who got flamed because he's got the black cherry mica 8 with parchment leather and yet he does not know if he bought a Shinka. It seems that the rest of the missing shinkas got debadged as such and shipped somewhere else to be sold as regular 8s. I guess like Sigma said it does not make sense for Mazda to sell the whole run here if sales numbers are down...

BTW, my car sticker says it was built in 11/04 yet the list Sigma gave us states my car was manufactured 12/13/04 as Shinka #748.

 

Mine isn't exposed to that strong NM sun, so she's not showing her age as much.

 

I think our car is still more special than otherwise suggested. You have to look past the current year production and instead look at the overall production life of the car. Even with pessimistic RX-8 factory projections, 1,357 is still damn exclusive to me IMO.

 

I agree, plus every group of people needs a few elite within that group. :p

 

:p Well, LI, mine isn't exposed to that salt air!! Not to mention, I get much more of a glow factor being that we actually SEE the sun out here! You should bring it on out and see how it was REALLY meant to look under a clear blue sky!! :D


..and yes, even though I'm going to enlighten my dealer when I take this "baby" in for her first check-up, it's still special!

 

Prabably due to being too close to Sandia National Laboratory, huh? :D

 

Survey sez... #116. 11/17/04.

 

Excellent.. thanks for the link. Mine's #233, 22NOV04. Uh oh... a Monday car....

 

I'd rather have a Monday car than a Friday car. :D

 

Thanks for the info! I am lucky #13!!

 

:D :D :D