The compnine.com VIN decoder lists my base color as 98U "EXTERIOR COLOR, PRIMARY, BLACK SAPPHIRE METALLIC (98U)" However, I know for a fact that 98U is Bright Blue Metallic (or WA9591). My car has always been blue, not black. Does compnine have a lot of these mistakes? I'm wondering what else is wrong with the list...

 

Can't blame it on compnine. They are only using the GM records of VINs. If the result is wrong, then GM had it wrong.

 

That's what I figured. Pretty big mistake for GM to make. What!? GM making mistakes in the early 90's. Unheard of!

 

Compnine is very rarely correct about how they actually DECODE paint colors. The paint code will always be right, but I've found that the corresponding color they list is almost always wrong. I run probably 20 or so 1997-10 Corvette VIN's through compnine every week under our dealer package.

 

Good to know. Thanks.

 

The problem is the definition of the RPO, not the RPO itself. This is a common problem when using a master RPO code definition list because many RPO codes were recycled. Not exactly a problem with GM, but a problem with the definition that Compnine is using.

This is also why we're working on a new RPO Decoder program that is only based on Firebird and Camaro data, per Third Gen year, to eliminate an issue such as this.

Just to demonstrate, I looked up the code 98U in my 1998 GM RPO book. It's a published GM book. It shows 98U for the following:

98U Exterior, Raspberry Metallic (95)
98U Exterior, Eggplant (96) (Saturn)
98U Exterior, Cream White (99)
98U Exterior, White Corona (97) (GM MEX)

Just one of many examples where GM reused the same RPO code throughout the years.

 

Out of curiosity, how far along is the TGO decoder? Looking forward to its completion.