The 17 Digit VIN Code is to ISO 3779.
Digits 1 is the Country of manufacture.
Digits 2 & 3 is the Manufacturer Identifier.
Digits 4 to 9 are the Vehicle Descriptor category. This identifies the model and country compliance standards it was built to.
Digit 10 is the Year it was manufactured. W is 1998.
Digit 11 is sometimes the actual factory (and possibly which line in the factory) the car was assembled at.
Digits 12 to 17 (and sometimes including Digit 11) is the unique serial number of that particular car.
In answer to the OP's (old) question, the W in the 10th position indicates it was made in 1998.