Evaluating Japanese Auction Sheet Grades

The overall condition of the car is graded from 0 to 5 (sometimes S):

• 1. :
• 2. Grade S / 5: Brand new or near-mint condition, usually under 10,000 km.
• 3. Grade 4.5: Excellent condition with minor scratches.
• 4. Grade 4: Very good condition, clean body, and moderate mileage.
• 5. Grade 3.5: Good average condition, may require minor body touch-ups.
• 6. Grade 3: High mileage, worn interior, or visible paint defects.
• 7. Grade R / RA: Accident repaired vehicle.

The auction sheet contains a drawing of the car marked with letters and numbers indicating damage location and severity:

• 1. :
• 2. A: Scratch (A1 is tiny, A3 is large).
• 3. U: Dent (U1 is small, U3 is major).
• 4. W: Repainted panel (W1 is good finish, W3 indicates noticeable mismatch).
• 5. S: Rust / Corrosion (S1 is superficial, S2/S3 is structural). Watch out for W3 and S2/S3 panels, as they indicate past collision repairs or rust.

In addition to the overall numeric grade, auctions provide letter grades (A, B, C, D) for the interior and exterior:

• 1. :
• 2. Grade A: As new, clean, no repairs needed.
• 3. Grade B: Very clean, minor wear or small stains.
• 4. Grade C: Visible stains, small cigarette burns, or minor dashboard scratches.
• 5. Grade D: Torn seats, heavy stains, dirty roof lining, or strong odors. Avoid C and D interiors unless you plan a complete cabin overhaul.