Apex Motors Editorial
Specialist team · 18 September 2026
Every reconditioned Japanese import begins its second life on an auction floor. Before a single bid is placed, an independent inspector walks around the car, climbs underneath it, sits in every seat and records what they find on a single sheet of paper. That sheet is the closest thing a buyer will ever have to the car's medical record — and learning to read it is the single most valuable skill in the reconditioned market.
The overall grade
The large number in the top corner is the overall grade. It runs from 1 to 6, with S and R grades used for brand-new and repaired vehicles respectively. A 3.5 is a used car with visible wear. A 4 is a clean, honest example. A 4.5 is exceptional — the kind of unit a dealer is proud to put in the window. Grade 5 and above are reserved for vehicles that are effectively as new, usually with very low mileage.
“A 4.5 grade is not a marketing label. It is an inspector's signature that the car has been looked after.”
Interior grade and the vehicle map
Next to the overall grade sits a letter from A to D describing the cabin. A means near-perfect; B is clean with light use; C shows stains, wear or odours that need attention. The vehicle map — a simple outline of the car — is where the real detail lives. Inspectors mark it with codes: A1 is a minor scratch, A2 a larger one, U1 a small dent, W1 a repaired wave in the paint, and XX a replaced panel. A map covered with W and XX codes tells a very different story from one with a few light A1 marks.
The inspector's notes
The handwritten Japanese section at the bottom is often skipped, yet it contains the most honest commentary on the car: stone chips on the bonnet, a seat bolster that is worn, a warning light, or a note that the car has been smoked in. A proper translation of these notes is essential — and it must be made from the original sheet, not a summary someone has typed up.
Why source verification matters
Unfortunately, altered auction sheets exist. Grades are raised, mileage is rounded down, and repair codes disappear. The only defence is to verify the sheet directly with the auction house using the lot number and auction date. At our showroom, every vehicle's sheet is verified at source and shared with you in full before you commit — no translated copies, no guesswork, and no surprises after delivery.
Our advice
Ask for the original sheet, ask for the lot number, and ask who verified it. A dealer with nothing to hide will hand you all three without hesitation. If you would like one of our specialists to walk you through a sheet line by line, simply book a private viewing and we will sit down with you over coffee.
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