Is it true dealers can import different car grades

We are looking at a few dealers at the moment for a new (well new to us but used car) and keep getting told conflicting advice from dealers re "dont go here" go there and "watch them there cars are of low grade" and as far as we can understand it seems different dealers import cars of varying quality and these are graded from 1-4? Is this true? and if so is there some directory you can look up what grade cars dealer import or such or how do you know if your at the dealer that imports lower or higher grades of car - each dealer seems to have a differing view they want to offer on there competitors. how important is the whole grades thing? Thanks :-)

Dianna--ACTUALLY the grading system is 0-10 0 Being a total wreck and 10 being a car that has rolled off the production line.-ie brand new.
An indication for you --a new car on a showroom floor is a 9
MOST jap import cars in the 5 - 10 year old age range are grade 3 - 5 with a grade a, b or c interior.
Grade 4 - 5 is considered to be a pretty good straight car with little or no paint repair needed and hasn't been in an accident.
BUT--word of warning --Talk is cheap.
I won't say that salesmen lie but.
Ask to see the actual auction sheet which will show damage when purchased and the Auction grade when purchased. If they can't/wont show it then you have to ask--on what basis did you say it was grade X
Also ask to see the compliance sheet which will show any repair/rectification work needed to get its first WOF in NZ.
What complicates matters a bit is that a Monday grade 3.5 would be a Saturday grade 4 or even 4.5. So its not JUST the grade you need but the specific list of damage to the vehicle.
Its easy to read the basics on an auction sheet -A is a scratch and the bigger the number the bigger the scratch -so A1 is usually minor.
d is a dimple and D is a dent again the bigger the number the bigger the dent. There are other notes but those are the basics.
Incidently -the advice above is step 1. Step 2 is a complete independent pre purchase inspection of the vehicle.

This may help )p"

http://www.buythiscar.co.nz/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.drawpage&p=18

Super thankyou both :-)

Also try googling beforward