Having experience on both sides of the fence, selling vehicles at the top end of the pricing ladder (great condition), and vehicles at the bottom (not always great condition), I can safely say transparency is the key no matter which route you take.
Don't claim your cars are 'perfect' if you're the cheapest anywhere and the car needs various cosmetic and mechanical repair. On the other side you're selling yourself short if you recon everything and aren't reflecting it in your merchandising.
FWIW it's becoming increasingly common for deal hunters to still try and haggle on an already absurdly low price, while still expecting the vehicle to be perfect. Some of this is setting improper expectations. I also have a sneaking suspicion very low prices attract the kind of customer more likely to be demanding of discounts, perfection, etc.
But back to the initial point. I couldn't agree more that a universal vehicle condition rating system would give most consumers a better picture of total value. Value is often lost in translation as a feeling, not a quantifiable metric. Quantifying value would cut through the noise, arming consumers with better information to make a more educated purchase decision. Don't want a sunroof? Great, look for a discounted car with one that's broken.
How this would be done and the standard set to do so would be quite the hill to climb but I love the idea.
