In rating cars, which is better: a 2- or 2+?

[1935Packard]

I have a dumb question. We're all familiar with the 6 point system of rating cars: 1 is a concours quality show car, 3 is a driver, etc. Here's my question: Is a 2- car better or worse than a 2+ car? Maybe I'm just overthinking this -- the perils of being a former engineer, I guess -- but there seems to be a clash between the intuitive way to think about it (obviously 3+ is better than a 3-, as it is 3+ after all) and the proper numerical way to think about it (if a lower number is a better condition, then 2- is better than a 2+).

My assumption has always been that a 2- is worse than a 2+, as car market guides call a nearly perfect car with just some imperfections a 1-, while they never call a car a 1+. But I know some other experienced people who seem to have the opposite assumption, so I figured I would ask. Anyway, sorry for the dumb question.

Edited July 3, 2013 by 1935Packard (see edit history)

[Restorer32]

You're right, you are over thinking it.

[MCHinson]

While probably numerically wrong, understanding the scale, I have always heard people using 2+ to mean a car in better condition than a 2. Essentially, plus means more and more is better, in spite of the fact that in this scale a 1 is better than a 2.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Yep, kind of like going "up island" at Martha's Vineyard or visiting "Downeast" Maine...

[Guest prs519]

Id say, look at it as though each symbol is entirely independent of the other, with separate meaning according to custom. Perry

[john2dameron]

When I went to school an A+ was better than an A- and a B+ was better than a B-. I would say the same thing applies to numbers. Any number followed by a "+" would be better than the same number followed by a "-" even if does seem to be perhaps considered nit-picking.