Buyer Guide

 What are your thoughts on the Black Edition 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander? We cannot find any customer reviews of the car, is it a lemon? We haven't heard good things about Mitsubishi at all. It has everything at a great price, but we’re very unsure what to do. Should we wait until next year for the 2020 model?

I want to buy a new hatchback automatic and want to spend around $30,000. I currently own a 2015 Mini Cooper, but I’m looking at getting a Kia Cerato GT. The inclusions are great, but will I be disappointed with the quality of the car? Should I buy a Mini Cooper demo or a new Kia Cerato GT?

I am about to purchase Honda CR-V but I am confused from reading reviews and comparisons. I have a price range of around $36,000-$38,000 and want to buy a 7-seater SUV. I liked CRV-VTi-E7 most in comparison to X-Trail ST and Outlander LS. My key requirements are reliability (as I will drive it for next 4-5 years), performance and fuel efficiency, interior and exterior design. Would you recommend any of the above or another model?

We rate the best-selling new cars for the reversing camera and sensor technology that prevents driveway disasters.

There are four main categories of car insurance.Compulsory Third Party (CTP)CTP insurance is mandatory in all Australian states. It covers you or any driver of your car against liability for death or injury caused during an accident. CTP is a type of third-party insurance, but it doesn’t protect you from third-party property damage.Third-party PropertyThird-party property insurance covers you for damage done to another car while driving. It does not cover damage to your own car. We consider third-party property insurance to be just about as mandatory as CTP. There’s no telling what you’ll bump into at the lights. If it’s a brand-new Beemer, you don’t want to be paying for those repairs out of your own pocket.Fire and Theft Fire and theft insurance is a restricted policy that will help to reimburse the policy-holder if their car is stolen or lost to fire damage.ComprehensiveComprehensive insurance essentially covers all your bases. The coverage includes theft and collision, but also weather and malicious damage. Many comprehensive policies cover damage caused to other cars, as well as your own. General tips?Shop around. Not all insurance providers are made equal. Different customers will get different quotes, and different providers will value different things. Use all the tools at your disposal to get as many quotes as you can. Consider your needs. If your car cost less than what you’re being quoted for a comprehensive policy, consider third-party property insurance instead. If you just drove your brand-new car off the showroom floor, go for the comprehensive policy.CarsGuide does not operate under an Australian financial services licence and relies on the exemption available under section 911A(2)(eb) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) in respect of any advice given. Any advice on this site is general in nature and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision please consider these and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement.

My parents are keen to buy a new Mercedes-Benz C300. Any common problems or issues with the W205 C Class?

You'll often hear the phrase "check the fine print" when it comes to buying a new car, but there are some things you would, quite wrongly as it turns out, assume you can take for granted.

2015 Nissan Navara Silverline SE D40 Series 9 4x4 dual-cab. Found one priced around $19,000 with 99,000 km on it. How do you rate this model or do you recommend looking at something else around $20,000 price tag?

Personal safety is always important and definitely cannot be forgotten when dealing with strangers when either buying or selling a car privately.Some tips for buyersTake a friend. When you tell people you’re going to look at a used car, they will invariably tell you to take a friend. Usually, they’re talking about someone who knows cars and can help you figure out what you’re dealing with. But we’re talking about someone who can help you figure out who you’re dealing with and keep an eye on any unsavoury characters. Your friend’s job is to pay attention to the seller while you investigate the car. Simple. Don’t deal with any middle men. There’s almost no reason for a genuine seller to have someone dealing with you on their behalf. Check the car’s registration details, check the seller’s license details and be sure they match up. If they don’t, we recommend you take a step back. You want to be sure the person selling the car is the actual owner of the car (imagine buying a car that was being sold without the owner’s permission). You do not want to get burned, and middle men are the most common form of scam artist when it comes to car sales. Meet somewhere public. You want to meet the seller somewhere busy and visible. The car park of your local police station is a great option. Or a Maccas. Or anywhere that’s high-traffic. Choose a time during daylight hours, where there are plenty of people coming and going. It’s also a good idea to avoid telling the seller too many details about yourself before you arrive - this allows you to give them and their surroundings an anonymous eyeballing before you even engage. Cash handling. You do not want to walk into this situation with a wad of hundreds curled up in your clammy little palm. It puts you in a potentially dangerous position - you become a prime target for opportunistic robbery! Along those same lines, it’s a good idea to leave conspicuous jewellery and valuables at home.Some tips for sellersThe above tips hold true for sellers, with a few other things to keep in mind. If you’re offering test drives, check that your insurance covers the person who’ll be driving (most policies these days cover anyone who drives your car). Write down all the buyer’s details, including their address and phone number. If you can get a home phone number, give it a call and ask for the buyer by name.  It’s especially important to meet somewhere other than your own residence when you’re the seller. Spending time in the car and seeing where it’s kept, makes it relatively easy for a car thief to return to your house in the wee hours and help themselves to your car (and anything else, really). Before finalising the sale, ask for a second form of identification, like a Medicare card.List your car here on Autotrader.com.au.

The Volvo range will see the addition of its first fully-electric model - the XC40 EV - in 2020. And it's coming to Australia!