Faults:

Idle valve faulty and valve stem seal worn at 61000km (although it took 13 months and 19000km for dealer to diagnose valve stem seal!)

75000km Front and rear callipers, front discs and brake balance valves replaced, rear discs ground.

Luckily these jobs were done under warranty.

Heater hose blown.

Radiator replaced.

Numerous instrument bulbs blown, luckily there are lots in the cluster and you can wait for several to blow, before you have to get in and replace them.

Paint has lost its oxide on bonnet.

General Comments:

This car handles very well and is reasonably powerful. It out performs most of the more popular GTIs.

Brakes have great feel, but need more stopping power.

It has a high specification level for your money and is very comfortable to drive.

Good luggage space available with sliding rear seat.

Once its early problems were fixed, this car has been very reliable.

Use independents for servicing.

Faults:

Air Horn wore out

Central locking and locks jammed

Parcel shelf straps broke

Window winder electrics wore

Injectors leaking causing a chain of other problems

Internal Door leaver spring broke

Dash lights blown

Paintwork flaking.

General Comments:

The Volcane has stiffend chassis and very large anit roll bars, the ride height is a fraction lower than other models. Vented discs on the front wheels and disc on the rear. Fog lights, tow-bar, air horn, bucket style seats, parcel shelf blind and more all come factory fitted. A very practical car for both urban and country driving, running costs are low repair costs are average to high.

Faults:

Glow plugs seem require replacing after 30/40k.

Minor rattles, but nothing serious.

General Comments:

The ride is a little harsh at low speeds but the high speed handling more than compensates.

Great power on-boost with excellent steering and brakes.

Interior still stylish after ten years and wears well.

Front spoiler is prone to "ploughing" on rough roads.

Faults:

I had to replace the dash lights a couple of days after I got it, but nothing else otherwise (touch wood).

General Comments:

Although the Furio has a 1.8 under its hood, it's performance could never be described as neck-snapping. It really needs to be kept above 3000 rpm to get it to go with any urgency.

However, any performance deficiencies are more than compensated for with its quick, direct steering, great gearchange (when the 'box is warm) and a very well-sorted chassis that can make the ZX serious fun through the twisty bits.

There are a number of ZXs in New Zealand, but not many Furios (I know of 3) so some parts (eg, glass, doors etc) may be a challenge to get, but hopefully I'll never need them.

I can't fault the interior aesthetically, the seats look the part and sit even better and is deceptively spacious. There are, however, a few build-quality glitches that you would never see on a similar-age Japanese car.

The exterior looks as good, but the 14 inch factory alloys look small.

I have read of reports saying the ZX has a flimsy body, and unfortunately I found this to be true today. The wind caught the left door, striking it against a Hyundai Lantra. Not a mark on the Korean, but visibly bent steel along the edge of the door about 4 inches below the doorhandle. I was able to get it 90% back into shape.

By hand!

Faults:

Seized front brake calipers (work done 1999).

Rear brake hoses cracked (replaced 2000).

Front wishbone bushes worn.

Both front struts leaking.

Half shafts and CV joints showing some signs of wear (2001).

All these items are obviously in need of replacement now due to high usage, not because of unreliability.

Except for intermittent central locking problems, no other electrical problems to note.

The ZX was never imported into Australia so parts have to be acquired from the UK which is expensive for us.

General Comments:

Very comfortable car that my wife enjoys driving.

It is a little slow because of the diesel engine coupled to the automatic transmission.

Parts are now a problem for us as we now live in Perth in Western Australia.