Faults:

Ignition switch broke. replacement at a local garage cost £100 and I was left with a box of new door locks for the new keys which I could have had fitted for a further £200. I didn't bother.

Indicators failed after 2 months and DIY replacement of the stalk, flasher unit and fuses didn't cure this so I turned it over to a local auto electrician who found the hazard light switch at fault, a modest bill of £38 to fix, but combined with my DIY efforts this fault cost me over £100.

Head gasket was ready to blow after 4 months ownership with a quote of £300 to fix.

I gave up trying to claim off the 'Warranty' that came with the car. It wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

The garage I bought the car off were honorable enough to correct the 'faults on delivery' (speedo cable, clutch cable and replaced the cam-belt all of which would have cost around £450 at a Citroen dealer). recognizing a dissatisfied customer they tried to twist the warranty companies arm, but to no avail.

Numerous cold and hot start problems, probably caused by the out-going head gasket.

General Comments:

After 6 months I got disenchanted (to put it nicely) and traded the car for £1100 less than I paid for it, but probably saved myself that again in the long run.

Now for the car itself, it was a pretty chic car with a very comfortable interior, superb handling, light steering despite not being power assisted and good road manners.

If it wasn't for the above problems I would probably still have the car as I did genuinely like the ZX model and I know many people who own/owned one with no problems at all.

The dash lights go on automatically with the ignition and more than once I've driven off at night forgetting to put my headlamps on!

You get a single electric mirror for the passenger door, what's the point?

Why not just give us two?

Cabin is well insulated and so quiet that you wouldn't know the engines running at low speed.

The 1400 petrol is not a fast car, but it is adequte it'll happily cruise at 90mph (opps!) on the motorway at 3700rpm.

The rear seats are adjustable to give more boot/ less leg room! and you get a rear blind too.

I dare say the ZX Avantage was a well specified car when it was new, but mine did not age well and the parts were quite expensive.

My advice to anyone looking for this budget family hatch, I say budget as the youngest are now 7 years old- therefore cheap, is beware!

Get a good one and your laughing, get a bad one and you will be spending far more than the cars value in todays market keeping it on the road.

Faults:

Just tear and ware. Exhaust replaced at 60,000. Front tyres at 65,000, back tyres still original (and made it through MOT).

Biggest problem I had was with the Radiator, which needed to be replaced at 80,000 after minor reparations at 40,000.

Brakes pads I replaced every 20,000 miles for safety reasons, although they still had some miles in them.

Braking is definitely the weak point of this car.

Fan belt started to snap every 5,000 in the last two years, although nothing seems to be wrong with it.

A bit of rust started to appear at around 100,000.

General Comments:

Nice engine gives all you need in the city and on the motorway, providing you stick to speed limit.

Very economic and trustworthy car.

Handles very well, like all Citroen's. Sticks to the road in every situation.

Parts are quite cheap if you stay clear of the dealer.

Had it for 12 years and felt sad to let it go, but I needed a bigger car.