Faults:

Had a few silly little electrical problems that were easily sorted. The water pump finally gave out @190000 resulting in a blown head-gasket. The rear wheel brake cylinders popped at 180,000 and were a nightmare to identify and replace. And the car eats front tyres, though this this maybe down to my style of driving!

General Comments:

I bought this car as "a temp. run about" I have never liked French cars as a rule, but it was cheap and economical. I found it comfortable and nice to drive, and before long Started to quite like it. Though fairly quick already I decided to play with the peformance. I fitted a bleed valve to the waste gate actuator, giving 1.2bar of boost and fitted a home made induction kit using a filter from a Aston martin vanquish! (lucky find) This dramatically improved the performance of the ZX, This little car is proper quick!

I expected the engine not to last to long after that. It had already done nearly 130k and apart from changing the oil when I remembered, it has received virtualy no maintainance. But it kept on going, and going, and etc.

When the water pump let go and blew the head gasket I thought it was all over, wrong again! After a two day roadside repair (in the rain) all was fine and dandy again, and is still doing the daily 80m trip to work and back. And finaly today passed the 200,000 mile barrier.

I am truly impressed with this little car. Its comfortable, fun to drive, very economical (avge: 40-45mpg) and so very reliable. Its just a shame the things so damned ugly. Oh well can't win them all, can you.

I would highly recommend playing with the boost (turbo), but make sure you know what your doing. And try fitting the larger 186/60HR14 tyres. Then prepare to go boy racer beating, They hate being beaten by a DIESEL!!

Faults:

This car has always been a reluctant starter. Now has a suspected head gasket problem and won't start at all.

General Comments:

I bought this car for £800, A very clean, comfortable and above all, very quick car. with a few mods I found this high miler could go like a rocket.

I slightly increased the turbo boost (3psi approx.) Fitted a free flow air filter and uprated the tires to 185/60 H14 (previously 175/65 T14) Although this has made no real difference to top top speed of the car, the mid range power is vastly improved. This makes for a real fun drive and constantly surprises boy racers and other tailgaters.

Unfortunatley I think this was a little to much for my pre historic head gasket, but what do you expect at nearly 200k!.

All in all, good effort Citroen.

Faults:

Brake seemed to wear out front and back disks and pads all at once.

New injectors 115000 miles.

Replacement drive-shaft 120000 miles excessive vibration.

General Comments:

This car has the lot performance to keep most happy on motorways, economy and comfort.

There is practically no performance or cosmetic enhancements available (that make it go or look better)

Faults:

Front brakes were tending to bind a bit, so I had them cleaned and new pads fitted.

I had a new cam belt fitted as I don't know when, if ever, it was last replaced.

I have also had to have the dashboard bulbs replaced as most them were not working when I bought the car.

Oddly enough the car had no foot rest which is very unusual for an automatic, so I had one fitted, cost £30.

At its last MOT all it needed were the headlights adjusting.

General Comments:

I bought the Citroen ZX Avantage 1,9D auto about 2 years ago, The bodywork is exceptional, no sign of rust anywhere. And the interior is also in very good condition.

I find it a real pleasure to drive, its got almost everything I could wish for in a car, with the possible. exception of ABS brakes.

It corners extremely well, even more-so now that I have fitted 14 inch ally wheels to it. (bought via the Internet for £100 including tires and delivery)..I also had fog lamps fitted to the front.

It's a joy to drive on the motorway, no rattles, and very little wind noise and at journeys end I feel as fit as I did when I set off. And its great fun to drive on country roads with loads of bends. Bit slow trying to accelerate uphill, but I can live with that.

Round town it returns about 30 mpg, due to the fact that it won't change into 4th gear at less than 40 mph, but on the open roads and motorways I have had it return 55 mpg over fairly long distances. Though if you take it up to 90+ mph your fuel consumption goes back down to around the 35 mpg mark again!

All things considered it's a lovely car in every respect with the exception of body styling, but if it was a pretty car it would cost a fortune! I intend to keep my ZX Avantage for many years.