Faults:

Track rod end and tie rod. £35, replaced myself.

Rear dampers. £40, replaced myself.

Fuel pump, but a known issue when purchased. I think the last guy tried black diesel. £90 part, fitted with my good friend.

Rust - passenger wheel arch, spare wheel cradle.

Paint - roof, rear door, bonnet. Lost clear coat, looks horrible. Still to do.

Windscreen washers. Tried adjusting and the plastic crumbled. £4/pair.

General Comments:

Over the last 6 years I've moved from a Mk1 Xantia to a Mk2 Xantia. Wife said she wanted to learn to drive, so I downgraded to a ZX 6 months ago. I am impressed the parts are designed so similarly. I run my cars on veg oil so the 1.9TD XUD is desirable, and once the pump was swapped over for a Bosch, I haven't had any issues. It's a superb small car; the 306 was well renowned for being a great drive, and this is mostly the same car underneath. The different pump has upped the responsiveness, making it great fun.

It doesn't have anywhere near the refinement of the Xantia, but instead it's more fun to drive and living on the edge. Not a motorway car or for a long drive, but around town and commuting, I prefer it.

Being 20 years old shows its worth and reliability; it doesn't owe anybody anything. Thank you to all its previous owners for looking after it, inside and out.

Faults:

Usual service items, battery, filters, glow plugs replaced.

3 drive-shafts replaced - split rubber boots should have been replaced earlier.

General Comments:

A comfortable, economical workhorse with good performance.

This has been a good car. It has a great engine and is easy and cheap to self maintain.

Faults:

New clutch at 101000 (knew this when I bought the car).

Leaking head gasket at approx 120000; replaced and no problems since.

Faulty ignition switch, turned on the radio when the door was slammed shut! Fixed for a tenner from the scrap yard.

Now has a few knocks and rattles.

Other than that, just general wear and tear.

General Comments:

Previously had a company Renault Scenic (a nice car, not without its own problems though) but had to find a cheap car when the company folded.

Found the ZX with the alloy wheels on eBay for a mere £240 due to a worn out clutch.

For a 1.4 it seems to be quick, and with the aftermarket wider wheels, sticks to the road like glue. My wife also has a ZX that is two years newer, this has a multi point fuel injection and power steering, but does not have the speed, handling or fun factor that mine has.

Since buying the ZX, I have upped the mileage to 156k. The engine still has plenty of life left in it, and goes well.

I have a 50 mile round trip to work each day, along some twisty country lanes; a lot of fun and I still get around 35-38mpg.

Faults:

Nothing mechanical, the engine and running gear are bullet proof provided they are regualarly serviced.

General Comments:

Wonderfully reliable little diesel car with good towing performance. OK she won't set the asphalt on fire, but the performance is very respectable for a non turbo diesel.

The engine is stunningly reliable, starting first time on the coldest mornings with no smoking. Mated to the wonderfully smooth auto gearbox it's a very relaxing car to drive.

It may not be excessively fast (will cruise happily at 75-80 on the motorway and have had it touching 100 on the flat) but you can't beat the reliability and fuel economy of the Peugeot/Citroen 1.9L engine.

The vehicle is very well equipped with electric front windows, electric sunroof, remote central locking and electric passenger side door mirror.

The seats are very comfortable, we use this car as a workhorse for things we don't want to do in our new Renault Scenic and as a result it has made a few long (250-300 mile) trips with a fairly heavy load and fatigue or back ache have never been a problem.

The handling is very good with little body roll and the brakes are very effective.

The only minor thing I didn't like, and it is very minor was the original plastic 2 spoke steering wheel. It was a bit flimsy and not very satisfying to the touch, but there is good news on this front. I went to an auto breakers and unbolted a very nice hand stitched leather 3 spoke wheel out of a zx Volcane and bolted it into mine! £20 and a world of difference. If you own a ZX I urge you to do this, it makes a big difference to the driving experience. It also looks very smart!