I have found a nice clean ZX estate for £995. It's the standard 1.9D, not turbo, 'N' reg.
I would be interested to hear what any views on these cars are before I go and buy it. Any known faults?
Thanks
X
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The usual XUD head gasket maladies (although not as bad on the N/A engine as the TD one) - check that the coolant's been changed, and there is no pressure when cold. Regular coolant changes will also help to preserve the heater matrix - check for dampness in the passenger footwell / under the dash / odd smells when you turn the heater on. Check the bottom of the radiator - they rust through - changing one can be awkward because of the hose fitment, but it's probably been done by now. Dash bulbs probably failed / failing, but they're just a fiddly hour or two to change. There's a rust trap behind the PAS tank on the inner wing - give it a good poke if it looks rusty - repair is pretty cheap though (just had mine done for £40). Rear subframe mounts usually needed after 10 years or 100k miles - knocking noise from the rear gives them away. Not too expensive, but quite a big job DIY (got to do those too on mine).
Compare the price to a 306, and laugh all the way to the bank! The handling's a hoot (although the 1.9D is a bit down on power, it will get there).
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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The car by car breakdown says:
Timing belt at 50,000ml intervals, tensioner at every other belt change.
Water pump may be needed at second or third belt change.
Coolant should be changed two yearly.
Heater matrixs do go anything after 100,000mls. They are a fair job having a trade time to change from 7-10hrs. At £50/hr plus the matrix you can get up to a major bill.
Change brake fluid two yearly.
Front discs may be needed every 50,000mls.
Rear brake cylinders (on drum models) may fail after 60,000mls.
Handbrake cables can fail after 80,000mls.
Front suspension bushes are often needed after 60,000mls.
Diesel fuel filter housing cover can distort giving rise to air leaks..easy/cheap to cure.
Glowplugs perhaps needed every 75,000mls
Diesel fast idle "waxstat" ofen sticks in slow or fast position after 75,000mls.....easy/cheap to replace.
Tailgate lock solenoid assy can fail after 100,000mls...easy to replace.
I've got a 306 XND (non-turbo) which is a similar car, and I'd echo all these things. Regular oil and coolant changes seem to have contributed to the 187000 miles I have on the clock at the moment. Make sure all the electric stuff works. You'll need / want power steering if it's not fitted. These are decent enough cars otherwise, and not that tedious to drive. Maybe it's just me, but having owned a couple of both, I've found the non-turbo Pug/Cit diesels seem to wear the miles better that the turbo versions - and I mean the overall feel of the whole car, not just the engine and box. I suppose less power puts less strain on everything, and doesn't exactly encourage "spirited" driving...
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Providing the mileage isn't astronimical and the condition is good i say it'd make a great workhorse.
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Same engine, so how about the 405 1.9D (non-turbo)? There's one close by me at a sensible price.
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I hadn't thought of the 405, I have an old 205 which is good.
However this car isn't for me, I'm getting it for a friend as a backup when their current car dies - soon by the sound of it this morning...
I think I will have a closer look at the ZX, take it for a spin and check on the points raised.
Thanks to all.
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I have one of these cars - a P reg with 90K - I would describe it as the ultimate adequate car! Not fast, fairly simple and reliable and cheap to buy and run - if it seems OK, then buy it!
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Had a td a few years ago.
Great car, though they can't swim! the air intake is low to the ground so driving through 50yard long, foot deep puddles wrecks the engine.
--
I read often, only post occasionally
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No idea on the engine choice, but as a former 1.4 owner I know about the car. It was pretty sweet, really. The major issue I had was visibility in the rain - the wiper always left the bit I looked out of unswept. Some would call it minor, but in my opinion not being able to see where you're going is a fairly major thing...
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Try and find a 1.9TD, the 1.9D is horribly slow. Looks a bit expensive.
FWIW, my M reg Xantia TD in perfect working order went for £200 :(
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I've had 2 ZXs, both bought new, and they were nice to drive but somewhat flimsy.
--
L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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Michael, yes it's slow and yes it would bother some people but I learned to drive in a non-turbo ZX and I would say that it's 1.3 litre Fiesta slow, not 1.0 Polo or 1.2 8v Corsa slow... in fact probably not that far behind my turbo 406. As a budget, low mileage runaround where speed is not an issue, it's fine. If performance is of any concern whatsoever, then I agree that a turbo will be better value, but it's not utterly hopeless either and if this one is in very good condition, it will have many strengths that make up for its lack of speed.
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No idea on the engine choice, but as a former 1.4 owner I know about the car. It was pretty sweet, really. The major issue I had was visibility in the rain - the wiper always left the bit I looked out of unswept. Some would call it minor, but in my opinion not being able to see where you're going is a fairly major thing...
I suppose you are referring to the fact it only had one wiper? I can't say I ever had a problem with a blind spot when I had my ZX.
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Spikey,
your wrong about the air intake when swimming. The air intake is behind the headlamp alongs side the rad at least 20" above the road surface. I've driven through floods with any bother unless you create a bow wave like the QE2 driving too quick.
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CbyC breakdown :
Where's the credit for MiddleMan?! :-)
-- Lee Having a Fabialous time.
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yes!
fantastic ride - had a zx as my first car and at the time i was rather rude about it. rather sobering since then realising that apart from a few very up-market makes, that the zx has the best ride of anything i've driven.
having said that i was driven to the edge of madness with the wipers. squeaky and failed to do their job well. i suppose, as with everything else in life, you can't have everything..
at that age stick with the non-turbo - less to go wrong and as others have said it's not that slow, and as i suspect, you're not buying it to race chavs from the lights.
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I would say yes too, but perhaps trying to get the price down a bit.
My dad had one of these, utterly dependable and a nice car all round. Much underrated by pretty much everyone who hasn't owned one and better that the equivalent Escort in every area IMO. The point raised about it being 'slow' is down to personal opinion. We happily toed a caravan with out n/a zx diesel.
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Out of curiosity what sort of MPG from the diesels? Do they have plastic panels like BXs? Thanks.
Steve.
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50mpg is a realistic MPG for one of these. Yes they do have some plastic panels, i know the hatchback has a plastic bonnet and boot but i'm not sure on the estate.
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"i know the hatchback has a plastic bonnet and boot"
hmmmm - i don't think they do.
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"i know the hatchback has a plastic bonnet and boot" hmmmm - i don't think they do.
The one my neighbour had certainly did
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Boot definitely is. They don't dent, they break!
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