Buying Used ZX

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lionheart_zx
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Buying Used ZX

Post by lionheart_zx »

I hope to get a 1.4-litre Citroen ZX for my first car... can anyone offer any advice on what I should look for, rust spots, common problems, or any other advice on buying? Also does anybody know of any stores which sell aftermarket modifying parts for the ZX? Many thanks, Alex.
hardmanm
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Post by hardmanm »

Euro car parts (www.eurocarparts.co.uk) do quite a good range
I've used them a few times although the cheap brake discs I bought from them warped
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I hope to get a 1.4-litre Citroen ZX for my first car... can anyone offer any advice on what I should look for, rust spots, common problems, or any other advice on buying? Also does anybody know of any stores which sell aftermarket modifying parts for the ZX? Many thanks, Alex.

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hardmanm
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Post by hardmanm »

It seems that the web site has censored my last post! What a low down dirty trick.
Rhymes with euro tar farts
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I hope to get a 1.4-litre Citroen ZX for my first car... can anyone offer any advice on what I should look for, rust spots, common problems, or any other advice on buying? Also does anybody know of any stores which sell aftermarket modifying parts for the ZX? Many thanks, Alex.

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lionheart_zx
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Post by lionheart_zx »

Fantastic, thanks very much. I tried and, although they have replacements for standard parts, there is a distinct lack of anything in the 'Accessories' section such as 'Spoilers'! Well thx anyway, it'll b useful if i do need 2 order parts.
Another question, for everyone really, is it possible to fit a body coloured bumper from a higher spec model (say Volcane or Furio) to replace the cheap-looking black bumpers of the basic Reflex/Avantage models? I presume they should have the same fixings... is this so? Thanks.
freestyle
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Post by freestyle »

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I hope to get a 1.4-litre Citroen ZX for my first car... can anyone offer any advice on what I should look for, rust spots, common problems, or any other advice on buying? Also does anybody know of any stores which sell aftermarket modifying parts for the ZX? Many thanks, Alex.

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John Lightbody
freestyle
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Post by freestyle »

as the "proud" owner of an '96 ZX Elation 1.4
I would NOT recommend these cars. I bought it with 18K and now with 44k have had to replace all mounts on rear and change a faulty radiator and advised my clutch is needing replaced, this confirmed by 2 seperate checks. I have had probs with central locking several times and a sqeeking from front discs which have returned after being looked at. Never thought a car serviced and looked after would cause this grieve with so low a mileage. Evidence in the amount of posted articles in the Citroen
forum compared to the other.... :-)
John Lightbody
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muhsin
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Post by muhsin »

If you're still looking for a ZX you can have mine if you want... it's a K-reg 1.4 in Red with matching bumpers, it looks great but it needs some work (see my postings on driveshaft noises and leaking matrix). I'm willing to let it go for less than £600.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I hope to get a 1.4-litre Citroen ZX for my first car... can anyone offer any advice on what I should look for, rust spots, common problems, or any other advice on buying? Also does anybody know of any stores which sell aftermarket modifying parts for the ZX? Many thanks, Alex.

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Muhsin
Chris P
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Post by Chris P »

<font face='Arial'>I've found a K reg ZX with 94k miles for sale for about a grand. At the moment I am tempted with buying it for my first car (cheap tax, insurance etc etc) - but I am not being inspired with people telling me not to buy a french car, will need lots of work blah blah.
Can anyone advise what I do need to be looking for on this car before I commit myself? It was MOTed in September and has recently had oil change/stepper motor replacement. If I decide to buy, I will be insisting on the cam belt being replaced also.
Any replies as soon as would be appreciated :)
Chris
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FFX-DM
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Post by FFX-DM »

I think that is over the odds and you could do better if you shopped around a bit. A friend just got a K reg Avantage for £800 in pretty good condition. Check out www.autotrader.co.uk It's either on that site or the parkers site (which is linked) which has a good guide to buying a car, which is worth a read. I think the parkers prices are a bit high, compared to what seems to be available. Look around. Second hand prices are fairly low at the moment and you have lots of choice. If in doubt, don't buy, there is always another car.
The large number of posts could indicate many different things and saying that it is due to Citroens being bad is not neccessarily so. It may be that they are popular, or longer lived and thus fall into the hands of people who like to have a go at maintaining them themselves and hence use forums like this.
I don't think there are many aftermarket ZX specific mods available. I was just taking the pi... I mean 'discussing' the magazine 'Fast Car' with a 19 year old mate and it is full of custom stuff you can throw pounds at, but there is no ZX stuff that I can see. Not a reason I would chose for buying or not buying a car, but given my age and gender, this is not suprising (although I think those blue neons that go under the car are soooooo pretty!).
I actually think that the existence of a forum such as this is a good reason for considering a make of car. When I had a VW Polo I got lots of help from the Polo list, including some chap who sold me a 5-speed gearbox and travelled from Doncaster to mine (200 miles each way) to deliver it and help me fit it! Nice chap. I also used to spend in-ordinate amounts of time buying parts and getting advice from the guys in German & Swedish (now 'French' too!). It's things like that which can make all the difference when you are talking buying and running a cheap 2nd hand car on a budget.
Dave Burns
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Post by Dave Burns »

An ZX petrol with 94,000 on it, no. a diesel yes.
Wire worm sets in behind the rear wheel arch in the ZX, you'd have to peel back the boot lining to inspect, though you might not be able to do this untill you have purchased, but then its too late.
Throw a few more bucks at it and get a younger model, Iv'e got a 93TD with the o/s sill rusted through, and heavy rust behind wheel arch waiting for some action, probably from a sabre saw<img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>
Apart from that they are a simple car with not much to go wrong, diesel's and their gearboxes are especially strong, watch out for head gasket grieff though.
Dave
CITMAN
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Post by CITMAN »

I have had my 1995 Citroen ZX 1.4i Advantage of two years. This was my first car, I have left it standard.
To be fair I have had to have quite bit of work done on it, such as one set of discs and pads, rear brake cylinders and shoes, rear suspension bushes to pass mot and a head gasket through oil getting into coolent and leaking from the corner of the cylinder head.
But the plus points are that car starts every morning whether it is covered in snow or frost. Drives brillently and overall is very good car. Good on fuel, cheap insurance and tax. The engine is a gem and sounds like a turbine proberly beciase i change the oil every 3000 miles.
Go on get one you wont regret it, on the other hand you might regret it.
Regards
Citman
Jon

Post by Jon »

I personally believe that the Zx is one of the greatest bargain buys of all time due to a combination of reliability, enjoyment, economy and the abiliy to take some big miles without falling to bits.
As some of you know I run a 93 ZX TD, and have banged up 32300 miles in one year of use. With really only normal servicing and some brakes.
Look after a ZX, service it with a Purflux oil filter and decent oil.
They really are rather good, I drive mine (my third) instead of a company car, and save money, its reliable and I still enjoy it. Yes, image may be a problem to some but I can live with that.But I can get in the thing and never worry that I'm going to break down (Mr Confident).
Mr Burns, tell me more about rust to the sills, I have never seen this, despite scrapping and owning several ZX. I am aware of the rear inner wing rot problem on early cars. My 1993 shed is not affected here, from outside or in, but I did notice surface corrosion on the bump stops which are obviously in this area. Got some waxoyl up there pronto.
Jon Wood
IT Supervisor
GSF t/as Andyspares
Dave Burns
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Post by Dave Burns »

Hi Jon, well I saw a couple of blisters forming under the paint on the offside sill, thought I'd have to get round to doing something about it before it was too late, anyway a month or two after this thought I did get round to doing something, I stuffed me bleedin finger through the b@stard, it was too late, wire worm had landed good style.
Just stuffed new rear susp. mounts on and drop links and tyres and then this, I was friggin gutted, so I've let the test expire and got the licence refunded.
Whats annoying is that the n/s sill is as good as the day it was thrown together..oops meant built,...honest guv I did.
I'm still on the prowl for a Good ZX estate. but now find mesen hankering after a Xantia estate too, gordon bennet, bleedin Citroens, where will it all end......well pretty bloody soon actually if they keep nocking out ugly crates like the C5...URGH....BARPH..... <img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>
It wanted a steering rack, windscreen and a clutch so I thought sod it, if I get another ZX I'll slice the best bits out and cob the offal, or if a Xantia est. appears I'll rid it whole.
Dave
volcane305
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Post by volcane305 »

I had a similar finding on my 94 zx when changing the bushings. Offside wheel arch rusted through, nearside as good as new. Pity zx's hadn't 10 year corrosion warranty.
FFX-DM
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Post by FFX-DM »

Ooh oooh! can I have dibs on the bits you don't want? <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
I would like to get my mitts on some of those front fog lights (did they do a driving light version?) because front visibility is a bit pants.
Also, as I don't have electric windows (boo hoo <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>) I am always on the lookout for the motors and rest of the bits to mod my Leader. I really fancied an Avantage, but couldn't pass up a very good bargain on the Leader.
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