1996 Citroen ZX Memphis review from UK and Ireland

New N/S roll bar drop link.

Syncromesh not brilliant on 3rd.

Rear N/S door lock stopped working. Front one sticks.

Body dents easily.

Great car to own which is good at everything.

I like to drive quickley and after owning a talbot sunbeam lotus this TD has not felt as slow as you would think after a lotus petrol!

COMFORT. Good suspension soaks up bumps well, and composed in the corners, but can occasionally seem fagile over really rough roads. interior is spacious enough with usefull rear space as a kind of semi-estate rear. Takes a 5-peice drum set with ease!

Cruises well at 75-80, but gets a bit noisy over that.

DRIVING. Reputedley a chassis only beaten by the 306 at the time. Handles directley, and is quite nimble for a med sized car. Although many rave about its handling it still isn't a car in which you would drive like a 106 on a twisty road for example. Rear can feel light, and grip isn't brilliant in slippery/wet conditions. Otherwise a solid handler which most will find very acceptable.

ENGINE/PERFORMANCE. The best point of the car in my opinion. Its my first deisel car and the engine seems much pokier and responsive of some modern TDs (such as my company corsa 1.7td, which is crap!) and many petrols. I have had it optimised (tad more turbo pressure), and new stainless exhaust and K&N since I bought it and I really can say its poke is very good now. Still also does a solid 45mpg, and 500miles to a tank! Kept dead level with a new Astra 2.0 petrol at the lights up to 3rd gear! Even as standard it is still a very nippy car for its looks. Think the engine def benifit from 1 minute idle after a run and allowed to warm up before full throttle. I replace oil and filter (GSF parts) every 5-6K. If looked after no reason why it can't go well beyond 200K.

BUYING. just look for a well looked after one (regular oil changes) and don't worry too much about mialage.