Faults:

Most of the failures should really be put on the account of my rough handling of the car in my younger years. The only problem that I do not blame on myself is the quirky electrical system : rusted connectors are common and the failure of the interior lighting is not uncommon.

I broke more things that I can remember, but that is really me more than anything else - I even broke the driver's seat's metal structure and had to buy a new seat from a scrap dealer...

General Comments:

You need to rev up the engine quite a bit to get significant power, but the road handling is excellent even in treacherous conditions. Power/weight ratio is a bit low, but that three-doors ZX is nevertheless a delight to drive if you don't mind the lack of power steering.

Cargo capacity is enormous for a car of its size. I made countless trips of more than 1000km loaded to the gills and each time I blessed the interior space.

14 years, 120000 km and still going great although I now seldom use it more than thrice a month.

Faults:

Idle valve faulty and valve stem seal worn at 61000km (although it took 13 months and 19000km for dealer to diagnose valve stem seal!)

75000km Front and rear callipers, front discs and brake balance valves replaced, rear discs ground.

Luckily these jobs were done under warranty.

Heater hose blown.

Radiator replaced.

Numerous instrument bulbs blown, luckily there are lots in the cluster and you can wait for several to blow, before you have to get in and replace them.

Paint has lost its oxide on bonnet.

General Comments:

This car handles very well and is reasonably powerful. It out performs most of the more popular GTIs.

Brakes have great feel, but need more stopping power.

It has a high specification level for your money and is very comfortable to drive.

Good luggage space available with sliding rear seat.

Once its early problems were fixed, this car has been very reliable.

Use independents for servicing.

Faults:

Fuel system required complete overhaul.

Suspension bushes needed replacing.

Engine drank oil at an alarming rate.

Cold-start problems in winter (eventual reason for changing).

Early hesitant acceleration (not totally dissimilar to turbo-lag, despite the car not having a turbo charger, carburetor system needed replacing).

Numerous rattles, and electrical gremlins, particularly notable were windows and central locking.

General Comments:

My first car. For £400 I couldn't really have done better. It wasn't totally reliable, which I admit. But despite this, I was surprisingly sorry to see it go.

For a 1.4 8v engine the car was fast, notably because it was light. As it shared the same 205/306 suspension it was similar to drive, though, had much greater body roll for a softer ride.

The trouble is, if you ever tried to categorise it as a comfortable car, you'd be disappointed. The boot was small, though legroom, quite good. The driving position forced a leg-around wheel type position, and the seats were overly soft French-types, that while comfortable at first, lack any support for longer journeys. Also wind, road and engine noise were all quite loud. As indeed were all the rattling bits of trim.

But even for that I loved this car. It lacked power-steering, but at speed, you wouldn't know, (parking, however, was awful). The visibility was great when it was dry, but in the wet the single-wiper never cleared enough of the screen for my liking.

It rode and handled beautifully. Escorts, Astras and the like (of the same mid-90's era) had nothing on this car. It may have rolled a lot, but it wouldn't lose it's nerve, hanging on around country roads with tennacity.

In fact, when it came to replacing it, I looked at several models, including the Xsara, Megane and Rover 200 that seemed inferior to my tastes in driving ability. It was only the 306 and Focus (the latter being the eventual choice) that seemed an improvement.

So it was cheap, though running it was a pain (repairs costing more than equivalent Ford/Vauxhall marques), it was roomy enough to carry three mates comfortably (though four college bags filled the boot, and not in any style - she's not much of a looker), and from the driver's seat, she was beautiful.

If you're looking for a car that will happily take you to college and back, and give you a love/hate relationship, then this is the one. But be warned, this is no motorway muncher, noise and support are just too lacking.