1993 Citroen ZX aura review from UK and Ireland

Had a few silly little electrical problems that were easily sorted. The water pump finally gave out @190000 resulting in a blown head-gasket. The rear wheel brake cylinders popped at 180,000 and were a nightmare to identify and replace. And the car eats front tyres, though this this maybe down to my style of driving!

I bought this car as "a temp. run about" I have never liked French cars as a rule, but it was cheap and economical. I found it comfortable and nice to drive, and before long Started to quite like it. Though fairly quick already I decided to play with the peformance. I fitted a bleed valve to the waste gate actuator, giving 1.2bar of boost and fitted a home made induction kit using a filter from a Aston martin vanquish! (lucky find) This dramatically improved the performance of the ZX, This little car is proper quick!

I expected the engine not to last to long after that. It had already done nearly 130k and apart from changing the oil when I remembered, it has received virtualy no maintainance. But it kept on going, and going, and etc.

When the water pump let go and blew the head gasket I thought it was all over, wrong again! After a two day roadside repair (in the rain) all was fine and dandy again, and is still doing the daily 80m trip to work and back. And finaly today passed the 200,000 mile barrier.

I am truly impressed with this little car. Its comfortable, fun to drive, very economical (avge: 40-45mpg) and so very reliable. Its just a shame the things so damned ugly. Oh well can't win them all, can you.

I would highly recommend playing with the boost (turbo), but make sure you know what your doing. And try fitting the larger 186/60HR14 tyres. Then prepare to go boy racer beating, They hate being beaten by a DIESEL!!