Citroen ZX 16v
Discussion
some of you may have seen this in the classifieds. Very strong money for an 18 year old citroen but its not as if I could wait for the next one to turn up!
Like most of you I have had lots of cars, driven lots more, but nothing handles quite the same as a warm ZX. The fact that no one knows/belives they do make it so much more satisfying.
My zx (and xsara) history:-
Own ZX 16v - K375 XTF
Own ZX 16v - K536 CJH
Previous
Xsara VTS Phase 2 - LD51 UKK
ZX16v - K732 HTO scrapped :-(
ZX16v - K889 DSG scrapped :-(
ZX16v - L710 MGU owned by brother
ZX 1.9i Volcane - Cant remember plate!
The day after the four hour drive back
Some pics with my brothers green one, mine has 35k on it his has 140k!
and just to show were not all zx nerds my other brothers R32
Like most of you I have had lots of cars, driven lots more, but nothing handles quite the same as a warm ZX. The fact that no one knows/belives they do make it so much more satisfying.
My zx (and xsara) history:-
Own ZX 16v - K375 XTF
Own ZX 16v - K536 CJH
Previous
Xsara VTS Phase 2 - LD51 UKK
ZX16v - K732 HTO scrapped :-(
ZX16v - K889 DSG scrapped :-(
ZX16v - L710 MGU owned by brother
ZX 1.9i Volcane - Cant remember plate!
The day after the four hour drive back
Some pics with my brothers green one, mine has 35k on it his has 140k!
and just to show were not all zx nerds my other brothers R32
Love it! Great low mileage as well!
I've always wanted a ZX and at the time I was looking for 1.9 TD Volcane's, unfortunately never ended up with one as they seem to deteriorate slightly worse than 306's (when not looked after) and are obviously rarer so I ended up with having two 306's instead!
I've always wanted a ZX and at the time I was looking for 1.9 TD Volcane's, unfortunately never ended up with one as they seem to deteriorate slightly worse than 306's (when not looked after) and are obviously rarer so I ended up with having two 306's instead!
hi yes the same as an S16.
its pretty much identical to the alloy block other wise. With just a decat they can see more than the 160bhp quoted for non cat 1.9's. A catted 1.9 only sees 150bhp
Very rare indeed numbers hovering around the 20's (from the circa 500 sold here) in the UK and not looking much better across Europe.
Its lighter than the 306 Rallye, doesn't have the faffy 6 speed, but a nice close ratio 5 speed. Thicker rear anti roll bar than the gti 6 and 0 degree toe in on the rear. Sporting the 16v badges that pre-dated the saxo vts and halfords.
Later ones had the 167bhp XU10J4RS engines, but I know of only one in the UK.
its pretty much identical to the alloy block other wise. With just a decat they can see more than the 160bhp quoted for non cat 1.9's. A catted 1.9 only sees 150bhp
Very rare indeed numbers hovering around the 20's (from the circa 500 sold here) in the UK and not looking much better across Europe.
Its lighter than the 306 Rallye, doesn't have the faffy 6 speed, but a nice close ratio 5 speed. Thicker rear anti roll bar than the gti 6 and 0 degree toe in on the rear. Sporting the 16v badges that pre-dated the saxo vts and halfords.
Later ones had the 167bhp XU10J4RS engines, but I know of only one in the UK.
Always have alot of respect for the ZX 16v. It's the best handling FWD car I've ever driven, with Xsara VTS and MG ZS pushing hard behind it.
I had a 93 red one. Never rated the engine much as the 2.0's always felt a bit lethergic compared with the alloy 1.9 in the BX and early 405 Mi16, but it's more refined and better on fuel. I also had a mate with a pre-cat green ZX 16v, which was more eager than my catted car admittedly.
Weirdly I got rid of it because it was giving me backache! I thought the seats were great, I just didn't get on with them.
As you say, later continental cars had the RS lump fitted. They were known as Dakars to celebrate Citroens back to back Dakar wins in the ZX Rallye Raid. It had Xsara VTS wheels, engine, steering rack and brakes, yet weighed nearly 100kg less. 0-60mph in just a whisker under 7 seconds too, not that book times matter too much!
Nice car anyway! Very rare now too.
I had a 93 red one. Never rated the engine much as the 2.0's always felt a bit lethergic compared with the alloy 1.9 in the BX and early 405 Mi16, but it's more refined and better on fuel. I also had a mate with a pre-cat green ZX 16v, which was more eager than my catted car admittedly.
Weirdly I got rid of it because it was giving me backache! I thought the seats were great, I just didn't get on with them.
As you say, later continental cars had the RS lump fitted. They were known as Dakars to celebrate Citroens back to back Dakar wins in the ZX Rallye Raid. It had Xsara VTS wheels, engine, steering rack and brakes, yet weighed nearly 100kg less. 0-60mph in just a whisker under 7 seconds too, not that book times matter too much!
Nice car anyway! Very rare now too.
Kitchski said:
Always have alot of respect for the ZX 16v. It's the best handling FWD car I've ever driven, with Xsara VTS and MG ZS pushing hard behind it.
I had a 93 red one. Never rated the engine much as the 2.0's always felt a bit lethergic compared with the alloy 1.9 in the BX and early 405 Mi16, but it's more refined and better on fuel. I also had a mate with a pre-cat green ZX 16v, which was more eager than my catted car admittedly.
Weirdly I got rid of it because it was giving me backache! I thought the seats were great, I just didn't get on with them.
As you say, later continental cars had the RS lump fitted. They were known as Dakars to celebrate Citroens back to back Dakar wins in the ZX Rallye Raid. It had Xsara VTS wheels, engine, steering rack and brakes, yet weighed nearly 100kg less. 0-60mph in just a whisker under 7 seconds too, not that book times matter too much!
Nice car anyway! Very rare now too.
Thanks Kitchski, agree with your comments, altough 155bhp (or there abouts) in a light car is by no means slow you are right, the ACAV just doesnt let it scream like the 1.9's or the RS lump.I had a 93 red one. Never rated the engine much as the 2.0's always felt a bit lethergic compared with the alloy 1.9 in the BX and early 405 Mi16, but it's more refined and better on fuel. I also had a mate with a pre-cat green ZX 16v, which was more eager than my catted car admittedly.
Weirdly I got rid of it because it was giving me backache! I thought the seats were great, I just didn't get on with them.
As you say, later continental cars had the RS lump fitted. They were known as Dakars to celebrate Citroens back to back Dakar wins in the ZX Rallye Raid. It had Xsara VTS wheels, engine, steering rack and brakes, yet weighed nearly 100kg less. 0-60mph in just a whisker under 7 seconds too, not that book times matter too much!
Nice car anyway! Very rare now too.
The seats, although super comfy also give me back ache! The leather trimmed one I had didnt tho!
hi there ive got no idea im afraid, 15? Im of the years where insurance groups dont really matter, I always seem to pay the same for everything! its £250 fully comp.
There arent many around! a nice but leggy one just went on ebay for £900. 1 or 2 crop up each year for sale, they are rarer than the mass culled bx 16v.
There arent many around! a nice but leggy one just went on ebay for £900. 1 or 2 crop up each year for sale, they are rarer than the mass culled bx 16v.
robco - so so true. The power of marketing, citroen never mangaged it with this one.
now heres the clincher, the sale price for this one new? £11,000 (admitedly heavly discounted)
In 1993, the elderly 205 was £12475, Clio 16v £12336, Fiesta RS1800 £12900, these three manufacturers couldnt get them out of the door quick enough (compared to 500 zx's over four years) and these were boggo spec prices. Price em up to the ZX spec....and they wernt even competing against the zx, how much were the 19 16v's, golf gti's etc people were still buying the 309gti for gods sake!
now heres the clincher, the sale price for this one new? £11,000 (admitedly heavly discounted)
In 1993, the elderly 205 was £12475, Clio 16v £12336, Fiesta RS1800 £12900, these three manufacturers couldnt get them out of the door quick enough (compared to 500 zx's over four years) and these were boggo spec prices. Price em up to the ZX spec....and they wernt even competing against the zx, how much were the 19 16v's, golf gti's etc people were still buying the 309gti for gods sake!
The best car i have ever owned was a L plater 16v !
I had the 6 speeder box (from the Gti-6) in mine, and a tubular exh manifold, really freed up the performance. At the time a good friend had a 306 Rallye, and the ZX was a little bit quicker. Also had the GrpN hard rubber beam mounts and thicker rear ARB. Kinda wish i had kept it now ;-(
(also, little known fact, due to the varriable intake manifold, that was vacuum operated, the engine had a cam driven vac pump, which also operates the brake servo, so, if you left foot brake in them, changing the throttle position doesn't change the brake servo multiplication force, so they LFB really nicely......;-)
I had the 6 speeder box (from the Gti-6) in mine, and a tubular exh manifold, really freed up the performance. At the time a good friend had a 306 Rallye, and the ZX was a little bit quicker. Also had the GrpN hard rubber beam mounts and thicker rear ARB. Kinda wish i had kept it now ;-(
(also, little known fact, due to the varriable intake manifold, that was vacuum operated, the engine had a cam driven vac pump, which also operates the brake servo, so, if you left foot brake in them, changing the throttle position doesn't change the brake servo multiplication force, so they LFB really nicely......;-)
benjfrst said:
Thanks Kitchski, agree with your comments, altough 155bhp (or there abouts) in a light car is by no means slow you are right, the ACAV just doesnt let it scream like the 1.9's or the RS lump.
The seats, although super comfy also give me back ache! The leather trimmed one I had didnt tho!
The ACAV system always threw a bThe seats, although super comfy also give me back ache! The leather trimmed one I had didnt tho!
h fit. I think we jammed it open in the end!Found some pics of my old one seeing as we're sharing the love:
Won that for £400 on the bay a few years back. Swapped it for an AX GTi if I remember rightly.
Thanks for the info max torque.
Most jouralists liked them at the time, here is a review from 1993:-
All ZXs with power steering handle with a niftiness that borders on the nervous. The 16V is even sharper, darting into corners with an alacrity that some manufacturers would consider too edgy. Not for them the 16V's knife- edged responses; more stodge in the steering, they argue, means a greater feeling of security.
Not to this driver. I like the 16V's agility, the way it turns as if by telepathy. When cracking on, you do not steer round bends so much as think the car through them. As with the steering, so with the powerful anti-lock brakes and sharp clutch: delicacy is the watchword for fluent progress.
Most jouralists liked them at the time, here is a review from 1993:-
All ZXs with power steering handle with a niftiness that borders on the nervous. The 16V is even sharper, darting into corners with an alacrity that some manufacturers would consider too edgy. Not for them the 16V's knife- edged responses; more stodge in the steering, they argue, means a greater feeling of security.
Not to this driver. I like the 16V's agility, the way it turns as if by telepathy. When cracking on, you do not steer round bends so much as think the car through them. As with the steering, so with the powerful anti-lock brakes and sharp clutch: delicacy is the watchword for fluent progress.
Kitchski said:
The ACAV system always threw a bh fit. I think we jammed it open in the end!
Found some pics of my old one seeing as we're sharing the love:
Won that for £400 on the bay a few years back. Swapped it for an AX GTi if I remember rightly.
Brilliant, thanks for the photos, im gathering as much info and history as possible, do you mind if i nab your photos (i may use them elsewhere)h fit. I think we jammed it open in the end!Found some pics of my old one seeing as we're sharing the love:
Won that for £400 on the bay a few years back. Swapped it for an AX GTi if I remember rightly.
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