I'm not quite sure what to think about my ZX. I risk being unfair to it because it was an expedient purchase; I really want to be behind the wheel of my dearly-departed Mark 1 BX, not this rather shabby, dull shopping trolley. But the BX is dead and gone, and I needed wheels as cheaply as possible while wrangling with my insurers. Frankly it's a horrible colour, it's pretty ugly, and it's totally lacking in the charm (and hydraulics) that I enjoy in old Citroens.

But then, it does what I needed it to do extremely well. I've been doing a lot of miles in it, and it's carried me around in reasonable comfort and very frugally. What more can you ask for £150? When I'm in a good mood I even feel vaguely fond of it - it's even (whisper it) quite fun to wang around the bendy bits.

Then I think about other cars I've owned and clap my head into my hands in shame. Why is it that the youngest car I've ever owned is also the only car I've ever owned with drum brakes on it? Citroen, what were you thinking?

Still, it's only temporary. I'll be buying a proper car once the insurance company pays out for the BX smash.

24/10/07
It's finally gone, and not a moment too soon. It actually sold on ebay last week for £103 but surprise surprise: the winning bidder, with two feedback and based 200 miles away, didn't come to collect it. I relisted it and when a local person offered fifty notes and a promise to pick it up today I grabbed at the chance. I go away to France on Sunday and couldn't risk going away without having got rid as the tax runs out at the end of the month. It felt like one of the dodgiest deals I've ever done, signing a car over in exchange for some grubby notes in the depths of the Malling estate (the only free parking in Lewes).

That car did me proud, did its job damn well and for a tiny amount of money. I never particularly liked it, but I will always praise it.

All content copyright (c) 1998-2007 Stuart Hedges
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