CITROEN ZX 1.4i Leader 5dr (1996)

The ZX - Citroen, but not as we know it.

A great family car from across the channel, a good rival to the Ford Escort or something, the Citroen ZX was probably the first sensible thing to come out of France, really. It's no Carla Brunei to look at but it's respectable and reliable. It varies from other Citroen models, in a number of ways, all of which are good.

For a start, you don't have to worry about it being over-complicated and obscurely sourced like most other Citroens as I reckon the ZX was designed for the international market. So the suspension is sturdy and simple and the car is generally well constructed and reliable.

The handling and performance are pretty much average in my eyes. And by that I mean they're unproblematic and reasonable. And therefore nothing like any Citroen that came before. So it's well worth investing in one of these if you're looking for an incredibly cheap and reliable second-hand car.