Go drive some more Zeds
I saw, fell in love and bought the first zed I drove. Fantastic price with very low mileage for a 2004 car and had a full dealer service history, BUT its cost me so-far somewhere in the region of 1-1.5k in repairs it needed. Things like an upcoming service, new tyres, bushes, all droplinks and the bill next year to get the aircon fixed all add up very quickly.
It was alarming (until I learned better) the amount of noises you hear within the cabin. The zed is just a very mechanical sounding car, still makes me worry sometimes but the only way you will know if that one is a dud is to drive another.
I also have the transmission issue with the syncro (as I believe many other members do) but ive just learnt to shift slowly from 5th > 6th and let the revs dull down a little. Cant afford the £800+ for a gearbox to cure a problem that only occurs if your already breaking the speed limit anyway, changing into 6th rapidly at high revs will easily put you over 100mph so don't really see the point...