I dont think anyone is trashing this car, but to ignore potential problems would be like going blindly into any purchase. Or blindly believing what a car salesman tells you. The more research that is done, the more options considered, makes for a better and more educated decision.
As far as Acidic oil. GM spent hundreds of thousands of dollars researching oil and its actual life.( we were mandated by Dave Hill to produce the first ( in the industry ) 200,000 mile benchmarked motor.) Specifications for the oil,( specific to the C5, a bottom breather ) the oil routing, and the oil life monitoring system were put in place to insure this madidate . I was personally involved in the oil life monitoring system. we had such oversight on the effects of combustion and synthetic oil, we actual changed the bench mark in 2000. In my very educated Automotive engineering career, I've seen much more damage to car with low mileage and little to no maintenance than cars with high mileage and good maintenance.

Some one just delivered an unmolested C5 with over 650,000 miles to the Corvette museum . In my tenure here ( 18 years ) after leaving GM, I have witness and received in PM conversations, many 200K 300K and 400K cars, following the scheduled maintenance that have had only regular maintenance items replaced. No one who knows anything about automotive technology would ever say that a low mileage car is a guarantee of a no issue purchase. Anyone who thinks age is not a factor is a fool. My concerns are valid concerns, and not to be confused with actual problems. That's what we do here, offer up potential problems to be considered. Also we have offered positive feedback on the areas most feel are positive. Research and honest feedback is the foundation of a good purchase. Also having reliable people offering their opinion, and your faith in their opinion be it positive or negative is one of the greatest values of an automotive forum.
Bill aka ET.

 

I would never choose to denigrate the excellent process involved with the building of the C5 and the longevity of the finished product, which has been nothing short of excellent. I would applaud those who supervised the design and the bringing of this product to market.

On the other hand, I have personally supervised the buying and selling of well over 100,000 vehicles and the servicing of literally millions of them. That "real world" experience has taught me that there is no substitute for low mileage on vehicles when compared to high mileage vehicles and the predictability of future problems. To choose to think the low mileage vehicle is susceptible to a greater number of potential problems than the perfectly maintained 100,000 mile vehicle... would be just flat silly. Would it not be true, it would save all of us a of money. Unquestionably, for some reason, low mileage cars always have been and always will be worth considerably more money than high mileage ones.

 

For discussion sake only. Most people who sell cars " Literally, Million"s" as in more than 1 million.. Most people who sell millions of cars rarely get to see them 1 , 2, 3, 5 , 10 years down the road. In my 40 year automotive engineering career and with millions and millions ( tongue in cheek ) of FMEA's performed and documents ( Failure Modes Effect Analysis )
My educated opinion of low mileage cars with little maintained compared to the maintenance schedule we developed with the car and the testing that went into it is more suspect. I started on the development of the systems for the C5 in May of 1995 when I crossed over to the Corvette design Studio. GM spent millions in testing and development of an almost idiot proof offering. There are basic physics involved in the specific gravity a flexural modulus of rubber and plastic parts that are effected more by age then function. Some in- function parts actually last longer in a high mileage car than static parts found in a low mileage car. This is not my opinion , this is a fact in the FMEA we test in our environmental test chamber.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, as am I, but as Ive said many times here. I would rather buy a 60K C5 with maintenance records, than a 20 K C5 with no records, especially one with tires that are 15 or 16 years old. Sure tires can be change but what does say about other maintenance items if the Original owner only puts 500 miles a year on it.

Again just two opposing points of view.
Bill aka ET


I know a few things because I have seen a few things

 

Here we go again. What's with some of you guys? " Are they reputable? " is a fair question. Why the attempt to place a negative slant on the original question, i.e. flood damage and other people's headaches?

 

Caution is a good thing, especially when looking to spend thousands of dollars. Caution and questions are perfectly acceptable. Both positive and negative aspects are valuable in making an educated decision.

Personally when doing my research on any purchase, I look at the reviews, especially the amount of reviews an the negatives first, I look for a pattern of negatives and use my personal experience, education and gut to decided the credibility of the reviewers. I dont want to see any negatives but they are usually there, and have to decide what negatives have an alternative agenda. Of course the positive reviews are also important,

That stuff about " if you dont have anything nice to say then dont say anything is something you say around your MOM. I want to hear honest feedback most importantly, the negative stuff, I will decide the credibility of the feedback
If everyone only offered positive feedback, it would do a big disservice to those looking to purchase some of the real crap that is out there.

 

I think you will find few knowledgeable people are going to question BAT's legitimacy. You must apply to them and have the vehicle you are going to sell "accepted" before they become involved. They only accept those vehicles they deem interesting and relevant. They are involved in the description and information disclosed on the site and demand complete disclosure. For this they charge the seller $99 and exchange the seller's and buyer's information when the auction is completed. They do not get involved in the exchange of money. It would not be considered by those in the collector hobby as a source of flood and other damaged vehicles.