I enjoyed it the 8 months I owned it, aside from all of the items that broke. I had to vent somewhere because I took a big hit on a trade in. I traded it on a Mini Cooper S Convertible because I couldn't sell it to a private buyer in good conscience due to the piston slap issue. Here is the list of problems repaired, replaced, or still existing in that short time. None of these existed during the test drive, and I drove it for 20 minutes on the highway. It was a 2001 convertible with 63,000 miles.

1. Front right wheel bearing - causing ABS fault
2. MAF sensor due to knocking at WOT but didn't fix the issue
3. Steering wheel position sensor due to active handling fault
4. Oil pressure sensor
5. Fuel sending unit failed reading 0 on gauge
6. Intermittent cruise control
7. Piston slap at cold start up to 169 degree oil temp
8. Popping under car under torque. Couldn't find the issue, but replaced several suspension components and replaced rear end fluid. I also tightened everything I could get my hands on including subframe bolts front and rear.
9. Value took a nose dive of nearly 2k during that time.
10. Factory program update, again fighting knock.
11. Battery replaced, dies intermittently if left for 3-4 days. Left me stranded at the airport.
12. All grounds removed and soldered to common lug to fix multiple electrical problems.
13. Column lock bypass, left me stranded for 2 days.
14. Fixed most leaks, but sometimes it gets in during a hard rain and soaks my floors.

Again, I loved the torque and the gas mileage, but would never recommend this to someone as a reliable or high quality vehicle.

 

Sounds like you had a bad apple. I bought my C5 with 80k about 7 months ago and have only had to replace the window regulator. I did a lot of research on C5 reliability and found that most people had few issues going past 100k. Unfortunately cars are always a gamble, some will go 300k without missing a beat, others will break every 1000 miles. It sucks when you get the latter. Hope you enjoy the Mini, I've heard those are actually a lot of fun!

 

Yup sounds about right and then some. My car welllllll i better not say because something might break.
To me it was worth all the BS that i went through and contiune. Love my car even though it hates me.

 

This is why I will NEVER buy a used car from a dealership or used car lot. I'm not blaming you at all but there are too many people who either have lemons or neglect to maintain their vehicles before trading them in. If I were to sell my car, today, I could honestly say that it has only one issue and that is the HUD display dimming during warm weather. Other than that, it is in great shape.

 

Too bad you've had all of those problems. I've had 2 C5's and frankly they've been the most troble free cars I've ever owned.

 

All of these problems are common as I searched through the forums. No amount of proper maintenance would have stopped the oil sensor and fuel sensor from breaking. The column lock is also something that plagues C5 corvettes. Those would have been OK, but the piston slap was the killer. I don't know how the dealer covered this up, but we started it cold and I didn't hear it. I developed the slap over some long trips.

 

Nope, dealer has the responsibility now of fixing everything thats wrong before selling it. They have the funds and resources to do so.

 

Piston slap was also a common complaint for the earlier vehicles.

 

LOL @ thinking a mini cooper S is going to be less problematic.

Those things are heaps.

 

Actually, they also have the option to wholesale them to a wholesaler or auction, there for relieving them of responsibility. When a private buyer buys a car thats going to be wholesale they sign a paper that states any problems from there on out is the buyers responsibility and the dealer cant be held responsible.

 

What a drag......and traded it for a Mini Cooper? I've never seen a car dealer take a vehicle and ********* in on trade before.

 

 

 

Ha ha ha, OK that was funny. I actually had a 2004 supercharged cooper S and it was one of the best cars I have ever owned. They are very well built. I guess one's perception is based on personal experience.

 

I would push my Z06 before i would trade it for a MINI

 

Yep....drove one. A girl (friend)of mine owns a 09 mini cooper S supercharged. I drove it for about an hour one evening. After driving that car for an hour, my mind was a mess. All I could think about was changing the curtains in the livingroom, what shoes I was going to wear to the office Christmas party........and suddenly was compelled to buy Barbara Streisand's greatest hits.

 

My wife has an 06 cooper s, it is not particularly reliable.

 

Geeze Lucky,

You take a few days off & really come back on a roll.

 

Lucky. I love it!!

 

I bought my 99 vert have 54xxx miles from local private dealer with 30days bumper to bumper warranty.
Requested carfax when test drive. I owned 1985 coupe back in 1992 have some experience with Vette.
Took home driving daily for 2 weeks see some codes and oil pressure=0.
Bring to Chervolet dealer for Oil change (cost 49.95) ask Customer services guy for whole car inspection and quote all repair needed.
Have to bring car next day when Corvette specialist available.
After 3 hrs they came up with
oil pressure sensor bad.
TPMS bad
Other thing are solid
Come back to Dealer where i bought the car requested repair per Chervolet inspection. They agree to pay for all that.
Month later upgrade brake by myself until now all working as new.
Got 18.xx mpg with Chervon 93 and 17.5-8 with same 93 from other brand.