Well, I'm not sure that I can add anything that hasn't been said. But I would like to say that routine maintenance is key to keeping these cars running.
The sensor in the gas tank that he speaks off, I'm guessing, is the fault of running cheap gas, and can happen to any GM (probably other MFG too). I have experienced it with two other vehicles as well (both GM) Top tier fuels should be run in these cars (all of them really), but if you can't, do what most Corvette people do, run a bottle of "Techron" through every other tank or so. The additives in the Techron clean those sensors in the tank and the fuel system in general.
The power supply (battery) on these cars is critical to the electronic systems. Even I never realized how important they were until I listened to, our own, Paul Koerner (C4C5 Specialist).
VetteTube - Corvette Videos, Corvette Babes, Corvette Pics, Corvette Burnouts, Corvette Mods Lots of things can/will/do happen when the battery isn't up to snuff.
Tire sensors, like was said, are there to let you know when a tire has lost air pressure. I was certainly glad that I had them in during the summer of 2010 when going to CAC Cruisefest. I picked up a nail in my left rear tire. I could not tell when I stopped that there was anything wrong by the looks of the tire. Had I continued on, much further, I would have ruined the tire and instead of a $40 repair it would have cost me a $400 tire. I believe in the tire sensors.....especially with run flats. I replaced mine when I put new tires on.
As for plastic guides and what not, every car is going to have them and they fail due to wear or age. If you read the book "All Corvettes are Red" you will find the many reasons why things were done the way they were in designing and building the Corvette. After reading that book, I truly wanted to buy a C5, and I was a dyed in the wool C4 guy (1984-96) at the time. By the way those are great cars too.
You must maintain these cars, maybe to a higher degree. But they will last 200k+ if you do. Not trying to sell you, but I want you to know that his comments must be tempered, as we/you don't know the full story behind his 98.
