The lifetimes of long-lived parent anions formed by nondissociative electron attachment to C2Cl4 are investigated using Rydberg atom techniques. The ions are created through electron transfer in collisions with K(np) Rydberg atoms and their lifetimes are measured using both time-of-flight techniques and a permanent magnet Penning trap designed specifically for heavy ion storage. The data show that low-energy electron attachment to C2Cl4 leads to the formation of C2Cl4- ions with a broad range of lifetimes extending from similar to3 to similar to130 mus, which is attributed to capture by molecules in different initial vibrational states. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.