It's been idling rough after warm up for months. I replaced plugs, wires distributor cap, tried fuel injection cleaner - still no fix.

Annapolis Motors diagnosis: Intake Manifold gasket and some kind of "guides" need replacement. I stopped listening after I heard $2,000. This must be 95% labor. I'll bet the parts total $100. How many hours is this job? Needless to say, I told them to button up my engine and I'll get another quote (or 2 or 3).

I know that these are sensitively tuned high performance machines and anybody who owns them must be prepared for $2,000 repair invoices, but how is it possible that my 89 Towncar goes 180K miles with relatively little hassle and a baby butt smooth idling engine?

It's apples and oranges, I know. That was rhetorical. Thanks for allowing me to vent! I love my Benzes, but for what the components cost, they should be more durable. Shouldn't they?

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1991 560SEL (254K miles)
1980 Lincoln Mark VI - Givenchy
1979 Lincoln Mark V Collector's Series
1979 Lincoln Town Car Collector's Series
1979 Ford "Effie" Pickup (in gradual transformation to a show/street truck)
1969 Lincoln Mark III (waiting for "Overhaulin" to call)
1989 Lincoln Towncar
2001 Lexus GS300 (spousal unit's daily driver)