Top story: AutoSpies.com announces new reader forum blog

I must say that I’m actually a bit disappointed to see a web blog. Too much like an automotive forum and we all know how those end up. The anonymity of the internet seems only to bring out the worst of people when reading web forms. Too many scathing, slandering remarks for my taste. Worst of all, opinions are given way over the top with no respect for others. One of those “I’m right and you’re wrong because I’m smart and you’re stupid” kind of attitudes. In addition, making decisions about large purchases (ie automobiles) based on the opinions of anonymous, often lying, internet handles is futile at best. I have often noticed that the only time someone is motivated enough to write their opinions online are if they are ecstatic about their purchase or extremely displeased; leaving the vast majority of people nominally happy with their purchases. Even genuine, down to earth comments and criticism must be taken with a grain of salt. When someone says “BMW’s perform better than Mercedes,” that’s a pretty relative statement. All it really tells me is that they’ve never actually driven a Mercedes for any length of time. Or vise versa. I will tell anyone that I’m a Mercedes fan first, then BMW but that’s only because of my preference but to right out tell someone that there is a noticeable difference in performance on public roads is just kidding themselves and giving bad advice in general. If anything, they should speak of things that can be easily and numerically understood. Example: Price, options, service.. ect. The “Feel” of a car should be left to just that… Our hands and feet, not our words. But I digress. Really, I can only hope that Autospies will keep a close watch on what is said and try to get rid of the trolls as they come.

Hi Carolyn. The current Mercedes free maintenance will end for all 2005 cars. With that said, here’s what you’re missing by not receiving the maintenance program: Free oil changes. That’s about it. The Mercedes maintenance schedule for the larger services A and B will not be covered, but I don’t believe they were covered in the free maintenance plan anyway. Oil changes will only come about once a year under normal driving and the larger maintenances only come every 2 or so years. The same Mercedes warranty still applies though. Really all your missing is your oil changes. It’s not something that I would base my car making decision on. Let’s just say if you swing a good deal with your dealer, the price difference in the car will more than make up for the lost oil changes.

PS. Buying a later model car may be more bug free as the manufacturer works out some of the kinks from early model years.

First all my vehicles were Japanese. My 98 Lexus ES 300 is dependable but boring as hell. Not to mention I had to spend $2,400 to replace a bent valve in the #5 cylinder. Something the dealer refused to fix under warranty...yeah Lexus !!! One thing about the Japanese...there excellent copiers...when was the last time you saw a German automaker or an American automaker copy something from Japan...hmmm ! What about those Mercedes turn signal lights on the mirrors...so many Japanese cars have them now that a friend of my...she will remain nameless...thought that was an idea straight out of Japan...you can't tell her otherwise. Until the Japanese start to show some original thinking...I give them no respect. Its easy to build great cars when you don't need the time to start from scratch. Just copy other designs and make them better !

The choice is simple. Consider the 2004 AUDI A6 4.2 with sports package and you will see what an amazing all around premium vehicle this is. I won't go into the likes or dislikes of other premium marquees, but you would do yourself an injustice if you did not try the A6 4.2 or 2.7T...and you get the vaunted Quattro system to boot. I know several A6 4.2 owners as well as A8 L owners who are extremely pleased with their vehicles and have had no problems whatsoever. Seems like the new A8 L is extremely reliable and how can you go wrong with the an Audi V8 4.2 engine. It is indestructable and high performance all at the same time. Or MGR you can wait till the end of the year for the new A6 which all the reviews are saying is remarkable.

It always puzzles us automotive enthusiasts in Europe how you Americans seem to always passby Audi, when the Ingolstadt based company in Europe is considered more premium and luxurious than its competitor from Munich. You seem to have it upside on your side of the pond. Maybe you just don't get all the great Audis that we get like the RS versions or W-12s, or you may not be familiar with the heritage of Audi as we are. Lexus does not even register in Europe and the Nissan and Honda have hesitated to try to brand their Infiniti and Acura lines respectively in Europe because no needs them in Europe.