Reciprocal Linking between similar sites

[nicedeals]

I recently read somewhere that sites that link reciprocally may be penalised by google.:confused:
Just curious to know if its wise for me to link two automotive related sites reciprocally or not?

[live-cms_com]

I'm interested, too.

[infonote]

I doubt it is penalised. It just does not help that much.

[linsys]

Reciprocal can provide some Link juice you just have to be careful about how you go about it, you don't ever want your site and the sites you link to be considered a link farm.

Remember that one way links are the best, the most NON reciprocal links you can get the better.

[nicedeals]

yeh I know people can manipulate the PR with cross linking but I feel that the visitors to one site will find the link to the other quite valuable. e.g. a site on BMW is linking and Mercedes and vice versa

[keela]

I've read about that recently here (http://www.webmasterworld.com/link_development/3423071.htm).
It seems they have updated their link guidelines (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=66356&query=link+exchange&topic=&type), and added an 'Excessive':

Excessive reciprocal links or excessive link exchanging ("Link to me and I'll link to you.")

Now the thing is, how many links are 'Excessive' for Google?

[trichnosis]

google has started to become very sharp for link bussiness.

link buying /sell or link exchange.

i dont suggest you to make link exchange.

google can recognise it and you may get problem

[stock_post]

It is sad, but Google say something and it has to be the next standard.

Why don't they just discontinue giving value to the out bound links?
Thanks

[Mencucci]

Reciprocal links are NOT dead - relying on reciprocal links is. ;)