If you’ve ever wanted to treat yourself to a luxurious sports sedan, now’s probably your best chance to get yourself into a new Audi, Mercedes-Benz or BMW. The entry-level offerings from all three companies have each earned top honors in their class through the years and continue to impress with every new model released, and if you have the right clunker to trade in, these might qualify for up to $4500 off the purchase price.

Whether you’re interested the highly-rated 2010 Audi A4, 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 or 2009 BMW 328i, you’ll be happy to know that all three exude German refinement and a behind-the-wheel experience few automakers can match.  This is not to say they are all the same, however. In this post, we’ll go over the differences between these cars to help narrow down your selection and get you into the luxury car of your dreams.

2010 Audi A4

The 2010 Audi A4 is available with two different engines, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 211 horsepower and a 3.2-liter V6 making 265 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, but Audi’s famous Quattro all-wheel drive system is available. With the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, fuel economy is fairly reasonable at 21/27 mpg (city/highway). The A4 seats five very comfortably, as Audi prides itself on its interiors. The Audi A4 has the lowest starting price of the three at $31,250.

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 comes with one engine choice, a 228-horsepower 3.0-liter V6, and in two trim levels—Sport Sedan and Luxury Sedan. The Sport Sedan model has a few less bells and whistles than the Luxury Sedan, but is otherwise the exact same car. A sportier-looking grille with a centered silver arrow emblem makes the C300 Sport Sedan stand out a bit more on the road. Another feature that makes the Sport Sedan model stand apart from the Luxury Sedan is the standard 6-speed manual transmission that further adds to the car’s sporty appeal. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive is also available. The C300 Sport Sedan achieves 18/26 mpg (city/highway) and starts at $33,600.

2009 BMW 328i

While the C300 Sport Sedan may sound sporty, the BMW 3-series has a corner on the market when it comes to sportiness. The focus for the 2009 BMW 328i is on precision. Everything from the steering feel to the smoothness of the 230-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 is carefully tuned to constantly remind you that you’re driving a high-performance sports sedan. Its firm yet compliant suspension and silky smooth-shifting 6-speed manual transmission make it the obvious choice for true driving enthusiasts. Also, unlike the other two, the 328i is available as a coupe. The 328i comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system is available. The 328i’s starting price matches the C300’s at $33,600 while fuel economy is slightly better at 18/28 mpg (city/highway).

Hopefully by now you have a better idea of which of these three luxury giants you’re interested in. With all the deals going on right now, you should be able to get your hands on one at a great price.

2010 Audi A4 Prices click here

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 Prices click here

2009 BMW 328i Sedan Prices click here

So you’ve finally found the car of your dreams. You’ve found a great deal on the perfect vehicle with a low APR and you are ready to finally take the plunge. Unfortunately, like most of us, you don’t have enough cash on hand to buy it outright. Sound familiar? Not to worry—that’s where car finance options can help make your dream a reality. But before you rush out and accept the first financing package you come across, take some time to learn more about the car financing process and read up on all of your options so that you can make an informed decision that will save you time and money in the long run.

Over at CarsDirect, our experts have compiled an extensive collection of articles and advice that can help you understand and navigate the financing process. From understanding the basics of car finance and the different loan types that are available to researching and finding financing online, we can help take the mystery out of finding a lender for your new car purchase.

“But I have bad credit,” you say. “How can I possibly get financing that won’t cost me an arm and a leg?” While it’s not always easy to get a decent car loan with bad credit, it is far from impossible. Even if you have a car repossession or bankruptcy on your record, you still may be able to get financing from reputable lenders—so don’t let the fear of a credit check keep you from applying for a car loan.

The majority of people who purchase a new car need some sort of financing to help put them behind the wheel, and having your financing situation worked out before you even set foot on a dealership lot can give you a lot of leverage and confidence when it comes to finally making the purchase. Let us help you make sense of all of your options so that you can drive away with financing terms that fit your needs!

We have to admit—we didn’t see this one coming. Mercedes-Benz is offering an unheard of 1.9% APR financing for up to 36 months on most of their 2009 model lineup. That’s right, you can finance a 2009 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CL-Class, CLK-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, SLK-Class, GL-Class, GLK-Class, M-Class or R-Class at an incredible 1.9% APR!

If the thought of driving a minivan doesn’t sit well with frosted side of your mini-wheat frame of mind, hop into a 2009 R350 with its spacious cabin and unmistakable shape.

And the most amazing part of this deal: This offer even applies to many of the BlueTEC clean diesel models including the luxurious and frugal 2009 E320 BlueTEC. Getting a respectable 23/32 mpg (city/highway) while offering an asphalt-wrinkling 400 lb-ft of torque, the E320 BlueTEC is the more fun alternative to a hybrid sedan as our friends at Volkswagen put so eloquently. You may remember us mentioning a federal tax credit available to buyers of new diesel vehicles a few posts back. Well, the E320 BlueTEC qualifies for that tax credit, so you’ll be saving even more money.

You’d better hurry though, as this deal ends July 31, 2009. There’s no telling when (or if) a deal like this will come around again.

Volkswagen has started its year in motor sports off with a bang. With a 1-2 finish in the Dakar Rally, the Touareg II racing team is showing its dominance early on in the season. As Volkswagen prepares for the 2009 Baja 1000, let’s reflect on what makes the Touareg such a great vehicle, both in production form and race form.

For starters, Volkswagen’s own 4XMotion 4-wheel drive system is one of the highlights of the Touareg II and is featured in heavily modified form on its race car brothers. Both the race car and road-going version share the same center-locking differential, which allows equal distribution of power to all four wheels. This makes the Touareg II very capable when it comes to scaling boulder-littered hills or navigating loose gravel roads, and also an obvious choice for off-road racers.

Even if you don’t plan on taking many off-road excursions, a new Touareg can still deliver unmatched driving pleasure at a great value. With two trim levels available, the VR6 FSI with its ultra-narrow angle 3.6-liter V6 producing 280 horsepower, and the V8 FSI with its 4.2-liter V8 producing 350 horsepower, you won’t be wishing you had more power with either model. Now’s your best chance to buy this future off-road legend, as Volkswagen is offering 0% APR financing on all 2009 Touareg models. If there’s any truth to the old saying “win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” there probably won’t be many Touaregs left on dealer lots.

This offer ends March 2, 2009, so you’d better hurry. For the full 4-page review on the Volkswagen Touareg, click here. To see the current deals on 2009 Touareg II’s in your region, click here.

The great thing about Ford’s “Employee Pricing Plus” deal is that it doesn’t exclude any of the cars in Lincoln’s classy model lineup. One model in particular that caught our attention is the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS. With a combination of attractive styling and competent performance, the 2009 MKS is quickly becoming a favorite here at CarsDirect.

A twin cam, 3.7-liter Duratec V6 making 275 horsepower gets the all-wheel drive MKS to 60 mph in a brisk 7.9 seconds. But impressive performance and good looks aren’t all that you’ll get with this luxurious heavy hitter. Lincoln has clearly taken a great deal of time studying the interiors of its competitors, Cadillac, Lexus and Acura. The placement of the front seats, steering wheel and center console put the driver squarely in the center of all the action. Every control is easily within arm’s reach of the driver. The steering wheel-mounted audio controls and SYNC integrated communications and entertainment system are all standard equipment on the MKS and will likely make your life just a little bit easier.

Fuel mileage is very fair for a car of its size, with the front-wheel drive model achieving 17/24 mpg (city/highway) and the all-wheel drive model getting not much less at 16/23 mpg (city/highway). Don’t let this fine automotive beauty slip away. Click the link below and type in your zip code to see how much you can take one home for.

Click here for lowest 2009 Lincoln MKS Prices in your area.