On Interstate 80 heading west, halfway across Pennsylvania, the C230 Kompressor Sport proved itself an able cruiser. Its speed control passed the superslab grade test. Even over the uphill and downhill sections of I-80, it never varied from the selected speed unless prompted by the driver. There was little wind noise though enough of the tire rumble came up through to remind us that we weren't in a tomb. The C230 Kompressor Sport needed a steady hand on the helm, however, because its responsiveness and readiness to turn in on winding roads translated into a need to pay attention. It is, after all, a driver's car.
In around-town driving the automatic transmission was utterly flawless, with smooth shifts detectable only on the tachometer. At full throttle, the transmission and engine computers talk to each other to briefly cut back on power while the automatic slips into the next higher gear without so much as a jiggle. If desired, the driver can choose gears manually; the zigzag shift gate facilitates one-gear-at-a-time shifts, but the shifts are slow. Next Page