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2005 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Road Test

Priorities of a More Practical Kind

I was on the road course next to the California Speedway, in Fontana last week, living out a car enthusiasts dream. I learned the track with the completely new Porsche Boxster, before moving up to a Tiptronic-equipped 911 Cabriolet. After that I did an autocross course in the new 911 Carrera S coupe, followed up by a run in the droptop version back on the race track. Finishing off the ideal sports car progression was the pièce de résistance, a gorgeous, all-powerful Carrera GT.

Of course, Mercedes would have something to say about my all-powerful comment. After all, the rival German manufacturer produces its own collection of sports cars starting with the Boxster-fighting SLK, followed up by the Tiptronic-equipped 911 Cabriolet-competitive

Last week I had a Mercedes-Benz C55 to test drive, this week it is the other end of the spectrum with the C230. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

SL 500. In the all-powerful department is its series of AMG sports cars, starting with the SLK55 AMG, then the SL55 AMG, and finally the SL65 AMG.

But I covered an AMG product last week, the compact C55. And unlike the ideal progression of slowest to fastest sports car I experienced on track with Porsche, the reason I decided to talk about this experience within a Mercedes-Benz review in the first

From an acceleration point of view, the C230 is a bit disappointing... well, at least after getting out of the C55. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

place, I started out with the C55 and followed up with the C230 Kompressor; Mercedes-Benzs most basic ride.

From an acceleration point of view, the C230 is a bit disappointing... well, at least after getting out of the C55. If I had started with the C230, I dont think we would be having this conversation. But its just this type of situation that forces me to put aside any personal priorities regarding performance, and focus in on exactly why the C230 Kompressor exists, and its many merits.

If we were to search back a decade or two ago, a compact M-B sedan featuring a supercharger that produced 189-horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque would have been designated with the AMG badge. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

First of all, its hardly slow. If we were to search back a decade or two ago, a compact M-B sedan featuring a supercharger that produced 189-horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque would have been designated with the AMG badge - well almost. It definitely would have been right up there with the most powerful 6-cylinder powered C-Class, BMW 3-Series or Audi A4. In comparison to whats available now, the base 1.8T-powered A4 makes 200-horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, while the BMW 320i makes a mere 168-horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque

If youre planning on going the cheaper route with the C230, then power is most likely not a big priority. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

- ironically similar to BMW 325is figures of the mid-80s. There are others in the class that make more power in base form, such as the Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS 300, that offer better quality, according to reliable third party sources such as J. D. Power and Associates and Consumer Reports, plus many more features for the money, but these are not German, so therefore dont qualify.

To Mercedes credit the C230 Kompressor starts out just over a thousand less than the Infiniti G35s $30,600, but about the same as the $29,735 Lexus IS 300 and $29,300 BMW 325i. The A4 is even cheaper at $25,800, although front-wheel drive for that paltry sum. Why do I mention this front-driver in the

Lets just say that the cheapest Mercedes-Benz is not the least powerful. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

same sentence? Because if youre planning on going the cheap route with the C230 already, then performance is most likely not the priority.

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