THE three-spoke steering wheel has buttons to operate the multi-function message system in the dash pod on its left-hand side, with audio and telephone volume controls on the right. There is both height and reach adjustment which is easily activated by a sliding lever underneath the steering column. There are no stalks on the right-hand side of the column. On the left, the large stalk controls the indicators and wipers - there's no wiper on the rear though (strange) - while the smaller one-touch stalk sets the cruise control and is one of the simplest, most effective system around. Mirror adjustment is controlled from a dial and push-buttons on the right-hand side of the dashboard, while below that sits the headlight, foglight and headlight height adjustment controls, and below that again the hand release for the foot-operated parking brake - a Benz special that one. The drivers' control for the two auto-up/down power windows sits very low on the door. Annoying were the six blanks under the air-condiitoning vents on the centre console, which implies the car is down-specced.