i owned a 190sl in the mid-sixties and drove it for 2 years on the freeways of chicago and made several extended road trips in it. i never thought of it as underpowered, perhaps distracted by its many other saving graces. they are absolutely rock solid and a joy to drive. i've owned an untold number of cars since and still think fondly of the 190sl. by the way, mine was a year old when i bought it for $2600.