A '90s 300SL is a wonderful choice and an outstanding value for the money. I currently own a pair of 300s as well as a '96 SL500, and I can't say I like any one of them more than the other. I really appreciate the power and refinement of the '96 with 300+ horsepower and its electronically-controlled 5-speed automatic, but I feel the 300s have considerably more character. Can't beat the sound of that I-6 and exhaust note revving at 3000 RPM in 3rd gear. And regarding performance, they perform quite nicely if you delay upshifts with manual control.