Having lots of power IS nice, and can also be a question of saftey. -But when you consider it a safety option, it's in most cases just about getting you out of situations caused by lousy planning! -Situations you wouldn't get yourself into if you are used to having an under powered vehicle. Having a lot of power in reserve also means you have an engine that spend more of it's time outside the BSFC sweet-spot, giving you poorer fuel economy. (unless you start using more of that power, making you more stressed out and more dangerouns)
I have had both fairly over powered cars, some more average and also some VERY under powered. Having an engine so weak that it may take five minutes to reach cruising speed can be very stressful, and also dangerous, but only as long as you continue to make resistance to that experience. Once you have accepted the (slightly) lower pace and the fact that you cannot pass a car on the highway if it's slightly slower than you, the driving can change to something actually MORE RELAXING. -Since you know you cannot pass others in any situation, you just accept the slightly lower speed, stay in your lane and let the others keep on doing their fruitless battle against time. When you arrive at the end, amazingly fem minutes later, you do it with a smile and feel more relaxed! Knowing that your under powered car and relaxed driving style also saves you a lot of money and pollution, makes it feel even better.
As a driver of a low powered vehicle you also get more skilled of "reading" traffic, simply because you have to work so hard to get your speed back up, after hitting the brakes. This can actually make you a lot quicker through city traffic than in a powerful traffic light racer! (guess if those BMW CEO:s go crazy after being passed four times by the same little lazy ****)
