Apologize to you all in advance...but the question was asked.
For those wanting a short answer, skip everything below the next line...
I have autocrossed my 3 a total of 6 times.
I have a real good idea of what the limits are.
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Breakout: Twice on a private track that belongs to the Arizona Highway Patrol located in Coolidge Arizona, 3 times in Tucson, at SWIR on a large gravel pit parking lot, and once on clean concrete at Libby Army Airfield.
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The 3 (okay my Lava Orange Station Wagon) is not really an AutoX car, but it can embarrass a lot of faster and more expensive cars, properly driven. Sometimes I drive decent, sometimes I drive crappy, on a crappy day, I will (on index) beat 80% of the people that show up.
The car has high limits, and it is reasonably benign....hard to eff up driving the car because understeer happens progressively, and you can tell you are driving stupid by the howling of the tires.
My regular AutoX car is a SM2 Turbo Miata, so guess which one I'd rather drive? Been autocrossing cars since 1981. Beyond that I roadraced a SSB Honda CRX Si for 6 years, a Mazda Rx3 ITA car for another 7 years, and a Spec RX7 for a season.
I've hotlapped a GT3 car, a Porsche 911, a Ferrari 308GTB4, numerous Corvette's, a Lotus Turbo Esprit...visited my relatives in Wolfratshausen Germany, so been on the Autobahn, and no, I did not get to drive the Nurburgring, but promise to do so on the next visit. So yup, I have had more than my share of high speed seat time over the years.
I've raced on every track in Arizona, and most of the tracks in Southern Cali, some are unfortunately closed anymore.
What I am suggesting is based on experience. The best investment anyone can make is in themselves.
The best money I have spent over the years is going to Driving schools at Bondurants in Phoenix, also spent some money with Skip Barber and Track Guyz. One thing they teach you over and over is that Speed doesn't kill, it's the sudden stop. Smoothness trumps testosterone, and you don't know what the limit is until you've spun it a couple of times.
The lack of fundamental driving skills among american (US and Canadian) drivers is an embarrassment for all of us. The 3 is a decent car, bad driving will get you nice and dead, even if you are driving a garbage truck.
I do not advocate speeding on public roadways because even if you DO know what you are doing, you can't read the mind of those around you.
Like I said, one evil granny in a big black Lincoln can do you, me and the rest of you all in a heartbeat, no matter how skilled/good or safe a car you have.
That's my driving resume, and yours?
