I have a 14 IS350 that I've gone back and forth about selling. The main reason why I don't is because of its size relative to horsepower - cars around 180 inches or less with over 300hp are a dying breed. Smaller cars are useful when you work in a major city with tight parking spots. Right now, the only replacement I can find for it, in a sedan, is the Audi RS3 and I'm waiting to see what updates they make to the 2025 model.

 

Sounds like you're set on the Subaru, in the end get what you like and what you can afford.
Once you determine that, check with others for reliability, etc.

I'm biased towards the 3IS (and probably most people here are as well), but I do have a 2022 RAM 1500 as well which is great for every day use.
My IS200T is staying, especially knowing that it's discontinued by Lexus (in Canada at least) and my next car is more than likely the IS500, so I'm not in the best position to suggest what to get.

 

And the Audi comes with it's own set of issues longer-term.

 

I would look at your driving style and habbit, given the fact that you can not control traffic but your driving style still plays a big part, I get about 400 miles to the tank. Between 25-26mpg in my 2022 IS350. Also I had a new 2018 STI, fun but mileage sucks and ringland issues sucks, traded that thing in after 9 months on a IS200t back then, now I got my new IS350

 

SG9 is not exactly fuel efficient and rides a bit like a truck compared to an Outback. The forester is a box, more practical than an IS

 

5 year owner here of an IS.

All your points are valid. I drive in Southern California where the roads are third world especially in main arteries due to heavy vehicle traffic. Constant potholes, huge 2-3 inche bumps on road due to sewer covers.

I even made a huge thread you can check about going to a much bigger tire on all 4 wheels to cushion the bumps. The F-Sport is made for race-behavior and you will pay for that in the form of walking-on-eggshells type car reaction to bumps, potholes, etc.

It is pathetic with regard to fuel economy as well. Unless you drive in 7th, 8th gear real MPG is 16-19 MPG even in ECO.

But you need to understand every car has its pros and cons. In some cars you get styling but no value-for-money. In some cars you have features but no status/brand/interior options.

The car is really a driving, metal, metaphor for the tastes/preferences of the driver.

The IS is like a brattish child or beautiful gf. You love it and hate it . Polarizing yes. But the others are too. You cannot get the same look and road presence with a camry or an accord.

If cars are just a commodity to you - then dump it. It isnt worth the trouble and I agree on tires. Tirewear on the front especially I escalated to Lexus Corporate.

Cars are not a commodity to me - it's an extension of how you present yourself. How you want to live. Your personality. I already made peace with the labor rates at Lexus, servicing costs, the upkeep of the tires, the disgusting violent behavior/reaction to bumps/potholes/third class roads. Why ? Because every time I look at my baby it makes me smirk and gives me a feeling of pride and achievement.

I've been in Lambos, Ferraris, Rolls-Royces. You wouldn't believe the Lexus got as many compliments from my passengers and strangers as well.

Spec: F-Sport 2016 IS, Piano Black with Blood Red interior.

 

Thank you everyone for your insights. After reading it and sleeping on it for a few days I’m deciding to keep the car for now. I’ll list my reasons here
​​​​​​

• First, I love my stupid car. I named it Stella because she loves to take my money and blow my back at times. She’s spoiled and I treat her so. I love the driving dynamics, looks, and it’s the ONLY car in its class with AWD with four doors that is practical.
• Secondly, I like the fact that I can work on it with ease. Everything is so simple and well put together it almost feels like I don’t even own a luxury car. As long as I don’t tune it or do something else, I believe it’ll take care of me pretty well.
• Third, it’s just a horrible time to buy a car right now. With the election coming up in the states and the interest rates not budging, I’m not sure it would be smart to invest into another car. I’d rather hold off and stabilize finances a bit more before I can step into another vehicle. Also, I’m saving up for a house (I know, being an adult sucks) so I’ve gotta put my priorities first.
• Lastly, I will have to learn how to enjoy it. Honestly, I’m thinking about trading it in for a VA WRX/STI down the road, but 3IS really offers a lot. Most of the time I put it in eco mode, but when I carve up the twisties, it feels better than my Miata at times. The best part is, I can relax with my AC and vented seats on while I do so.

Honestly the biggest thing holding me back from trading my car in right now is the economy and my priorities. I just want to make sure that I’m financially stable and set things straight before I make another big decision. Thank you all for your insights and making me realize that I have a car that I love. It’s hard to see the good sometimes when you go through so much of the bad with the car but I’d like to keep it for just a bit longer.


PS Here’s my little car family side to side. My Miata is in the transmission shop getting a new clutch.

 

Congrats and I'm on the same boat.

Reasons:
Nothing is out there in the market worth taking the hit on depreciation/trade-in offers. Sizes are same, maybe a little new feature here or there.

Marginal benefit/loss taken perspective it's not worth losing.

 

Off topic, but which window visors do you have?

If the car isn't ruining you financially, enjoy it!

 

This made me laugh so hard at work

 

just some eBay sticker ones. I just looked up 3is rain guard and it popped up.

 

I've owned an inline-4 2.4L acura tsx '04, a v6 3.5L acura TL '13, and now an AWD IS300 base with over 115K kilometers. All premium gas and price has only skyrocketed since my first car. I pay just under 2 grand CAD/year tax-in and get just over 500km of range.

I purposely run 17s with a thick, meaty tire in the winter and oem spec 19s in a Montreal, Canada littered with harsh roads and potholes. So far so good, and relatively comfy despite my 19s being low-profile. No cracked mags yet fingers crossed.

The future will be hybrids and and low displacement motors, some cars I'd consider personally:

1.hybrid Toyota Prius 2024
2.Mazda 3 hatch 2020
3.Honda Civic Hatch 2.0L
4.hybrid Toyota SE 2024

but the dream tho:
1.hybrid Volvo v90 wagon
2.hybrid Volvo v60 wagon

 

Concurrently own a 16is300 AWD and an s2000. Before purchasing my IS I had a 2016 wrx. To be honest, that thing was such a chore to drive daily. I would avoid it if you’re going to daily it. Suspension is super firm and bouncy, manual trans is gritty and notchy, throttle is overly sensitive, has terrible rev hang, clutch is heavy and vague, infotainment is laggy. That said it’s a lot of fun when you push it and has grip for days. But the rear biased AWD system in the IS is much more enjoyable since you can get some rotation from the rear unlike the Subarus 5050 awd distribution and open differential.

 

actuarial tables..., constructed from the past data and some predictions.

it seems that the IS driver isn't the same "type" that drives BMWs. So, the risk is factored in as higher rates for BMW.

 

Right, I am more referring to this, from the OP's original post:

This seems like an inordinately high insurance rate. I pay $1073 for 6 months on my... ahem, 2023 IS 500. My wife's 2023 BMW X3 is at $1246 per 6 months.

Now, it could be due to age - after all, OP says they are on parents' insurance. However, I don't think it'd be that much of a difference, especially considering the car is not brand-new anymore.