[Hersbird]

The original Insight was subsidized by the government and probably sold at a loss as a statement by Honda. Had it carried its own water used ones would still be over $10,000 and wouldn't work on the math. But since it was, and many new cars still are means that they do make sense form a cost standpoint.
OldT may have also just been talking about this particular Insight a 110,000 mile one with a brand new battery For $4100. There aren't many if any other one out there this cheap so it was subsidized by somebody selling it WAY below market. If my dad bough me a car and gave it to me for free it suddenly looks pretty good on a cost per mile comparison.