The good news is, it's not the battery. The bad news is, it's one of the pistons.

@MyMonstersAreReal Parker Johnstone's Wilsonville Honda. They've done work on it before. They guarantee their work, and I trust them.

@uncalled4 60,000

@LordShadowfire
I just did an evaluation search and a 2013 Honda Insight with 60,000 miles on it has a re-sale value of $5200 and a trade-in value of $3200 in US dollars.

By the time you fix the engine and add the tax to that work estimate of $4k+, you've already exceeded the value of the car itself.

@swirlie Thing is, when I bought it, it had a resale value of $10,000, and I only paid $8,000.

@LordShadowfire
I do a lot of technical/mechanical research in the marine industry which carries over to my personal research in motorcycles which I've applied in your case to cars here.

From my own experience with boats and motorcycles, my advice would be to invest the $4k and get the motor repaired, but then trade the car immediately while the warranty on the engine work is still valid.

The purpose in doing this is strictly to unload the car while you still have the opportunity, because the car has exceeded the age where it is marketable on a Dealer's lot unless it looks great. Anything over 8 years old, you may have trouble trading-in unless you go to a car wholesaler who typically sells cars that are older than 8 years.

If you don't fix the engine, the car is only worth scrap metal price at a scrap yard because the engine is toast as it stands. You'll get between $500 and $800 from a scrap yard, assuming you take it there yourself at your own expense.