I was startled to find out that a replacement A/C compressor on the 2nd gen Prius comes in at $1500, mostly due it seems to its awkward position in the engine bay. Does anyone know if the 3rd gen suffers the same fate? Also, generally speaking, are Prius parts more expensive than its traditional Toyota counterparts?
The 3rd gen compressor is electric and so is the 2nd gen. That's why they are so expensive. And yes, the 3rd gen is about 15-1700.
Certain Prius replacement parts for the brake hydraulics, cooling systems, engine and transmission are orders of magnitude more expensive than conventional cars. Regular fluid changes and other preventive maintenance beyond what Toyota specifies for these systems makes these generally durable parts last longer, some for the life of the car. Neglecting preventive maintenance or abusing a Prius can result in very expensive repairs.
