Is it better to go for a bargain or quality? When the topic turns to car repair, Master Shang who has driven a taxi for 6 years shakes his head: "It's troublesome, especially after the warranty period!" As taxis are on the road every day, they have a higher chance of being damaged. In addition to regular maintenance, Master Shang has had plenty of dealings with car repairs: "I've been deceived too many times! Once, my brakes broke down and I found a nearby roadside shop to replace the brake pipe. Unexpectedly, it broke again before I had even gone two kilometers. Later, when I compared at an authorized repair shop, I realized that I had been given a substandard product." Since he has suffered losses many times, why not go to a proper 4S store for repairs? "The quality there is guaranteed, but I can't afford the repairs!" Master Shang calculated the costs for the reporter: "If the engine of my Charade breaks down, it would cost around 1000 yuan to fix it at a roadside shop, but at a 4S store, it would cost more than 4000 yuan. Not only is it expensive, but I can't wait either! The 4S store requires reservations, and you have to wait. A roadside shop can fix it anytime." Although Professor Wang, who owns a Bora, does not frequent individual repair shops like Master Shang, he also has his share of troubles when talking about car repairs: "I generally go to the 4S store for maintenance and repairs. The environment there is elegant, the service attitude is good, and the technology is advanced, making me feel secure. The price is a bit high, but with a membership card, I can get a discount, which is still acceptable." But he cannot let the 4S store handle everything: "It's not worth going there for small problems like a broken windshield wiper. It's better to find a place near home for repairs, although I always feel uneasy." Repairing cars right at your doorstep While Master Shang and Professor Wang are troubled by "buying a car is easy, maintaining it is hard," a new car repair model akin to McDonald's franchise operation - car quick repair chain stores - has quietly appeared in Beijing. These quick repair stores mainly take the form of street and community locations, relying on chain operations. Compared to the repair methods of 4S stores, they are not only convenient and fast, but also cheaper. At the Dongxin Yuan branch of one of the car quick repair chain brands, "Zhongche Car Repair," the staff told the reporter: "Our store is located inside a residential area, which is very convenient for residents with cars. Since we are a chain operation, it is also very convenient for members to repair their cars. Yesterday, a member from Tongzhou had a car breakdown in Zhongguancun and came to our store for repairs. All our repair personnel are professionally trained, and our equipment is very complete, so the quality is no worse than that of a 4S store. However, the price can be about 20% lower, making it very attractive to ordinary people." Regarding this, Mr. Yang who was waiting in the lounge commented: "It's close to home, saving both effort and time, and more reliable than roadside shops, with reasonable prices. Therefore, I now bring my car here for regular maintenance. For minor issues, I don't bother going to a repair factory specifically, I just come here for repairs." Each has its own strengths Faced with this new competitor, professional 4S stores reacted very calmly. At a Shanghai Volkswagen 4S store beside the Information Road in Beijing, the person in charge confidently introduced: "Compared to car quick repair chain stores, our advantages are very obvious. First, the repair system is sound, with three levels of inspection alone: in-factory inspection system, repair process inspection system, and out-of-factory inspection system. Secondly, the technical strength and equipment are reliable, and the quality of auto parts is guaranteed. We can undertake high-difficulty repair tasks, which happen to be the disadvantages of quick repair shops." Of course, regarding the soft spot of 4S stores - price, he explained that it is due to the price of original equipment components and the use of high-quality Shell oil, as well as other relatively higher operating costs. "However, car quick repair chain stores are established in residential areas, which is very convenient. Here, car repairs require reservations, and some 'feet-off-the-ground' car owners may not be able to wait."