Checkered Blog by Checkered Flag is the automotive play place in Hampton Roads Virginia

Checkered Flag's Virtual Expansion

Anyone familiar with the Checkered Blog knows that Checkered Flag has put a lot of emphasis on their Internet sales department and the Internet team, in turn, has done an awesome job!  I recently blogged about the rapid increase in Internet vehicle sales at Checkered Flag and throughout the country.  Since shopping online allows customers both greater vehicle choice and the convenience of doing business from home, many are taking advantage of our Internet sales department to find the car that they want at the price that they want to pay.

One such customer is Vince Vlassicky who came all the way to Checkered Flag from Hobe Sound, FL to buy a Toyota 4-Runner!  Vince wasn't a complete stranger to Checkered Flag, he bought a vehicle here in 1999, but when he couldn't find what he was looking for close to home, his (very wise) wife suggested that he revisit Checkered Flag.  "We had a good experience here before so I thought, why not?" Vince says. Ryan Montville of Checkered Flag's Internet department assisted him with finding the 4x4 that he was looking for.  "The main reason I came all the way to Checkered Flag was because they had exactly the vehicle I wanted.  We took care of all the pricing on the phone.  I told them I didn't want any surprises when I got here!" 

Lawrence Doligosa (pictured right) from Checkered Flag Toyota picked his customer up at the airport and facilitated delivery of the vehicle. He is certain that Vince is now his "favorite customer in Florida!" As for Vince, he's happily making the 900-mile drive back to Hobe Sound in his brand new ride.

How to Help Your Neighbors

The Checkered Blog sends our thoughts and prayers to those affected by yesterday's tornadoes.  For anyone looking to help out, The Virginian-Pilot recently published the following list of relief organizations that are accepting donations to assist Virginia tornado victims.

United Way of Central Virginia www.unitedwaycv.org

United Way of the Virginia Peninsula www.uwvp.org

American Red Cross www.redcross.org – Suffolk, Southeast, Petersburg and Greater Richmond Chapters

Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org

Federation of Virginia Food Banks www.foodbankonline.org

Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia www.cceva.org

Lutheran Disaster Response & Lutheran Family Services of Virginia www.ldr.org

Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia www.sbcv.org

Virginia Baptist Mission Board www.vbmb.org

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance www.pcusa.org

Virginia United Methodist Church Conference Disaster Response www.vaumc.org

Adventist Community Services www.communityservices.org

Virginia Beach Society for the Preventions of Cruelty to Animals www.vbspca.com

The Humane Society of the United States www.hsus.org/disaster

Suffolk Foundation. Contributions should be made payable to “Suffolk Foundation" and marked “Tornado Relief Fund.” Mail or deliver to 1426 Holland Road, Suffolk, VA 23434. These gifts will be dispersed by the Suffolk Foundation to 501(c)(3) charities and government agencies qualified to meet the specific needs of individuals requiring financial support. For more information, call (757)923-9090.

Details on 2009 Porsche 911 Leaked

There are intelligence wars that are constantly being fought in the car industry.  Leaks, attributions to "anonymous sources" and, yes, spying are practically as common in the modern vehicle manufacturing world as they were between the two great powers during the Cold War.  If you don't believe me, check out this story regarding Porsche's CEO finding a "bug" in his hotel room the day before an important board meeting.  While that is creepy, and illegal, there are other times when the fruits of espionage are far more rewarding. 

Details on the new 2009 Porsche 911 recently found their way to the world wide web.  Here's what we "know":  The new 911 will feature direct fuel-injection resulting in a healthy increase in horsepower (+20 h.p. for 3.6-liter engine).  Additionally, the '09 911 will include Porsche's PDK, a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.  A new touch screen "Communication Management" system will also be available.  Outside, we will see more subtle changes, including slightly tweaked front and rear bumpers, larger headlamps and mirrors and stainless steel exhaust tips.

While it is still very cloak-and-dagger, the leak will more than likely ensure that details on the official release will come sooner than previously thought.  The 2009 Porsche 911 is expected to be on sale mid-fall.

The new 2008 BMW X6 has arrived at Checkered Flag!

Say hello to the latest edition to the BMW lineup:  the 2008 BMW X6 xDrive35i is here.  Sporting 300 horsepower from a twin-turbo direct injection inline 6-cylinder motor along with xDrive All Wheel Drive in a coupe/SUV's clothing makes this more than meets the eye!

Just don't call it a cross over - the X6 ranks amongst the X5 and X3 as the latest class of BMW SAV's (Sport Activity Vehicle).

Click any of these photos to see a larger image.

Want to see more?  Take a look at the HTML site for the X6 or check out the Flash page with all the fun stuff.

"The X6's handling sets new standards for a car this size. Perhaps more important is that it's an entertaining car from behind the steering wheel."

"We wouldn't be surprised to see the X6 shoot straight to the top of its class in dynamic prowess."

"Rest assured, though, if you've placed an order on one in the hope of taking delivery of the finest-handling SUV on the market, you're not likely to be disappointed."

From AutoWeek | January 2008

2009 Hyundai Sonata Now Available at Checkered Flag

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Here is the take from Car and Driver on the redesigned 2009 Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai's best-selling vehicle.  I just spoke with Thom Coyle, Sales Manager at Checkered Flag Hyundai, and he told me they have a great selection currently on the lot.  I asked him which aspect of the new Sonata people were really responding to and he told me that the new "center stack", where the audio and climate controls are located, has customers pretty psyched.  This is the also the first year a navigation system has been available and it is one that you will not find in any other make because it was made especially for Hyundai by LG.  Checkered Flag Hyundai is also offering $1000 factory rebate on the new Sonata and "valued owners" (those who currently drive a Hyundai) can receive an extra $500 rebate.  Give them a call at (757) 490-1111 if you have questions or stop by 3033 Virginia Beach Blvd. to have a look for yourself.   

Meet Checkered Flag's Charles Russell

There are plenty of folks at Checkered Flag whose work, almost entirely "behind the scenes," helps make the business as successful as it is.  One of those "unsung heroes" is Charles Russell, our maintenance director.  Charles manages a staff of 20+ and oversees the housekeeping, maintenance and landscape operations at Checkered Flag, including those relationships with contractors and outside vendors that pertain to maintenance operations. The Checkered Blog recently caught up with him and cajoled him into answering a few questions...

CB:  How long have you worked at Checkered Flag?

CR:  10 years as of June 1st.

CB:  Congratulations!  How long have you lived in Hampton Roads?

CR:  Over 40 years

CB:  Where do you currently live?

CR:  Chesapeake

CB:  What are your hobbies?

CR:  Racing, fishing and having fun in the sun!

CB:  What's your favorite restaurant?

CR:  Pirate's Cove

CB:  What's in your CD player right now?

CR:  Classic rock or country

CB:  What's one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

CR:  I am very artistic.  And I have a lot of celebrity friends.

CB:  Oohhh....intrigue.  What's the one invention you couldn't live without?

CR:  Hairdryer.

CB:  That would explain the celebrity friends.  LOL.

CB:  What's the best thing about working for Checkered Flag?

CR:  The management and the fact that it's where winners work.

Special Edition 2008 Scion tC RS 4.0 On Its Way To Checkered Flag

Have I got a scoop for you!  In the next few days, Checkered Flag Toyota-Scion will be receiving two of the limited edition tC in a special "Galactic Grey Mica" color.  Scion is only selling 2300 of them.  What makes this release different from any other tC is the special body kit (see great pictures here from the Chicago Auto Show where it was unveiled earlier this year), two-tone seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel, upgraded audio system and unique badging that prominently features the limited edition number. If you want more information, please call Checkered Flag Toyota-Scion at (757) 490-1111.

Good News on Earth Day

The government announced today that it would seek better fuel economy standards on new cars and trucks and do so in a time frame shorter than previously proposed.  We told you about the energy law that requires manufacturers to achieve a fleet-wide average of 35 mpg by 2020.  Today's proposal ups the ante by setting a minimum average mpg of 31.6 by 2015.

The new standards will lower emissions, cut fuel consumption and save you money on gas!  Happy Earth Day.  We at the Checkered Blog like to think of every day as Earth Day and ask that you stay tuned because periodically, we will be bringing you more information on Checkered Flag's selection of "green" cars and other environmental sustainability efforts.

Checkered Flag salutes Dealer.com

We want to pass a big THANK YOU to all the people at Dealer.com who have been helping us to bring the all new Checkered Flag.com to life!  It has been quite the task, beginning in September of 2007 when Alex Snyder, our Director of eCommerce, visited the folks at Dealer.com in their Vermont headquarters.

"I wanted to make the new Checkered Flag.com something people have never seen from their automotive dealers before.  I wanted it to cater to what our customers wanted, while providing that little extra to make someone say "wow".  During my visit with the Dealer.com staff, I realized we were going to be able to do just that!"  -Alex Snyder

Dealer.com has been hosting the Checkered Flag.com website since April of 2006.  The relationship has been awesome!  This hybrid site you're seeing now (hybrid as in a mating of things that don't usually go together - not the cars) has been a long collaboration of idea sharing. 

We would like to thank Mark Bonfigli, Rick Gibbs, Ryan Dunn, Andy Cole, Justin Heininger, Lee Allen, Scott Gale, Steve Waud, Kenneth Botka, Ishmael Ahmed, Tamar Bouchard, Timothy Burgher, Drew Chalke, and the rest of the teams who have helped make Checkered Flag.com what it is!  A special thanks goes out to Brian Valentine for being in the trenches with us every day - none of this could have happened without your help!

Dealer.com and Checkered Flag will continue to improve our Checkered Flag websites, on a daily basis to better serve you.  Keep tuning-in for bigger and better.....videos will be here soon!

Checkered Flag Among Top 20 Internet Dealers in the U.S.A.

The 8^th annual Ward’s e-100 issue is out this month and the Checkered Blog is pleased to announce that Checkered Flag was recognized as #14 on the list of the top 100 Internet dealers in the country. That is saying something since the independent ranking only began in 2001 and just over 60,000 vehicles were sold on-line in the U.S. that year. In 2007, that number topped 175,000! Congratulations to Checkered Flag’s e-commerce team!