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

Meet Checkered Flag Jaguar's Janice Thrasher!

CB: Janice, thanks for sharing a few minutes to speak with us. What do you do here at Checkered Flag Jaguar?
Janice: I'm a cashier/receptionist. I've worked here for 5 years now, and I absolutely love it.

CB: Which Hampton Roads city or county do you live in?
Janice: Virginia Beach. It's been about 24 years now. I like the beaches and it's just a great location. My three kids were raised here. By the way, I'm very proud of my daughter and two sons!

CB: What are your hobbies?
Janice: Hmm...let's see, bowling. (Laughs) I learned on the Wii. I also like reading, horseback riding, watching plays, and meeting people. Basically, I just love living life.

CB: What's your favorite restaurant?
Janice: (Smiles) I love food, so I don't know if I have a favorite. There's just so many. My favorite is seafood. Lynnhaven Fish House is good. And there's a new place that just opened near where I live, K & B Seafood. The food was so delicious and the service was impeccable.

CB: What type of music do you listen to?
Janice: All types. I really enjoy Rhianna. She's very talented. My favorite song of her's is Umbrella.

CB: What's the last movie you've seen?
Janice: The Batman one, Dark Knight. It was excellent. I'm a Christian Bale fan, great actor.

CB: Do you have any pets?
Janice: Yes, two poodles named Princess and Snoopy (laughs).

CB: What's the one invention you couldn't live without.
Janice: Air conditioning. I can't stand heat.

CB: What's the one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
Janice: Uhm...I'm really a people person, so what do people not know about me? Well, I crochet, things like bed spreads. I learned how to back when I was in Catholic school. Oh, I'm an excellent cook too. People don't know that because I eat out a lot, but that's just because my kids are grown, so I don't always have to cook (laughs).

CB: What's the best thing about working for Checkered Flag?
Janice: Working in customer service. I get the opportunity to meet a lot of unique people working here. My co-workers are wonderful too, and I love our interactions with one another. It's just a really great place to work.

Jaguar Takes Top Rank In Customer Service Again!

For the second year in a row, Jaguar North America claims the number one spot in delivering customer satisfaction with dealer service. The J.D. Power Customer Service Index (CSI) released last week, found that Jaguar ranks highest with an overall CSI score of 923 points on 1,0000-point scale. The study measures customer satisfaction among vehicle owners who receive maintenance or repair work at a dealer service department during the first three years of ownership.

Kim Sandy the Service Parts and Director at Checkered Flag Jaguar, says the relationships built between the service department team and customers are very important. The high CSI ratings are the direct result of a strong staff who continually keep their customers happy. "We are very fortunate to have a great and reliable service team."

Shop Manager Michael Williams says customers  rely on dealerships to let them know what services their  automobiles need. Correctly fixing a car the first time is also a main concern among customers. The Jaguar service team works hard to deliver a high standard of service quality. To ensure that Jaguar customers stay satisfied during service visits, several conveniences are provided such as a comfortable facility, courtesy rides, loaner cars, and free service washes. Michael says, "It's simple. We treat customers the way they want to be treated."

Six measures were considered in the study: service initiation, service advisor, in-dealership experience, service delivery, service quality and user-friendly service. Jaguar received very high index scores among repair customers, particularly in the service initiation, service advisor, and user-friendly service measures. If you'd like to read more of the study's findings visit the J.D. Power and Associates website. We here at the Checkered Blog would like to thank everyone at Jaguar for all their hard work. Congratulations!

Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: Jaguar XF

The Unsung Hero for today is no newcomer to the Checkered Blog. The Jaguar XF has made several appearances on our blog, and for good reasons. We have told you before that the XF is the newest "sporting" luxury sedan on the Jaguar lot and that it gives a modern spin on the traditional Jaguar look. What we have not really talked about is how for a vehicle of its class, the XF gets great fuel mileage. It gets 26 highway miles and 18 city. The 18 gallon XF tank can garner around 470 miles. I spoke with Phyllis Hunter, a Jaguar gold certified sales consultant at Checkered Flag yesterday, and she says that people may also be interested to know that the XF is not subjected to a gas-guzzler tax (in fact no Jag vehicle is) .

I got a glimpse of the XF when it first arrived at Checkered Flag last March, but Phyllis was kind enough to reintroduce me, and I quickly remembered that it is one of the coolest cars I have seen.  There are three trim levels offered: Luxury (starting at $49,975), Premium Luxury, and Supercharged. All the models have a 4.2-liter V8, but of course the Supercharged comes with a supercharged engine.

The XF interior is really what got me excited. It is no surprise that it received the Best Interior of the Year Award from Wards Auto World. Phyllis and I hopped inside the XF, and with just a push of a button it came to life. I have seen keyless ignitions on other cars before, but pressing the start/stop button on the XF triggers a series of events. The JaguarDrive (gear) Selector knob rises from the center console. The hidden rotating air vents appear on the dashboard, and the 7-inch Touch-screen welcomes you. It is all just very cool to watch. The softgrain leather seating surfaces (standard on the Premium Luxury and Supercharged) paired with the walnut veneer adds a very classic and comfortable feel. The audio system on all XF levels feature full iPod and MP3 connectivity (that you can control on the touch screen) and at least 8 speakers plus a subwoofer. An optional Bowers & Wilkins 440W surround system is also available (it is the same system used at the George Lucas Skywalker Ranch). There is so much that I could highlight about the interior, but we could be here all day so check out the full list here. 

Aside from all the technological conveniences, the XF also has you covered with safety features including: dual-stage front airbags and seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants; side-impact curtain airbags for front and rear; Lower Anchors and tethers for Children (LATCH); active head restraints; and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Phyllis also told me about the very useful Advanced Vision Package. With it comes a rear camera parking aid, blind spot monitor (radar sensors placed in the side view mirrors alert the driver when another vehicle enters the blind spot); Bi-Xenon headlamps; and front parking aid.

You will not have any trouble whatsoever finding pictures of the XF online (they are everywhere), but take my word for it, you cannot truly appreciate its styling beauty until you have seen it in person. Experience the XF by visiting Checkered Flag Jaguar, 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.

Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: Jaguar XJ

To get to work, I hop on 1-64 and every now and then my car comes to a stand still. While I usually love to drive, traffic puts a hamper to it. Today was one of those days where I  found myself moving at what felt like a inch per hour. With a few patient minutes on hand, I began to think about all the different Unsung Heroes for fuel efficiency that we have featured over the last couple weeks. They each are special vehicles in their own regard, and the Hero for today, the Jaguar XJ is no exception. You may be wondering, a Jag is fuel efficient? Yes, it is.

But before I give a rundown about that and all the wonderful things about the XJ, just sit back and imagine what it would feel like to have a personal chauffeur drive you around. During a visit to Checkered Flag Jaguar, I got a slight indication of how that must feel. Sherron Bent (pictured below with the XJ), a sales consultant, braved the smoke outside to introduce me to the XJ. The very first thing Sherron said about the XJ was its distinction from Chauffeur Magazine as the Chauffeur Car of the Year. At first sight of the XJ, I was caught by its presence. The mesh panels of its front grille grabs your attention. It truly has a regal look, inside and out, that would be fitting for any dignitary or any average Jane car lover like myself.

The 2008 model is a third-generation XJ and features an advanced aluminum body shell that makes it 40% lighter, but 60% stiffer than previous XJs. Being leaner results in shorter stopping distances, better driving dynamics, lower emissions and improved fuel economy. The XJ gets 25 highway miles to the gallon and 16 for city. With its 23 gallon tank, you are looking at an amazing 575 miles on the highway. Less weight for the XJ also means more power. Every XJ is fitted with a V8. Two engines are offered: the 4.2-liter, 32-valve, 4-cam aluminum V8 (300-hp) or the Eaton supercharger (400-hp).

You also have your choice from two wheelbases and five trim levels. The XJ8 and supercharged XJR are short-wheelbase models. The other three trims, XJ8L, XJ Vanden Plas, and the XJ Super V8 are long-wheelbases. On the XJ8 (starting at $64,500) standard features include: 19-in. Polaris wheels; body-colored exterior mirror caps and grille surround; electrochromic self-dimming power-adjustable heated door mirrors; automatic Xenon headlamp; rain-sensing windshield wipers; one-touch power moonroof; and Bluetooth® wireless technology. Visit the JaguarUSA website for a full list of features on the XJ8 and the other trims. 

Sherron wanted me to experience the luxury of the XJ and had me sit in the back while he took the driver seat. I was impressed by the spacious interior of the XJ. Even with Sherron, who is around 6-ft. tall, seated comfortably in the driver seat, I had more than enough space. The interior is done in the traditional Jaguar fashion with Burl Walnut trim and premium softgrain leather. I especially liked the rear-seat control console, where passengers in the back can control their own conditioning and heating system (this comes standard on the Super V8).

Remember the aluminum body structure that I talked about earlier? It not only helps with performance and fuel efficiency, but its also a safety feature on the XJ. Built into the body are crumple zones and a rigid impact-resistant safety cell. The Occupant Protection features on the XJ  includes: dual-stage chest airbags for front occupants; seat-mounted side-impact airbags; side-impact head protection curtain airbags; Adaptive Restraint Technology System (A.R.T.S.);energy-absorbent seat system; a tire pressure monitoring system; and more. Another cool feature on the XJ is the vehicle security system. Every Jaguar ignition key is outfitted with a coded computerized chip to help prevent theft. Visit the website above for the complete list.

The XJ has a timeless design and all the features of a modern luxury sedan. Like usual, it is best to let the XJ speak for itself by visiting Checkered Flag Jaguar, 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or speak with the Jaguar sales team at (757) 490-1111.

Two Great Videos Showcase Jaguar XF

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Fastest Production Car? The Caparo T1

I can say that I've never been asked this question, but I definitely know the answer now.  How do you turn a F1 car into a street car?  Allow me to introduce you to the Caparo T1:

You're probably wondering why Checkered Flag is talking about a car that will never exist in its line-up.  Weeeeell this might be a far-fetched run-on thought process, but Caparo supplies body structures for some of the Tata cars, and Tata Motors is about to be the new parent of Jaguar, so the Caparo is going to be a cousin to Jag!  With that technicality out of the way (and terrible use of grammar), let's get back to this little monster....you can decide whether this could be an exciting relationship for Jaguar.

The Caparo is a British-engineered car created by two engineers who were responsible for much of the McLaren F1's design and development.  Due to a combination of carbon fiber and a specialized honeycombing of aluminum being the materials of the car, the T1 weighs in at 1,036 lbs. (a smart car weighs about 1,600 lbs....and a smart car doesn't even have 100 horse power).   The T1 has a 3.5L V8 producing over 500 horse power.  Keep in mind, this is a race-tuned motor able to run on race gas - this is a very different animal than your every day car.  According to Jeremy Clarkson, of Top Gear (in the video below), he says it has twice the power to weight ratio of a Bugatti Veyron (the Veyron has over 1,000 hp and costs over $1,000,000).  At the same time the Caparo has a price tag of just over $300,000, so it is much more "affordable" - ha ha.  I do know which one I'd rather have on a rainy day though.  It is better to see it in action - here is Top Gear's testing of it:

As someone who loves performance cars, I look forward to Tata's and Caparo's relationship possibly finding its way into future Jaguars....although this could be a far-fetched wish.  However, knowing Tata has a passion for Jag, that future is bright!

-research on this project was done using LeftLane News and Top Gear.   

Ford says "Tata" to Jaguar

According to MSNBC:  DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. is selling its storied Jaguar and Land Rover businesses to India’s Tata Motors Ltd....The deal announced Wednesday will expand the Indian carmaker’s reach around the globe and give Jaguar and Land Rover badly needed capital to update and expand their product lines.  The sale had been in the works for months as cash-strapped Ford sought money to fund its turnaround plan.  Read the full story:  Click Here.

We are thrilled with this news at Checkered Flag Jaguar!  Although Ford did a great job with the Jaguar line-up, we foresee Tata Motors Ltd. will bring a new passion to the brand.

Meet Checkered Flag JPA's Phyllis Hunter!

It’s officially spring and there just might be music in the air at Checkered Flag JPA. I recently caught up with Phyllis Hunter who joined Checkered Flag in 2006 and currently serves as a Jaguar Silver Certified Sales Consultant, Audi Brand Specialist and a New and Pre-Owned Sales and Leasing Consultant. When I first met Phyllis I was beyond excited to learn that she is also an incredibly accomplished soprano!

Originally from Texas, Phyllis has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, at the Frankfurt Opera’s Bicentennial celebration and during the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. She has also sung all across the U.S. and Europe, in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Sante Fe as well as in Vienna, Austria and Brussels, Belgium!

Phyllis has lived in Hampton Roads for 25 years and is the co-founder of the Virginia Art Song Society, a unique organization dedicated to the study and performance of art song. She has appeared in many productions locally, including the Virginia Opera’s Die Walkerure and the Virginia Symphony’s rendition of Hailstork’s Songs of Love and Justice. In the spring of 2002, she toured Sicily with the William and Mary Symphony.

When not performing or working with customers at Checkered Flag, she enjoys cycling, reading, cooking and spending time with her husband and three sons.

Meee-owww! The New Jaguar XF Has Arrived.

Checkered Flag Jaguar has received three of the all new Jaguar XF sedans at their showroom! The XF is Jaguar’s newest design and a real departure from traditional Jaguar aesthetics (note the "new" cat on the badging). It’s a 4-door sedan with a low roof-line that gives it the appearance of a sports coupe. There are 3 trim levels available; the Luxury, Premium Luxury and Supercharged. There’s a 4.2L V-8 on the lot of them, the Supercharged being, of course, a supercharged engine lending it 420 h.p. to the Luxury and Premium Luxury’s 300 h.p.. I think it’s safe to assume that they are all fast. All are equipped with a 6-speed electronic transmission, steering wheel mounted paddle shifters as well as Jag’s "Sequential Shift" technology. 18" wheels are standard on the Premium, 19" on the Premium Luxury and 20" on the Supercharged. There are so many features, too many to list here in fact, but you can click here to read all about them.There are less than 300 XF’s being sold in the U.S. this model year, but if you’re interested in taking a closer look or scheduling a test drive, call Checkered Flag Jaguar at 757-490-1111.

CF Jaguar XF Unveiling Bash a Blast

When Checkered Flag throws a party, it's REALLY a PARTY!  And that was the case yesterday evening when Checkered Flag Jaguar held a bash to unveil the new 2009 Jaguar XF.  Win'sGal and I got to help out (actually, Win'sGal did all the heavy lifting, both literally and figuratively ... I had the "job" of reporting on the occasion for the Checkered Blog, which means I got to socialize and snap pix.)  Both the car and the party itself drew raves.

A little background: As we reported here on the Checkered Blog recently, the XF is big for Jaguar and Jag fans.  Not only does it replace the S-series, it's a new design direction for the marque.  The car on show at Checkered Flag Jaguar yesterday is owned by Jaguar, which is taking it around the country as a preview for when the vehicle officially arrives in dealerships this March.  Checkered Flag Jaguar staff spent much of the day training on the vehicle, so they can answer all and any questions about it.  Then, the party got underway at 5:30 (well, that was the official start time, but people began arriving around 5 p.m.) and lasted a little past the dealership's official close time of 9 p.m. 

I got this photo of sales manager John Page with the car before the crowd came.   John told me that this particular car had absolutely all available XF features, except one - the heated steering wheel.  You can see that it is a very different look for Jaguar, and very stylish.

And it wasn't long before the car was surrounded by a crowd of guests -- as you can see here.

Of course, an important aspect of any car is how it feels to get behind the wheel.  Petrina Young was among the many who got inside to find out.

But, the car, while the star of this soiree, was not the only attraction.  Skip Hancock and Anna Gunn with the Skylark swing jazz band provided entertainment. Skip tinkled the ivories on his electronic keyboard and Anna supplied the vocals.  Everyone was talking about how great they were -- I felt like I was in some sophisticated big city club.

 

And then there was the food ... provided by Cuisine & Company and absolutely superb.  Below are some pictures of the "crispy asparagus straws" (asparagus spears surrounded by gruyere cheese, rolled in phyllo, sprinkled with parmesan and baked) and "tenderloin on horseback" (thinly sliced marinated beef tenderloin served on a garlic crouton with a creamy horseradish sauce.") Yumm ...

To sum it all up: About the car, the general consensus was "surprising and stunning."  About the party -- well, let's put it this way:  more than one person suggested that "Checkered Flag should do this every night."  BTW, Checkered Flag is currently taking pre-orders for the XF, which is scheduled to be available this March.  If you'd like to pre-order or simply learn more about the car, please call (757) 490-1111 and ask for the Jaguar sales team ... they will be more than happy to assist you!