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

Volkswagen Rocks Out!

Did you buy a car from a Rock Star at Checkered Flag VW?  If not, you'll have to buy a car this year (why wait?), then buy another next year during the next Annual Buy a Car from a Rock Star Charity Event.

Everyone was dressed up as a rocking celebrity and there was so much going on in the spirit of charity and Rock & Roll.  Funds were raised to support St. Mary's and the United Way.  Watch the video to see what it was all about.

For the Love of the VW Routan

Being that I'm a big football fan, Monday nights are typically spent watching games. A few weeks ago, while I was cheering on certain NFL players (who are on my fantasy football lineup), a Volkswagen commercial came on. I'm sure you've seen these commercials by now, the ones on the Volkswagen Routan starring Brooke Shields (if you haven't seen it, click here). I never realized how comedic she is. Anyway, my point to all of this is that these commercials piqued my curiosity about the Routan. So of course, I headed over to Checkered Flag Volkswagen to check one out.

DJ Jodanovic, sales advisor, showed me the family friendly Routan that's currently on display in the showroom. He tells me that they just received the Routan and it's a great addition for Volkswagen. The all new seven-passenger minivan is offered in three trims: base S (starting at $24,700), SE, and top of the line SEL.

The Routan has an attractive front grill and a sleek body (surprising for a mini van). It's not anything like the mini vans I remember from my childhood. It's got more modern conveniences and comforts that families would appreciate including: dual power-sliding doors with power windows (standard in SE and SEL models); front and rear 12V power outlets; 13 cupholders; conversation mirror; optional touch screen navigation with 20 meg hard drive; and in-dash AM/FM/CD player system with MP3 capabilities and 6 speakers. The list goes on. Visit here for the full rundown of features. 

Under the hood, the Routan boasts either a 3.8-liter or 4.0-liter V6 engine. DJ says the Routan also features European tuned suspension and steering resulting in an awesome ride. He says it drives more like car than a van. Mileage wise, the Routan achieves 25 miles on the highway and 17 in the city. With a 20.5 gallon tank, you're looking at over 500 miles on one fill-up. 

The Routan interior provides a comfy riding environment for passengers. I hopped inside and found the seating area very roomy not only for passengers, but also for cargo. Over 83 cubic feet of cargo space is offered behind the second row. That offers plenty of space to haul around a family's belongings.

Standard safety features for the Routan include: Electronic Stabilization Program with Hydraulic Brake Assist; all-season traction control; four-wheel disc brakes; drive and front passenger airbags; side curtain protection; and tire pressure monitoring system.

The Routan is a great ride for the family, but don't just take my word for it (or Brooke Shields'.) It's best to see it for yourself by visiting Checkered Flag Volkswagen, 3025 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach. You can also call (757) 490-1111 for more information. 

A Rockin' Good Time at Volkswagen/Hyundai

With camera in tow and my memory card cleared, I was ready for Checkered Flag Hyundai/Volkswagen's Rock Star Charity Sales Event last Saturday.  I felt like a member of the paparazzi snapping tons of photos of each "rock star" I encountered everyone from Michael Jackson to Ozzy Osborne, Kid Rock and even Hannah Montana (the photo with Miss Hannah and the kids is my fave). 

Members of the Checkered Flag Hyundai/Volkswagen sales teams were great sports by dressing up as their favorite rock stars (some even got into character).  The "rock stars" were the real deal with their very own Rock Star Security (made up of other Hyundai/Volkswagen team members). Drew "Meat Loaf" Spade, sales consultant, says, "it's always a lot of fun to dress up and come to work in our costumes, and everyone has a good time with it."

The charity sales event was held to raise money for the children of  St. Mary's Home in Norfolk. St. Mary's is a pediatric long-term care residential facility specializing in care for children with severe disabilities. There was an awesome turnout of about 150 people on Saturday and $5000 was raised for St. Mary's.    

A special performance from home-grown Virginia Beach band Jackmove rocked the Volkswagen showroom. Radio station 100.5 MAX FM also came out to host the finals of the Guitar Hero Contest and the lucky winner walked away with a rockin' good prize pack which included $500 cash prize, a flat screen television, an Xbox 360 with Guitar Hero, two wireless guitars, and a $75 gift certificate.

Special thanks to all the "rock stars" and their entourage for throwing a great party! Checkered Flag Hyundai/Volkswagen is at 3033/3025 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach. They can be reached at (757) 490-1111.

Meet Checkered Flag Volkswagen's New Sales Manager, Lannin Norkaveck

CB: How long have you worked here at Checkered Flag?
Lannin: Well, I worked for Checkered Flag for about four years now. I've been here at Volkswagen for about two weeks. It's a change, but it's good.

CB: How did you get started in the auto business?
Lannin: Well, after college I kind of just got into selling cars. I just love it.

CB: Which Hampton Road city or county do you live in?
Lannin: Virginia Beach, and I've lived here for about four years. I moved down from Vermont to get a change of scenery. I like it here very much...near the beach.

CB: What are your hobbies?
Lannin: Golf. And work (laughs). Hanging out with friends too.

CB: What's in your MP3 player or CD player right now?
Lannin: EVERYTHING! Everything from Eminem to Garth Brooks (laughs).

CB: Where's your favorite place to eat out?
Lannin: Hmm...Aldo's because it's close to home and I love Italian food. Oh, and Ruth's Chris. The service and food are always perfect there. No problems ever.

CB: When you were a kid, what did you want to grow up to be?
Lannin: A professional athlete in any sport. Well, I used to play hockey, so I guess a professional hockey player. I still want to be that, but I haven't played much since I moved down here.

CB: What's your favorite sports team?
Lannin: The Red Sox. I grew up watching them, going to their games.

CB: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Lannin: Probably Europe. No where in particular, just everywhere. It'd be cool to just go backpacking around Europe.

CB: What's the one invention you couldn't live without?
Lannin: A cell phone. Well, a Blackberry, so I can send out emails too.

CB: What's the best thing about working for Checkered Flag?
Lannin: The best thing about working for Checkered Flag...there are a lot of car dealerships out there, but when you say you work for Checkered Flag there's a proud feeling to it. It's a reputable dealership that's strong in the community, so you definitely take pride in working here. It's fun.

Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: VW GTI

Today, I have another fun addition to the Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency list, the Volkswagen GTI. This  popular "hot hatch" may not look like the typical high performance vehicle, but it delivers plenty of power. And the awesome thing is, the GTI doesn't forgo on fuel economy.   

Checkered Flag Volkswagen's Steven Quintana (pictured here) showed me a four-door GTI in Black Magic Metallic. The GTI is available also in a two-door hatchback body style (starting at $22,800). It's powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged direct injection engine that produces 200 hp. You have choice of six-speed manual transmission or the six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) with Tiptronic.

MPG wise, the GTI gets 29 miles on the highway, and 22 in the city. With a 15 gallon tank, the GTI can garner upwards of 435 highway miles with one fill-up.

Aside from the powerful engine paired with great fuel efficiency, I was equally impressed with the GTI's sleek exterior appearance. Steven says the GTI's good looks makes it a popular choice for customers. In fact, the GTI received kudos from AutoPacific as the 2008 Best in Class Vehicle Satisfaction Award winner. The GTI exterior, sports a distinctive honeycomb grille, Bi-Xenon headlights, dual exhaust tips, and exterior signal mirrors. The bold red brake calipers also provide a nice touch.

The GTI interior is packed with driver friendly features including: 8-way adjustable seat; alloy pedals (gives a real race car feel); Premium VII Stereo has an in-dash 6-disc changer with MP3 and satellite radio capabilities; and auxiliary jack (located in the glove box).

Supportive high bolstered and deep bucket seats with plaid cloth insets (also available with leatherette upholstery) are highlights in the GTI interior. Another cool feature is the diversity antenna. This antenna system has two built-in antennae. Basically, the double antenna system allows you to get the best reception possible.

The GTI also benefits from an expansive list of safety features including: 6 airbags; telescopic steering wheel; optimized head restraints; crash optimized front end and pedals; and Electronic Stabilization Program. Also, a sophisticated system of braking features (Anti-lock Braking System, Engine Braking Assist, Electronic Stabilization Program, Anti-Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution, and Hydraulic Brake Assist) come standard. For the full list visit here.

If you're in search of a vehicle that offers the "best of both worlds," a powerful engine and a comfortable ride, the GTI should be on your list. To see this Unsung Hero in person visit, Checkered Flag Volkswagen, 3025 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, or call (757) 490-1111.

Meet CF Volkswagen Customer Andrea Asban!

Andrea is the proud owner of a silver 2006 VW Golf. This Virginia Beach resident is a nursing student at Norfolk State University. She also works at Sentara Leigh as a nursing care partner. Thanks for talking with us, Andrea!

CB: What do you like about your VW Golf?
Andrea: It's small. And the drive is really smooth.

CB: What are your hobbies?
Andrea: Eating! I like going to different restaurants. Uhm...what else do I like? Laughing (haha), watching TV, going to the movies, and singing. During the summer time, I go to the beach or a pool whenever I get the chance.

CB: What's your favorite restaurant?
Andrea: Zoe's Steak and Seafood at the Beach. Their steaks are so good! The atmosphere is really nice also. They're also flexible, you can just go there casually or you can dress up.

CB: What's in your MP3 player or CD player right now?
Andrea: Hmm, mostly 80's and 90's music. It's hard to choose a favorite song or artist because there are so many talented performers these days. But, I do like Ne-yo a lot! He sings, dances, and is a pretty attractive guy!

CB: What's the last movie you've seen?
Andrea: Pineapple Express. I was laughing the whole time. I think I was probably the only person in the theater laughing like that (laughs).

CB: Do you have any pets?
Andrea: Nope. If I ever get a pet, it would probably be a dog. A very small one!

CB: What's the one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
Andrea: I have 8 people in my family. There's me, my dad, my mom, my three sisters, and then my two brothers. One of my sisters is five years older than me. My other two sisters are 11 and 10. My brothers are 7 and 5, but their birthdays are coming up in November. And I just turned 21!

CB: What's the one invention you could not live without?
Andrea: Oh man, a grill for steaks (laughs). I really love steaks. 

CB: What's the best thing about being a Checkered Flag customer?
Andrea: The people are really friendly here. Also, I like that they help to figure out what my car needs. Last time I came in for an oil change, they gave me a packet that outlined everything I should know about what my car needs. It really helped me, made everything easy to understand.

VW Goes for Gold with Green Cars

The Beijing Olympics start this Friday, and as the exclusive Automobile partner for the 2008 games, Volkswagen has provided 5,000 vehicles to the Olympic Committee. Known as the "Volkswagen Green Fleet," this team of vehicles are low fuel consumers and low CO2 emitters, making them incredibly eco-friendly. They're also equipped with Volkswagen Group state-of-the-art powertrain technology, and feature advanced engines and gearboxes.

The Green Fleet roster includes the Magotan 2.0 TDI, Sagitar 1.4 TSI, Touran EcoFuel, Tiguan 2.0 TDI and Magotan BlueMotion models. We know the Magotan as the Passat and the Sagitar as the Jetta. They'll be used to shuttle organizers, athletes, media, and guests participating in the various Olympic events.

Each fleet vehicle sports a specially created design that incorporates the Olympic Games logo and brand concepts such as "mobility", "wind", and "road". Check out the photos below from Autoblog Green.

FYI: The Olympics Opening Ceremony is scheduled to air Friday, 7:30 PM on NBC. Special thanks to all the athletes that are representing our country at the Olympics. Best of luck!

VW Gives a Glimpse at Year 2028

Imagine it's the year 2028. What will the world of driving be like? That's the question Volkswagen engineers have been pondering. They've released their vision of how cars will look in 20 years. By the looks of these cars, the future is going to be a lot of fun!

VW's futuristic lineup includes: a sporty two-seater called the Ego; a roomy four seater appropriately named Room; and a single-seater named One. Oh, and all three cars are capable of driving themselves. So convenient, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. And best of all these cars are incredibly fuel efficient because they won't be running on gasoline! Visit the new interactive site, "Volkswagen2028" for more details. Happy Weekend, Checkered Blog readers.

Meet Checkered Flag VW Customer Sean Sullivan

The Checkered Blog spotted this dedicated VW fan. Sean drives a  R32, has owned a 2007 GTI, and he currently has his eye on a Jetta Sports Wagon. He lives in Virginia Beach and serves as a naval aviation electrician on the USS Enterprise. Sean, thanks for spending a few minutes of your Friday afternoon chatting with us.

CB: What are your hobbies?
Sean: Xbox Live. I play Call of Duty 4 and Battlefield Bad Company.

CB: What is your favorite restaurant?
Sean: Do I have to pick just one? Ruth's Chris and then Tijuana Flats. And Moe's. I like Mexican food...nachos especially.

CB: What do you have in your MP3 player or CD player right now?
Sean: Das EFX, the Carter III. I mostly listen to satellite radio. Oh, I also listen to Flo Bots.

CB: What is the last movie you have seen?
Sean: Well, it will be Hellboy 2 after I see it today. But I guess the last movie I saw was No Country for Old Men and that was fantastic.

CB: What about pets, do you have any?
Sean: Yep, I have one. A Jack Russell terrier named CJ.

CB: What is the one thing about you that people would be surprised to know?
Sean: I am a complete gaming geek! I probably play like 5 hours a day (laughs).

CB: Aside from your Xbox (haha), what is the one invention you could not live without?
Sean: Well...ELECTRICITY!!!

CB: What is the best thing about being a Checkered Flag customer?
Sean: The way I am treated here. From the very first time I came in, they were very professional and they call you by name. I have gotten two cars from here. Well, three including the car my wife drives.

CB: What are you plans this weekend?
Sean: My sister-in-law is coming into town. Her and my wife are gonna be doing some wedding stuff. You know, pick out tapestries, plates, and stuff like that, so what am I doing...play video games (laughs).

Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: VW Eos

I listen to a local radio station during my drive to work, and for the past few weeks now, they have had a contest where listeners can call in to play for FREE gas cards that are worth as much as $500. Needless to say, tons of callers from all over Hampton Roads phone in throughout the day yearning for these gas cards. Just the other day, a woman won a gas card worth $463! Who would not want to be her right now? I am sure all of us would love to get our hands on these gas cards. But for those of us who are not as lucky, we are still undoubtedly thinking about how to save at the gas pumps. So with that in thought, let us continue our fuel efficiency series with the Unsung Hero for today, the Volkswagen Eos.

With the gorgeous smoke-free weather we have today, I thought it was only appropriate to go outside to see the Eos. Jim Hanrahan, a sales consultant at Checkered Flag Volkswagen, was very kind to spend a few minutes showing me the Eos. If you are wondering about the peculiar name, Jim explains that Eos (pronounced E-Oh-ss and not the letters E-O-S) was the Greek goddess of the dawn who rode a horse-drawn chariot every morning to mark a new day. The name fits because the Eos is a four-seater hardtop convertible, and Jim says it is the only hardtop convertible with a sunroof. VW calls it the CSC (coupe-sunroof-convertible). Jim demonstrated the different Eos roof configurations. With the push of a button, the roof retracts in about 25 seconds. The whole roof-retracting process is definitely something to see. I was also particularly impressed by the size of the sunroof. It spans almost the entire width of the roof. The versatility of the Eos is a big plus. Most people associate convertibles with summer and warm weather, but the Eos hardtop makes it a vehicle for all seasons. 

While the hardtop is the obvious highlight of the Eos, it does have more to offer including great fuel efficiency. On its 15 gallon tank, the Eos gets can get 30 highway miles, and 21 city. That gives you about 450 highway miles per tank. There are two engine choices on the Eos: a 200-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (the same engine on the Passat and Audi A3), or a 250-hp 3.2L V6.

The Eos is available in four trims: Turbo (starting at $28,990), Komfort, Lux, and VR6. Each trim offers a ton of great features, I listed a few that caught my attention. For the full list visit here. The base Turbo includes eight-speaker AM/FM stereo with in-dash CD player and Aux input; V-Tex leatherette comfort seats with Microtech; and 8-way adjustable front seats with lumbar support. Step up with the Komfort and it adds: Dual-zone Climatronic Climate Control; 12-way power driver seat with easy entry function, front heatable seats; multi-function trip computer; and center console with footwell ambient lighting. The Lux trim includes: leather comfort seats; automatic headlights; rain sensing windshield wipers; and a multifunction leather wrapped steering wheel. The VR6 has all the goodies found on the Lux plus: HomeLink; leather sport seats; Triptronic control paddles on steering wheel; and a Chrome front grille.

Overall, the Eos is an attractive vehicle that gets attention. Jim mentioned that he drove an Eos out to dinner with his wife, and people were so curious about the car, because it was something they had not ever seen before. Enjoy the weather outside (while the smoke is on vacation) by seeing the Eos at Checkered Flag Volkswagen, 3025 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111.