I recently had an opportunity to interview a friendly face here at Runde. Rolls Royce lover Gary Reiter has been a committed member of Runde Auto Group and is always an awesome guy to be around.  Let’s get to know him a little better.   What do you do here at Runde’s?     I’m the Manager of the Reconditioning Department at Runde Predriven.   How long have you worked here?   Oh, I’ve been here for a little over two years now.  

The sixth annual Ice Golf Classic at Midtown Marina was a huge success according to Sandy McDowell, owner of the Marina.  Naked babies flinging arrows at lovers and enough “love” in the air to make Romeo sick didn’t stop people from smacking around tennis balls while playing golf on the ice.   The tournament was originally mapped out in 2004 by a group of men from the area, named the A.M. Hacker, who were just not satisfied by the restrictions winter seemed to place on their golf game. The group got together and started the Ice Golf Classic event shortly after they realized that they could raise money for a good cause while giving people the time of their lives as they play golf on the ice. [...]

Buying a first car for your kid can be a nerve-racking process and making up your mind about how much horsepower is too much can definitely cause stress. Worries of them being in a safe, reliable car can lead to an endless search of what you should buy and with what features. To ease the process a bit, here are some quick tips to follow while making a decision on purchasing your kid’s first vehicle. 1. Size (buy a tank) Several people may think that mid or small-sized cars are the way to go in terms of a first car as they are the “common” type of car that people are comfortable driving. In actuality, however, having a larger car might be a better bet for your kids if you are thinking safety. Larger cars often absorb more force impact from accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration these beasts score significantly better than compact or small sized vehicles. [...]

Check out this Suzuki Equator walkaround video that was filmed at Runde Auto Group in Hazel Green, WI.  This black Equator is a truck that is sure to turn some heads. The dictionary defines “equator” as an imaginary line that goes around the circumference of the earth. Suzuki defines “Equator” as a non-imaginary truck that will take you practically anywhere you’d like to go on earth. Check out the new Suzuki Equator that recently arrived at Runde Suzuki in Hazel Green, WI:   Equipped with either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque or a 4.0-liter V-6 that puts out an impressive 261 hp and 281 lb-ft. 7-year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Available with the RMZ-4 Off-Road Package. Tows up to 6500 lbs. Kelly Blue Book could hardly believe all that the new Equator has to offer. Check out what they recently had to say about it … [...]

Danica Patrick is now being told to “slow down,” but it’s definitely not coming from her sponsors. It turns out that Danica was recently pulled over for speeding in her hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona.  She was charged with going 54 mph in a 35 mph zone.  She paid the fine of $196 and then went on her merry way. In light of some of the things other celebrities and athletes are getting in trouble for these days, I would say that Danica’s offense is a minor one.  I’m sure that the negative publicity will serve more of a reminder for her to slow down on the suburban streets of America than the $196 ticket ever could. My three year old always wants me to go fast when I’m taking him to daycare in the morning, but I always respond by saying, “No, we have to drive slow and watch out for puppies.”   Sometimes it might be tempting to [...]

We all knew that once the world oil prices started to plummet, fuel prices would soon follow.   It’s nice to finally look up at gas station signs and see  numbers that don’t begin with “3” or “4” as the national average for gas is now at $1.67 a gallon.  Certainly no one is complaining about the current prices after what Americans painfully paid at the pumps for most  of 2008.  In light of all that’s going on in the world right now, it’s definitely nice to have some economic relief somewhere.  With Americans now bragging about how little they paid during their last trip to the pump, truck and SUV sales are appearing like they will be higher than car sales once the ’08 December totals are all [...]

A few guys from Motor Trend Magazine took the new Dodge Challenger SRT-8 on a 3,000 mile trip across Europe. They started in England, meandered around Europe, and wound up back in England 10 days later.  This trip may not be as entertaining as Chevy Chase’s European Vacation, but it’s still a pretty cool story!  Along the way, they stopped in Brookland to see the 1st race track that was constructed in 1907, they crossed the English Channel and went to Paris. They got the car up to 140 mph on Champs Elysees roadway in town. The Parisians were very accepting of them and the car, giving them thumbs up and cheering. They drove through old World War I battlefields of Verdan & Argonne on their way [...]

Can you say big snow storm?  For those of us who thought this winter couldn’t be any worse than last year…I think we probably agree by now that this year could prove us wrong. A snow and ice storm swept across the entire state last night, causing pretty much every school in the state to cancel, and caused a lot of businesses to close. I know it has been pretty quiet in here today…a lot of our workers had trouble getting in to work at all, or they were late because of road conditions and snowed-in vehicles. I talked with a few of the staff members who did make it in, and most, if not all, had 4-wheel drive vehicles, and put them to [...]

Even though fuel prices sky-rocketed for most of this year, the Top 2 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. are the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado. The F-150 has been the #1 vehicle for 27 consecutive years with just under 480,000 buyers in 2008. The new 2009 F-150 has been redesigned for this year and we don’t expect Ford truck sales to drop. The Chevy Silverado was close behind with  more than 431,000 buyers. In addition to the already popular Silverado, Chevy has added an XFE model with better fuel economy than any other full-size truck. They have also added a Silverado Hybrid to their line-up. Also making the Top 10 was the Ford Focus with just under 185,000 buyers. The new 2009 Focus can reach the 35 MPG mark with a manual transmission, and 33 MPG with an automatic. The Coupe is also available, achieving the same fuel efficiency as the sedan. All [...]

Is the Key2SafeDriving the answer parents of teenagers are looking for?  Most parents dread the day their babies begin driving, and worry constantly each time they get behind the wheel. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of teen deaths, the 5th leading cause of total deaths in our country, and driving is often a privilege that gets abused by many people. On top of that, 6 percent of drivers on the road are talking on their cell phones while driving, and 10 percent of driving teenagers are either talking or texting. Xuesong Zhou, an assistant professor at the University of Utah, realized these statistics and developed a gadget to help decrease the numbers. He and a recent graduate, Wally Curry, created a cost-effective solution to these issues. The Key2SafeDriving is a gadget that attaches to the car key, and communicates via Bluetooth or RFID (radio-frequency identification) with the cell phone. The engine will only [...]

Every wonder what are the safety leaders or the safest vehicles on the market?  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ran their annual tests on the 2009 model year vehicles. For the first time in history, they have been able to pick at least one vehicle in every class. The tests are based on 11 categories, including front side, reach crash test rations, and whether or not the vehicles have standard or optional electronic stability control. Here are Runde’s Safety Leaders!! Large Cars  Ford Taurus — Optional AWD, 28 MPG, and standard stability control Midsize Cars  Ford Fusion — Optional AWD, 29 MPG, optional stability control Large SUVs  Buick Enclave & Chevrolet Traverse — 7 or 8 passenger, FWD-24 MPG, AWD-22 MPG, 3.6-Liter V6, 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive Midsize SUVs Ford Flex & Taurus X — 7 passengers, 3.5-Liter V6, FWD-24 MPG, AWD-22 MPG, 6 speed automatic transmission with overdrive Ford Edge — [...]

Kurt Larson of Runde Chevrolet works behind-the-scenes in the Runde Auto Group detailing department. He is just starting college, but finds time to come back to Runde’s on breaks. ME: How long have you worked for Runde’s? What is your favorite part of your job? Kurt Larson: I’ve worked for them for about 4 years and I like getting to drive all the different cars. ME: Where do you go to school? Kurt Larson: Augustana College in Rock Island. ME: Do you have a major picked yet? Kurt Larson: Yeah, I’m going into Pre-Dentistry. ME: Do you play any sports at school? Kurt Larson: Only intramurals; Flag Football and basketball. ME: Who do you think will run for president in 2012? Kurt Larson: I think President Obama will probably run again, and maybe Hilary. I don’t know for the Republican side. ME: Do [...]

Thousands of people experienced the Dubuque Halloween Parade last night. So many people that came out to join in the festivities. The organizers of the parade probably would have liked a little warmer weather and a little less wind, but they couldn’t have asked for a better turn-out.  Jeff Kueter from the Runde Reconditioning [...]

What is the Dubuque food pack program and how can a local business get involved to help young local students in our community? Sometimes we get so caught up in what is happening with our country in terms of international interaction, we forget all of the obstacles our own people face. There are many less fortunate people in our country, and they tend to get overlooked a lot of the time. For once, they are the focus of a local project here in the Dubuque area. John Deere Dubuque Works funded a food pack program for 250 students in the Dubuque elementary schools. Each school anonymously placed the food packs in their 50 neediest children’s backpacks before they went home on Friday afternoon, so the children have a better chance of eating nutritional food over the weekend.

As much as we hate to admit it, winter is around the corner, which means very cold weather and lots of snow (especially in Runde country). Have you thought about what you need to do to winterize your vehicle? There is a lot more to it than most people think. I have compiled a checklist for you to use. Bad winter road conditions can sneak up on us if we aren’t careful, so start thinking about it early!   To Do List Before Winter Comes!   Make sure your brakes are equalized and not pulling to one side. Flush out your cooling system and put anti-freeze in. Check containers, belts, hoses, pressure caps, and thermostat. Make sure battery connections are clean and tight. Check your engine for faulty wiring, worn out spark plugs, sticking choke or emission control devices. These make it difficult for your vehicle to start. Check the [...]

When customers begin looking for a new car, and a salesman mentions a ‘program car’ or rental, it has traditionally sent a red flag into their minds. But there are a lot of things most people don’t know about program cars. Sure, about 90% of them were rental cars, but rental cars are not beat on like some people stereotypically like to think. The rental companies actually maintain them better than some private owners. They always have their oil changed on time because the rental companies keep track of the odometer readings like clockwork.  Rental vehicles also come from southern states like California, Florida, or Arizona most of the time, so they do not have the hard winters and salty roads wearing on the paint. Did you know when you are considering purchasing a program [...]

Future teen drivers wait in anticipation for the day they turn 16 and can get their driver’s license, while parents grimace at the thought of their children growing up and going off on their own in their first car.  National statistics show demonstrate that teenagers are involved in wrecks 9 times as often than adults. Teens also tend to not wear their seatbelts without parents in the vehicle. American Family Insurance was fully aware of the anxiety caused by teenage drivers, and developed a program called Teen Safe Driver that allows parents some relief. American Family Insurance provides a camera that’s placed by the rearview mirror on the inside of the car. The camera provides two streaming images 1) an image of inside the car and 2) an image of [...]

I sat down with Al Dellabella, the Sales Manager at Runde Buick in Cuba City. He is a tough guy to catch! I almost had to handcuff him to his chair to get the interview completed. Just Kidding! He had some very interesting stories, and is a great guy to talk to. Runde Auto Chat: How long have you worked at Runde Cuba City? Al Dellabella: Before it became Runde Buick, it was Dellabella Motors. I worked there for about 30 years, and have been working for Runde’s for about 6 years. Runde Auto Chat: What do you like most about working here? Al Dellabella: The clientele and internal personnel; We are a real team (He referred to them as the “Cuba City Connection”) Runde Auto Chat: Any favorite restaurants in the area? Al Dellabella: Brewery Creek in Mineral Point – Our son works there, and I really enjoy the atmosphere. For a quicker [...]

If you haven’t taken a look at the Buick SUV the Enclave yet, they you probably should take a moment to examine all the Enclave has to offer. Check out the following video review of the Buick Enclave from Barbara Terry. Her comments are in-line with everything that our current Enclave owners are telling us. We are selling more and more of this popular Buick SUV every year.   If you’ve been wondering what the Enclave drives like, please stop up at our Buick store in Platteville, WI and they’ll be more than happy to send you out on a test-drive. We’re sure that you’ll fall in love with the ride of the Enclave after just a few minutes in it. As for the look of the vehicle … well that speaks for itself. For more videos and information, please check out what Jean Jennings has to say about the Enclave at Motor Trend’s [...]

Quite a few employees at Runde have pets of some kind or another at home, so we decided to compile a collection of photos to share with everyone.   Sue Hanger’s hop-a-long house pets Sue’s son Brandon Hanger with Eagle.  We thought Eagle was a male, but we now have reason to think he is actually a she and could be having babies. If anyone is interested, please let us know! Sue’s son Brian and Oreo   Jeff Runde’s boy in the hood

The release of the newest member of Chevrolet’s Crossover/SUV family is quickly approaching. The 2009 Traverse, a 7- or 8-passenger crossover vehicle, will become available this fall. This practical and flashy SUV is going to open a lot of eyes when it graces us with it’s presence at Runde Chevrolet near Dubuque. The Traverse has 4 available trim levels, similar to the other Chevrolet models. The LS has the essentials, but cuts costs by leaving off all the extra ‘bells and whistles’ offered for the vehicle. Next come the 1LT and 2LT, offering a few more options than the LS, and last is the LTZ, the ‘Top Dawg’ offering all of the extra options you could think of. The Traverse offers fantastic fuel-efficiency, getting 24 Miles Per Gallon in the Front Wheel Drive version on the highway. The All Wheel Drive version averages an impressive 23 MPG on the open road. The 7-passenger package [...]

Many people call us for service work, but don’t really get to know the people actually doing the dirty work. Jeff Mohr is one of the guys in our Hazel Green service department. I took a few minutes of his time…well, actually I wasted it, but he got over it quickly! Runde Auto Chat: Do you have any hobbies or interests? Jeff Mohr: I like to play electric guitar. RAC: Any siblings or significant others? JM: I have two sisters.   RAC: Are you married yet? JM:  I do have a girlfriend.  Her name is Linsey. RAC: Did you grow up around here? JM: Yes, in Dubuque over by Hempstead High School. RAC: What kind of car do you drive?                                          JM: 1991 Jeep Wrangler RAC: What would you do with a million dollars? JM: Take the PreDriven staff on a cruise…(Remember this guys…you may want to redeem at a later date!) RAC: If you were stuck [...]

The new name for the satellite radio feature that most of us have in our cars is now Sirius XM Satellite Radio.  The executives of Sirius and XM radio announced the completion of the company merger on July 29th, 2008. There is much excitement surrounding the company’s future, and both parties are foreseeing great things for them in the future. The merged company is known as Sirius XM Radio, and both brands will continue to operate as they have, as two separate entities. They are in the process of creating some new packages that combine stations from both XM and Sirius. They will offer “Best Of” package that contains premium stations from both providers. Also, the “Mostly Music” and “Sports/News/Talk” packages will combine stations from both as well. Any receivers already in circulation as well [...]

Runde Auto Group of Manchester is anticipating the arrival of it’s newest line-up member.  The Ford Flex is an all new vehicle for 2009 and it’s a very important one for Ford as it replaces their mini-van  segment.  What?  No more minivans?   Evidently Ford execs were eavesdropping at wedding ceremonies where couples actually made it a part of their vows that they would: 1) never own a minivan, and 2) not allow Michael Bolton’s music in any of their vehicles.   Check out this video test-drive of the new Flex.  It’s interesting that the reviewer states he’s 6’4″ and he has no problems with the space inside the Flex — including the proverbial third row.  It’s also interesting that the man in the video points out that he wasn’t too fond of [...]

GM recently joined forces with the United States Postal Service for a collaboration that is sure to benefit all.  GM implemented their “Project Driveway” program a few years ago. The test-drive program allows GM to partner with consumers or companies who agree to driving GM’s fuel cell vehicles in a “lab rat” type of situation. Yesterday, GM announced a newest member of the program, the world’s first and largest market test of fuel cell vehicles. Chevrolet and the United States Postal Service have teamed up for a trial-run of Hydrogen-powered fuel cell Chevy Equinox’s. Two of the USPS locations will be using them. Irvine, CA is the only one released so far, with a second releasing soon. The Equinox fuel cell car will be used 6 days a week on regular delivery routes. This is not [...]