Nick Roche is one of our newest sales associates at our Chevrolet Store in East Dubuque, IL.  Nick knows all about quality – he looks for it in an artist’s exhibit, craves for that flavor of perfection in a dish, and offers the best of quality to his customers. Nick Roche can tell you where to eat, what wine is the best, what exhibits you shouldn’t miss and what deals you just can’t beat. The following interview inherits a bit about Nick and his likes. Welcome to Runde’s Nick. So, what made you want to be a salesman? I had previous sales experience selling golf equipment. It’s all about figuring out what people need and want. I also wanted to stay around the area because I like it here and all my friends and girlfriend are [...]

The new Buick Verano with the turbo option has been announced to have a price of $29,990 with plans of releasing this Fall! You get quite the bang for your buck with heated leather seats & steering wheel, IntelliLink , a premium Bose 9-speaker audio system, rear park assist and rear-view camera & class leading safety features such as a radar-based side blind zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert systems. The Turbo Buick Verano is estimated to go from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds! It will be powered by a Ecotec 2.0L four-cylinder engine with direct injection producing 250HP @ 260lb.-ft Torque at 2000 rpm. All this power doesn’t seem to guzzle down the gas as the Verano is rated to get 31MPG highway and 20MPG city. As if there wasn’t already a ton of goodies packed into the Verano, Buick is offering its 6-speed Manual transmission as a FREE option!

Brian & Patrice Kuhn from Galena came to Runde’s because of our great variety. The Kuhn’s, like all of our customers, are valued and appreciated by Runde’s and we like to hear what they think of their experience at Runde’s. We sat down with the Kuhn’s to learn exactly that! What brought you into Runde’s today? Today we came in to pick our car up that we purchased last Wednesday. What car did you buy? We bought a 2008 Pontiac Torrent.         Who’s it for? Patrice: it’s for me.   What led you to come to Runde’s? We were looking for a Chevy Equinox or a Torrent and we looked at a few other places but they didn’t have nearly as much selection as they did here.  And we have dealt with and liked to work with Dave Smith before.  This is probably the third vehicle we bought from him. So overall, [...]

Steve Sieverding is the Warranty Claims Specialist at our Chevrolet store, he’s done it for over 13 years. Everybody knows and loves Steve.  Steve is just one of those guys that is easy to start a conversation with and he always keeps the chat interesting. If you know Steve, you also know he has a Camaro. Steve’s Camaro is one of a kind – a classic with a kick. The Camaro and Steve has quite the history together – over 13 years of working hard, overcoming road blocks, and enjoying the fruit of those accomplishments on both ends. 2012 marks a momentous year for the two – Completion. Steve Sieverding believes he is now satisfied with all of the modifications (and they are VAST) and can now call it good as far as working on the Camaro. To celebrate his accomplishments, we got an interview with him to get to know more about the hard [...]

In the automotive industry, truck terminology is plentiful… enough so that to the inexperienced truck shopper it might become a bit overwhelming. We thought a rundown of the most common truck terms might be helpful as you consider what truck is right for you. Dually – (dual wheel) have 4 tires on the rear axles alone and have a stronger rear end. They are made for heavy-duty towing and can take heavier loads. 1500 –  (Read “A Lesson about…” See Below), these trucks were originally rated to handle a payload of 1/2 ton 2500– These trucks were originally rated to handle a payload of 3/4 ton. 3500– These trucks were originally rated to handle payload of 1 ton. A Lesson about 1500, 2500 & 3500’s – While many might associate these suffix’s as a direct translation to the trucks payload, (1500 = 1/2 ton, 2500= 3/4ton, 3500=1ton) that is not the case.  For example, for a standard 2013  Silverado, (Reg cab, Long Box) [...]

Dan Kelly pulled off what few can and won a new truck in the process.  Dan sank a hole-in-one the other day… on a particularly important hole.  You see, this particular hole-in-one landed him a FREE Chevy Silverado valued over $36,000! You might have seen the story on the front page of the Telegraph Herald? Well, as it turns out, Dan is actually a customer of Runde Chevrolet and had recently purchased a Tahoe from Runde’s!  So he was far from a stranger when he came in to fill out the paperwork to obtain his new, beautiful, free Silverado.  During this visit to Runde’s, I chatted with him and his wife Carrie about his hole-in-one experience and about their overall experience with Runde’s! You just bought a Tahoe from Runde’s [...]

Last year, the folks behind the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival proved that they know how to entertain and that was before they unleashed the Julien Block Party. So, without a doubt, you do not want to miss the Block Party, titled “Gettin’ Down in the District”.  They’re throwing the block party (in collaboration with The Millwork District and Voices from the Warehouse) in the Dubuque Millwork District on 10th street! The party will feature artists and from the upcoming Voices from the Warehouse show, The Dubuque Food CO-OP, Dubuque Art Center, Dubuque Main Street, Fly By Night Productions and tours of the newly renovated lofts in the Caradco Building with Gronen Properties. All the while, you’ll be enjoying live music from the local band, Boomtangle. The party will conclude with a screening of [...]

Leah Decker and her father, Mike, stopped into the dealership today to pick up a used car at Runde’s for Leah. Fresh out of college and already establishing herself at Jefferson middle school as a teacher, she needed a reliable vehicle in her life. After working with their salesperson, Kaylin Seffrood, they wanted to tell the world how great she and Runde’s were to work with. What brought you into Runde’s today? Leah: I just graduated from college and needed a used car. Did you find us online? I actually found a different car online but ended up getting a used car at Runde’s Dodge Neon after we came in and went on a test drive. Do you approve of your daughter’s vehicle, Mike? Yep, we took [...]

Earlier this week, two West Delaware High School students were featured in a KWWL story.  The news story told of how Alex Funke and Kyle Heims went to the National Auto Tech Competition in Michigan where they placed 26th overall. The West Delaware pair won the right to represent Iowa at nationals after winning the 2012 Iowa Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny.   At the state level they beat teams from all over the state.  Some of these entrants were from Community Colleges around Iowa so I’m sure quite a few of them were older and possibly had more hands-on experience than Alex and Kyle.  To add to their accomplishment, they were the only team at the state level, who completely fixed their car.  [...]

  Rick no longer works for Runde Auto Group.    Rick’s last day working for Runde’s occurred during November of 2020.      

This months marks the 85th anniversary of GM Design.  Just think … 85 Years of GM Design.  That’s a lot of time … that’s a lot of memorable designs.   Throughout the years we have seen all kind of vehicle designs from the various design chiefs. Take a gander and the video below and be sure to pick for your favorite designer! Harley J. Earl (Pre 1958) William Mitchell (1958-1977) Irving Rybicki (1977-1986) Charles Jordan (1986-1992) Wayne Cherry (1992-2003) Edward Welburn (2003-present)    

Growing up I always thought that new tires were made entirely of rubber. Imagine my surprise when I one day learned that there were several layers of materials, including metal, in a tire! Like many things we use on a daily basis and have no idea how they actually work to result in the function we are familiar with (watch, computer monitor, remote control … anyone?)  tires might be a little more complex than you think. Understanding how they work might help you make a better informed decision as to what to look for in a new tire. What’s in ’em? The Bead – This is constructed from high-strength steel cable that is covered in rubber. It’s main function is to keep the tires seated on the rim. The Body [...]

How do you think you’d feel after being in a car that rolled over 5 times going 70MPH? If you’re Betty Mausser and her Chevy Equinox, you’d be feeling just fine. Betty is a wonderful customer of Runde’s and her salesman, Tim Meyer. She recently had (what should have been) a devastating accident. Read on to learn more about Betty and how she made out so well in such a terrible crash. Hello Betty, what brought you into Runde’s today? I bought a new Chevy Equinox last December and last Friday I was in a car accident. Someone pulled out in front of me and I hit her car then my car rolled about 5 times down the highway. I was going highway cruising speed [about 70MPH] by the time she pulled out in front of me and I had about 2 car lengths to react and I just swerved to miss [...]

With the rise in the use of cell phones and smartphones, distracted driving has become a big problem, maybe even more so than drinking and driving.  “Don’t drink and drive” seems to be a phrase that is agreed upon and accepted globally. We know it’s not acceptable to do it, even though some ignorant people seem to be missing part of their brain and for some reason do it anyway.  What if I told you that you are better off putting a beer in your hand instead of a cellphone while driving? (NOTE: we are by no means advising people to put a beer in their hand while driving … let’s be clear about that.)  You’d probably roll your eyes and think I’m going to give you some over-exaggerated speech about texting and driving. Bingo… minus the over-exaggerated part. Last year, 11,000 fatalities were the result of distracted driving. Distracted driving has now replaced Drinking and Driving as [...]

Tony Payne is a man who loves his music, his family and his Chrysler Town & Country van. When he’s not tinkering with his music he’s enjoying his family and loving his pets. He came into Runde’s on a very good tip from a relative that encouraged him to try us out and he’s glad he did! Where are you from Tony? Wheaton, IL What do you do in Wheaton? I teach music at the Wheaton College. How did you hear about Runde’s and what made you come in to purchase your vehicle from us? My friend, Keith Allen, buys GM trucks from you. He has probably bought about 10 trucks from you. He buys every 18 months or so. He recommended the place and said [...]

The Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee were recently awarded Best in Class awards from AutoPacific and that leaves a great impression on a product.  It’s nice for a vehicle to receive favorable or even raving reports and reviews from big companies, but it’s more-so the voice of the community in regards to that product. If the community’s overall satisfaction with a product is good, you can generally be rest assured that you would be satisfied with the same product. Vehicles are constantly at the center of being criticized and reviewed by businesses and people alike. While a vehicle might get positive reviews through media sources, the community may deem it as average or worse. That’s why the AutoPacific’s Best in Class Vehicle Satisfaction Award is one to be taken seriously – it’s an award based solely on the best vehicles according to the consumer’s experience and satisfactory.  The 2012 survey was taken by more [...]

It’s been over a month now since the 2012 Julien Dubuque International Film Festival had its impressive inaugural showing. With great success of this inaugural film fest in Dubuque Iowa, the 2013 Festival board has already been put together and they are setting things in motion for next year’s big show. The official dates for the 2013 festival are Thursday, April 4th through Sunday, April 7th.  No word on participating venues or films planning to be screened as of yet. With the 2013 show planned, taking a look back at the success of 2012 film fest in Dubuque Iowa causes immense excitement of what’s to come. It was a beautifully run event filled with participants who absolutely loved their experience… the following are just a few examples of how [...]

Wayne Konrardy officially retired from the Air Force in the same year that Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon. Now Wayne Konrardy is retiring from the work force in the same year that the Cubs will finally win the World Series (well … at least the first part of that is true). After fourteen years at Runde Auto Group, Wayne Konrardy is retiring and he’s ready for some well deserved rest and relaxation. We are all saddened to see him go but are excited for him to have some relaxing time off! If you are interested in picking up a vehicle from Wayne, you have until June 30th, hurry in! Wayne was gracious enough to participate in an “exit” interview. Be sure to check out the video at the bottom of this post to watch the interview – it completely captures Wayne’s ever-smiling face and his colorful, animated expressions!

Greg DeMuth isn’t from around the Tri-States … he’s actually from Louisville Kentucky, but that didn’t stop him from seeing the value of buying a vehicle from Runde’s. Greg was very pleased with his overall experience and did a quick interview with us to tell us how things went. What led you to Runde PreDriven in the first place and what factors led you to purchase your vehicle from us? I located the exact vehicle my wife wanted to purchase online. It was one of three similar cars we identified within 500 miles from our home in Louisville Kentucky. After discussions with each of the three automobile dealerships (sales and finance), I determined that Runde was the most cost-effective, service-oriented, professional group. How would you rate your experience on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best and 1 being the absolute worst? An absolute 10.  Both my salesman and [...]

Interested in a 2013 Chevy Malibu and want to learn more about the car? … Well then Kyle is you’re go to guy.  If you have never seen a Kyle video, we’ll here’s your chance.  Kyle has been doing comprehensive vehicle walk around videos and reviews for quite some time on YouTube.  He doesn’t employ any fancy special effects or have out-of-this-world video equipment and editing software.  He has done over 1400 videos to date and keeps them pretty simple where he is both cameraman and narrator.  People like his laid-back videos so much because he does his homework before shooting each video and he brings a wealth of information and an open mind to each vehicle walkaround.   To date:  Kyle has massed over 81,000 YouTube subscribers and his videos have [...]

It’s 2012. According to Back to the Future, we are 3 years away from “the future” and automated vehicles. And while we might miss the mark on flying cars, we are one step in the right direction of displaying our technologically advanced state of future with cars that drive themselves. Automated cars have been buzzing around the news for a little while and sounded like a fun idea that might never take off. But now the online pioneers at Google are set and good to go for real world testing… in one of most challenging places to drive – Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although their permit gives access to test the driver-less vehicle on several of the State’s roads, the Sin City Strip should provide some solid testimonial to how well the automated system reacts to all sorts of scenario’s. “They’re [automated vehicles] designed to avoid distracted driving, When you’re on the [...]

Runde’s was recently honored to have San Francisco 49ers draft pick, Darius Fleming, come in to Runde Chevrolet to pick up a smoking hot Black Camaro coupe!  Darius played for Notre Dame as an outside linebacker and is training for the 49ers currently. He found time to come from his training camp in Lake Forest, IL to pick up his Camaro from our salesman, Mark Fleege.  Darius was gracious enough to let us interview him. You might be surprised by some of his unique talents and what he has in common with the movie “Rudy”! Are you originally from the area? No, I’m from the south side of Chicago.  I grew up in the Beverly area, right off of Western Ave. around 119th. Did you have a nickname growing up? My nickname was Baby-D, because I was named after my uncle.   Since his name was Darius as well, they called me Baby-D so when somebody would say “Darius” [...]

No one will argue that vehicle maintenance is not important, but when is the best time to have your vehicle in for service?  Spring has been here for a bit, and the weather in the Midwest has been… strange, to say the least. While the March showers were kind of a downer, May’s flowers will surly brighten our days! It’s the perfect time for spring cleaning, and while I’m sure that house/apartment needs a touch up here and there, lets not neglect our pals on wheels. Follow these helpful springtime vehicle maintenance tips to keep your vehicle in great condition! 1. CLEAN – Winter might be over with, but if you haven’t been keeping up to date on your car washes you should do so [...]

Can you say new Malibu?  Jacquelyn, Sharon and Luella Frye are the newest Runde Chevrolet clients as these fantastic customers came into the dealership today to get a new vehicle for Jacquelyn, who recently had an unfortunate car accident which totaled her old vehicle. In need for a new ride and, the Frye family came to Runde’s. Are you from the area? Yes, I’m from Dubuque – born and raised. Any family around? Pretty much all of my family is around the Dubuque area. I have a sister and brother-in-law that live in Potosi, WI. But that’s about as far out as it goes. Do you come from a big family? Yep, 6 kids – I have 5 brothers and sisters. Have any kids yourself? Nope, I’m a single lady [...]

Runde Auto Group says farewell to Elmer Krohn from Dubuque   Today marks Elmer Krohn’s, AKA “Junior”, last day in the workforce at Runde Auto Group. With close to 16 years of hard work at Runde’s, Elmer is putting away his work gloves to spend some well deserved time with his family.  Elmer is loved by all at Runde’s – that’s why we threw a Retirement Bash to wish him well and tell him to have some fun while on his retirement. Sneaking in for a small interview with Elmer proved near impossible as he was constantly being hugged and talked to by all those that know and love him. I did manage to get a couple of words from Elmer before he got ambushed again, however… This [...]