It’s one thing to call something a “family vehicle,” but it’s another to prove it. The Chevrolet Equinox was named to the Cars.com 2020 Car Seat Check Honor Roll, which recognizes it as being one of the best new cars for car seats! PLUS, it was awarded a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That means it makes parents’ jobs easier and keeps kids safer – exactly what a family vehicle should do. The ever-popular SUV seats up to five people and gets 31 miles per gallon highway (26 mpg city). It has available all-wheel drive for those Midwest winters and tons of safety options, including: • Standard rear-vision camera • Available adaptive cruise control • Available rear cross [...]

General Motors is “all in” on their electric vehicles initiative, and they want everyone to join them. That was the message from GM during its appearance at the all-virtual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where the company teased its many new upcoming EV models. GM has committed to 30 new global electric vehicles by 2025. GM has also tweaked its logo for a more electrified look, its first substantial logo change since 1964, and launched a new GM.com website. It’s all part of its “Everybody In” campaign as GM pursues a future with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. “There are moments in [...]

Reflections in the Park has become a Dubuque tradition.  The annual light festival, which raises funds for Hillcrest Family Services, runs Nov. 26 through Jan. 3 at Louis Murphy Park in Dubuque. The price is $10 per vehicle at the gate. (Discounted tickets for $8 are available at all DB&T banking centers as well as Hillcrest locations.) There will also be a one-night-only walk through event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The cost is the same and children 3 and under are free. Each person requires a ticket for the walk through. Runde Auto Group is proud to be a continued sponsor for this event. As you make your way through the park, watch out for our Chevrolet Silverado display, along with the many unique light displays from other area businesses and lighted memorials for loved ones in [...]

When purchasing a vehicle, your credit score plays a major role in whether or not banks or credit unions will agree to offer you financing. Plus, the higher your score, the lower your interest rates will be. Unfortunately for many people their credit score is bit of a mystery. How does it get calculated? How can someone raise their score? What is the difference between “hard” and “soft” credit inquiries? First, the basics: Your credit score is a number calculated by credit bureaus to describe your creditworthiness – how likely you are to repay your loan on time. It can range from the 300s to the 800s. The higher the score, the better. Credit scores fluctuate with time and changes in your credit performance. Most recent credit activities carry the most weight. Past credit issues fade over time. Your score is made up of five components (This information is from Dupaco Community Credit Union): [...]

Enjoy this day-by-day recap of Runde sales manager Aaron Young’s Jeep adventure with his daughter, Josie: 2020 has been an interesting year to say the least. My daughter, Josie, and I decided to plan a much needed vacation to the Carolinas and enjoy some lazy time on the beach, see a lot of historical sites and explore, explore, explore! Seemed simple, but as we were within just a couple of weeks of going, Covid-19 cases were spiking in that area and regulations/shutdowns were a big unknown. Some of the metro areas were seeing violence break out and to top it off, there was a tropical storm headed that way. The idea of heading into all of that no longer seemed relaxing to either of us, so we tossed those plans away and made a new one: a Jeep adventure. Head out west and wing it, literally. No plans can be ruined when you [...]

  The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is re-defining the high-performance pick-up. Much like its raptor namesake, the truck is a powerhouse of strength and speed. The numbers don’t lie: With a Hellcat 3.2L Hemi V-8 engine, the TRX can go from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. It has 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, can tow 8,100 pounds, and can ford up to 32 inches of water! “The all-new 2021 Ram TRX sets the benchmark for extreme performance pickup trucks and solidifies Ram Truck’s position as the off-road truck leader,” said Mike Koval, Head of Ram Brand, FCA – North America, in a press release. “Ram has a strong history of high-performance trucks and TRX adds to that while expanding the light-duty [...]

The temps are starting to drop. Is your vehicle ready to brave the frozen tundra? Here are some ways to prepare your vehicle for the upcoming winter:   Re-stock your emergency kit Each Fall, it’s smart to check your trunk’s emergency kit to see if anything needs to be added or replaced. Does your flashlight still work? It might need fresh batteries. Did you remove anything last year that needs to be replaced? Here are some ideas of what you might want to have on hand: Warm blankets Extra hats and gloves Water and non-perishable food Cell phone charger and/or power brick Extra medications Emergency flares Flashlight Extra batteries Hand crank or battery-powered radio Ice scraper for windshield and windows Shovel Jumper cables Neon flag or ribbon Roadmap [...]

As part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, Ford is focusing on helping the newest drivers on the road learn safe driving skills. The automotive brand has invested $60 million in the cause with its Ford Driving Skills for Life program, which teaches newly licensed and teen drivers the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs. Hands-on training clinics (along with web-based curriculum) focus on four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60% of vehicle crashes: Hazard recognition Vehicle handling Speed management Space management Sign up here to be notified when a free hands-on training event is near you. Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, which is [...]

We recently hosted a contest asking area children ages 6 through 12 to draw this Halloween-themed Runde Auto Group Truck Month billboard. Winners in each category would be featured on a digital billboard for the rest of October. Since we had just six entries, we decided to put all of them on the billboard! The CR Signs digital boards will be running through Oct. 31 on Hwy 20 facing West (near the Hampton Inn) in Dubuque. Here they are:

GMC revealed the all-new, all-electric 2022 GMC Hummer EV, kicking off what the company is calling the Quiet Revolution. With its signature six-bar grille and boxy front end, the vehicle brings to mind the Hummer of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, but with a modern twist. The futuristic truck’s bold design houses an extremely capable and nearly silent all-electric propulsion system that provides 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of torque. Plus, in Watts to Freedom mode, the Hummer is lightning fast – going from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds! One of the most attention-getting features of the truck is the Crab Walk setting, where all four wheels turn, allowing the truck to drive diagonally to avoid obstacles. Check out what Crab Walk looks [...]

Are you a book lover? How about a Buick owner? If you answered yes and yes, you’ll love this: Buick recently partnered with the media company Hello Sunshine to bring Reese Witherspoon’s popular book club “Reese’s Book Club” directly to your Buick’s infotainment screen. The built-in app allows drivers to select from a specially curated collection of podcasts and audiobooks, all categorized by genre, at the touch of a button. “We’re thrilled to partner with Buick on this exciting new venture,” said Hello Sunshine CEO Sarah Harden, in a press release. “Reese’s Book Club is driven by a powerful community who appreciate authentic, quality storytelling, and we’re excited to further expand this community with Buick.” It is [...]

If you plan on participating in trick-or-treating this year, here are some ideas to keep the festivities safe and fun: Table Trick-or-Treat: Set up a table in your driveway or yard and decorate it with Halloween décor. Set out pre-packaged candy or other items for children to take. Weather-permitting, set up chairs at least 6 feet apart from the table to greet kids and see their costumes. Fun face masks: Try to include a face mask into your child’s costume, but feel free to get crafty to make it a part of the costume. Or purchase a Halloween-themed mask for the occasion! Candy Sticks: Attach candy to skewers and place them in your front yard for children to each take one. Candy chute: Create a six-foot-long cardboard tube [...]

Everyone remembers their first car.  Having your own car is a milestone on the way to adulthood, welcoming you to the freedom of the open road. We asked some of our staff members to tell us about their first vehicles: Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque, IL Jacob Puls: 2000 Mercury Sable, a gift for him and his twin brother Jared from their parents on Christmas Day 2008. John Riley: A blue 1976 Mercury Capri Tim Runde: 1970 Chevy Chevelle. “It was beige with a dark brown top. It was a retired undercover cop car so it had a performance engine and a certified calibration speedometer. They called them ‘sleepers’ – it looked like it wasn’t anything, but it could smoke you.” Geoff Barklow: 1976 red four-door Chevy Chevette. “I put an awesome stereo in it,” he said. “That was a chick magnet.” Brent Phillips: White 1984 Pontiac Parisienne with a [...]

Jeep revealed its two newest offerings in a live broadcast recently: the hybrid Wrangler 4xE, a half-gas/half electric version of the beloved off-road staple, and the all-new Jeep Wagoneer, a re-incarnation of the 1960s station wagon. The Wrangler 4xE is expected to arrive in showrooms in early 2021, while the Wagoneer will roll onto lots in mid-2021. Wrangler 4xE Jeep is striving to become a leader in eco-friendly premium technology, and the Wrangler is the first of its nameplates to offer electrification options. “Our Jeep 4xe vehicles will be the most efficient, responsible and capable that the brand has ever created,” said Christian Meunier, Global President of Jeep Brand – FCA, in a press release. “We are committed to making Jeep the greenest SUV brand. The electrification of the Jeep [...]

The intense storm that hit the Midwest last week caused devastating damage to farms, homes, cities, and vehicles in Iowa with its category 3 hurricane winds. As Iowans pick up the pieces, Ford is hoping to help by offering Employee Pricing on select new Ford vehicles. The Iowa Disaster Relief offer extends to Iowa residents in select counties who experienced a verified total loss or damage to their vehicle from the storm on Aug. 10, 2020. Customers can redeem this offer on one new Ford vehicle purchase/lease for each loss/damaged vehicle. Previous purchases are not eligible for this incentive. To qualify for the Iowa Disaster Relief Employee Pricing offer, you must:        • Reside in one of these Iowa counties: Benton, Boone, Cedar, [...]

Runde Auto Group is proud to once again provide transportation for the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team during their stay in the tri-states. While this year’s Fireworks and Air Show event was canceled for the first time ever, the team will still perform jumps as scheduled. “They are doing a Heros Jumping For Heros Tribute,” said Perry Mason, event coordinator and general sales manager of Radio Dubuque. “Earlier this year you may have seen Thunderbirds and Blue Angels doing flyovers to salute health care workers – this is the Golden Knights’ tribute. It’s for health care workers, essential workers, and front line folks who kept everyone safe during this time.” The Golden Knights have been performing in Dubuque for the last 20 years. “It was very tough for us to cancel the fireworks and air show, but obviously the decision we had to make,” Mason said. “We are not going to have as many [...]

The Runde Community Support Truck will be stuffed to the gills today with school supplies as St. Mark Youth Enrichment prepares for its annual Apples for Students / Fill the Bag event! Volunteers will gather over two days to stuff about 3,500 bags full of school supplies for area children in need. Beth McGorry, director of donor relations at St. Mark’s, picked up the support truck at Runde’s today. “We are just so thankful,” she said, noting the use of the free box truck comes in handy for a variety of nonprofits in the area. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4 and Wednesday, Aug. 5 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque. Want to volunteer? Click here to sign up [...]

Please join us in welcoming Nic Spriggs to the sales team at Runde Chevrolet Buick GMC in Platteville, WI! Nic grew up in Potosi, WI, playing high school basketball, baseball, and football. While he hasn’t previously worked in the automotive industry, he is catching on quickly and enjoying learning the ropes. “I like meeting new people and being able to help them out, so being an automotive salesperson is perfect,” he says. “My goal as a salesperson is to give every customer the best car buying experience possible so that they will always want to come back again.” His dream vehicle? A Rolls Royce Phantom. “They look awesome and they come equipped with some really crazy features,” he says. In his spare time, Nic enjoys watching and playing sports, as well as hanging out [...]

The 2021 Chevy Corvette brings together all the exciting aspects of the mid-engine’s 2020 debut, plus some new content, all with carryover pricing. Just like the introductory model, the 2021 Corvette’s MSRP will start at $59,995 for the coupe and $67,495 for the convertible. “Our mission was to develop a new sports car, combining the successful attributes of Corvette with the performance and driving experience of mid-engine supercars,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer, in a press release. “We are thrilled with the enthusiasm the mid-engine Corvette brought following its launch and are keeping it fresh with new content for the 2021 model.” What’s new for 2021? Standard Buckle to Drive, a safety technology that, when active, can prevent the driver from shifting the vehicle out of Park if the driver’s seat belt is not buckled for up to 20 seconds. Paint colors, including Silver Flare Metallic and Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat Magnetic [...]

The world premiere of the 2021 Ford Bronco was more of a stampede – introducing a whole family of Broncos, including a classic two-door, first-ever four-door, and the smaller Sport model. The Bronco, which was first introduced in 1966, was America’s first SUV. It’s now back after a long hiatus, and better than ever. The rugged SUV offers a dizzying array of options – more than 200 factory-backed aftermarket accessories to choose from, a Sasquatch off-road package, and a choice of six trim levels. The two-door model starts at $29,995, while the four-door model starts at $34,695. Those come with a 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 and a seven-speed Getrag manual transmission, with a projected 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Manual transmission is only available with the 2.3L, which can also be paired [...]

Please join us in welcoming our newest member of the service team at Runde Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Manchester: Tim Tacy! Tim and his wife Lori moved to Manchester from Dallas, Texas, about 2 ½ years ago. “I am new to the automotive industry, but have been in sales for over 30 years,” Tim says. “My background is in the Datacom and telecommunications industry.” In his spare time, he enjoys reading, fishing, playing with his Beagle, and target shooting. He is looking forward to meeting new people each day and learning the ins and outs of the auto industry. “I love working with people and figured this was the perfect industry to be able to do that,” he says. “I appreciate the opportunity to be a member of the Runde Automotive family.” If you are looking to set up a service appointment for an oil change or you need a new set of [...]

Runde Auto Group has been a major sponsor of JDIFF from the start. For more information about the film festival, visit JulienFilmFest.com. This year’s Julien Dubuque International Film Festival is coming to your living room. The 2020 festival, which was originally postponed due to COVID-19, will now be a virtual event. It was a decision that Executive Director Susan Gorrell and the JDIFF Board of Directors did not make lightly. “The health and safety of everyone – attendees, volunteers, vendors, venue staff and filmmakers – takes precedence,” said Brian Cooper, JDIFF board president. “We want to make the best of the situation with a virtual festival soon and a bigger event next year.” Next year’s film festival, set for April 18-25, 2021, will span more days and include both 2020 and 2021 Official Selections. VIRTUAL [...]

Please join us in welcoming Brent Phillips to the sales team at Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque! Brent, who was born and raised in Dubuque, is new to automotive sales. He has worked in auto repair in the past and also owned Murph’s Tap in Dubuque for four years. “I have always enjoyed being around vehicles and this gave me an opportunity to do that every day while earning a living,” he says. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and camping with his wife Sarah and two daughters, 8-year-old Samantha, and 4-year-old Brianna, and their dog Jethro. He also enjoys grilling and doing anything outside. His favorite vehicle is the Chevy Camaro – specifically the early and late model second generation Camaros. “I had an ’81 the last year of the second [...]

Buick is envisioning a stylish new version of the Buick Envision for the 2021 model year. “The 2021 Envision will be lower and wider, with premium proportions and striking styling designed to combine the expressiveness of a car with the practicality of an SUV,” said Helen Emsley, executive director of Global Buick and GMC Design, in a press release. The fresh SUV is debuting not only a new look, but also a premium Avenir trim for the first time, as well as Buick’s first available 10-inch diagonal touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment system will include useful in-vehicle apps, such as Amazon Alexa built-in, Spotify, Pandora, Fox Sports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The 2021 Buick Envision comes with a laundry list of standard safety features, including: Automatic Emergency [...]

While electric vehicles are the future, many drivers don’t know what it’s like to own and drive one. Chevrolet wants to change that with its new Bolt EV Academy. The 15-video series aims to educate current and future Bolt EV owners on the advantages of living electric and how to get the most out of their electric vehicle. They hope to illustrate how fun, easy, and convenient it is to incorporate an electric vehicle into your lifestyle. The videos are hosted by engineers and experts who created the Bolt EV. They can be accessed on Chevrolet’s YouTube channel, Chevrolet.com, the MyChevy app, and in the Chevrolet Owner Center. Topics include: Home Charging Basics This video covers how to improve cost-effectiveness as well as customize your preferred charging [...]