Että on siistiä هذا هو بارد  Sehr toll Maravilloso что это здорово C’est magnifique That’s cool … Whatever language you speak, you’ll agree that the 2009 Suzuki Equator is “cool”.     Runde Auto Group has a lot of customers who would like to drive a truck so they can have it handy when they need to haul cargo like tree trimmings or landscaping materials, but a lot of people don’t want to drive a full-size truck and they certainly don’t want to pay for the gas to fill up the tank of a full size truck.  That’s where the Suzuki Equator comes in.  This is a mid-sized truck that is a lot more fuel efficient than a full-size truck (say something like a Ford F-150 or a Ram truck). To get one, or to learn more about how cool the Equator is call us, toll free at 800-947-8633.  The Suzuki [...]

Today I sat down with Carmen Grawe, from Manchester, Iowa who recently bought a used truck from us. She was in the Dubuque area visiting her sister and she was kind enough to stop by the Runde Chevrolet dealership and take some time to tell us about her family, her life, her experience at Runde’s and anything else she wanted to share.   Hey Carmen, thanks for taking some time out today for the interview! So I hear you bought a vehicle from Runde’s recently, what did you end up buying? We bought a very nice used truck – it’s a blue granite Chevy Silverado 1500 from the Manchester store. Oh, so you bought the vehicle from our Ford store, did they have the Chevy vehicle shipped up to [...]

Some ideas are bound to become something great. Case-in-point – the Chevrolet Spark. The vehicle design was based on the Chevrolet Beat “concept car” which was voted most popular in comparison to three other “mini” cars. The car will come with a choice of 1 or 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine. It has a wheelbase of slightly over 93 inches and the vehicle measures 143 inches in length. Smaller than most “mini” cars out there, including the Honda Fit. Safety features will vary but will be expected to include: anti-lock brakes, front and side-air bags, as well as electronic stability control. The Chevrolet Spark will save you some green as the expected 47 miles-per-gallon is one of the best in the industry. I’m personally excited for the vehicle – it looks sleek, seems [...]

Last week Justin Hanger of Runde Auto Group obtained the status of “Eagle Scout” which is the highest rank a Boy Scout can obtain. To get the Eagle Scout status, you must go through the different preceding ranks of the Scouts, first. There are eight ranks in the Scouts with the eighth being the Eagle Scout. Justin has been working for Runde’s since he was eight or nine-years old. He would, and still does, come in after hours to help his family clean the offices in the Runde Chevrolet building.  Justin says that it usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to clean up the building during the weekdays and it takes a bit longer on the weekends, lasting up to an hour and a [...]

The Dubuque Art Center was making good use of the Runde service truck this week. I got a chance to do a question-answer session with Jordan DeGree, founder of the Dubuque Art Center, on his way out of the dealership with our community support vehicle. So Jordan, you are taking the Community support vehicle today, what are you planning on doing with it? Well, the Dubuque Art Center is moving into a new location – the first floor of the Platinum building at 137 Main street. As an art center, we have a lot of rather large equipment like pottery wheels, furniture, shelving… etc. — so having a large vehicle makes that move a whole  lot easier.

GM is now offering a package called GM TOTAL CONFIDENCE and the information below will outline what all is included in this new offering from General Motors. Robert Hughes once said that “perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize”.    Makes sense, eh.  And it sort of serves as a reminder that we always have room for improvement.  However, Mr. Hughes never mentioned anything about Total Confidence.  While perfect confidence stems from one’s ego, Total Confidence originated today with General Motors.  Read on to discover how GM is providing new car buyers with a new level of confidence. GM TOTAL CONFIDENCE Reinventing the ownership experience. Now, whatever life brings, you can approach it with Total Confidence. A special package of services from GM designed [...]

What are Baskets Of Care?  Well in order to understand that, you’ll first need some background information about Dubuque’s very own Maria House. It’s almost time to decorate those eggs and indulge in candy – Easter is approaching quickly (April 12th) and some people may not get the opportunity to celebrate the holiday.  That’s why organizations like Maria House here in Dubuque, Iowa are starting to gather materials to build baskets.  The baskets are intended for families who receive aid from Maria House so that everyone can celebrate Easter and have fun during the Easter holiday. Sherry McDonell who has been a member of Maria House since before it opened explained to us the way the organization works.  Sherry, who “absolutely loves working for Maria [...]

The cars you love to look at and want to own. The new line of pony car candidates is very impressive and here is a video comparing three of the top pony cars: The Camaro, Mustang and Challenger. According to the video, this is the comparison test that you’ve been waiting 4 decades for.  The head-to-head test pits 3 of America’s iconic pony car (meaning cars with a lot of horsepower) coupes against each other.  Check out the video above to see which car gets the overall nod.  Will it be the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Challenger, or the Chevy Camaro? The video says the Challenger goes down the road very nicely, however it is not as sharp-edged as the Ford Mustang GT and it doesn’t have the overall power and poise of the Camaro SS. The Mustang has that very lively feel that a pony car should have as it’s a very fine-handling [...]

Bill Brosnahan, president and tournament director of the Walleye Anglers Trail, stopped by the Runde PreDriven Store near Dubuque today to talk fishing and to allow me to gain a better understanding of what’s W.A.T. Hello Bill, so I hear you have a big fishing event coming up, care to explain it a bit? Oh sure, the tournament circuit has been in existence since 1999. Now, there are four annual Walleye tournaments held on the Mississippi river … usually stretching from Genoa, WI to Albany, IL. How many people participate in the event? There are 35 teams as of today, it will probably get up to 40 teams before the Genoa tournament which takes place April 5th. Teams consist of two people, usually partners, friends, or father and son. The competitors can fish in three different pools in each area we go to.  

We stopped in at our Runde PreDriven Store in Hazel Green today and had the nice opportunity to meet and do a customer interview Rick, Kylie and Ty Loeffelholz from Dubuque, Iowa. They had stopped in to sign papers for their new ride. They were surprised at the amount of questions we threw at them, but they seemed to have no problem juggling the questions while keeping their excitement under wraps as they waited to drive away in their new vehicle. What kind of vehicle did you buy? A Kia Sedona minivan. What’s the best thing about your new ride? All the space! We traded in a Chevy Cavalier for the van. That’s definitely an improvement in the amount of interior space. Will you give your new van a name? [...]

If you’ve been considering purchasing a new Chevy Traverse SUV, but you’re not quite ready to pull the trigger, please read the reviews and quotes below and maybe that’ll be enough to push you over the edge and take the plunge into the world of Chevy Traverse SUV owners. Autoblog:  “Unlike the Highlander, the Traverse actually has some usable space behind its third-row seat. Where the Traverse really shines is its driving dynamics.” Boston Globe:  “It’s sophisticated, yet friendly, edgy without being offensive -attractive.” NY Times:   “The Traverse‟s steering was more responsive than the Pilot‟s, and its shifts were smoother. While the Pilot felt like a big S.U.V., the Traverse acted like a particularly agile minivan —although G.M. has managed to keep the Traverse from looking like one.” Popular Mechanics:    “It looks great, it’s easy to use as a family hauler and, most important to us, it actually provides a rewarding experience from that left [...]

Check out the video below for the 2009 Traverse to see what critics are saying about the ’09 Traverse and some of its features.  The video was produced by Olli Sinno at Runde Chevrolet and I must say he did a nice job with it.  It definitely shows off the new Traverse in a very positive light.   The 2009 Traverse is already being touted as one of the best riding SUV’s on the market.  It definitely has the best cargo storage capacity of any vehicle in its class and it also has the ability to haul around your entire family safely and comfortably.  To get one of these sweet rides stop by Runde’s or call, toll free, 800-947-8633 and we will hook you up with one.

VIN Cloning is when the vehicle identification number (VIN) from a legally owned vehicle is taken to forge documents for a similar, stolen vehicle. It is a serious problem lately as there has been about $100 million worth of VIN cloning cases that have occurred in the U.S. since 2001.  CARFAX, a vehicle history information business, estimates that more than 225,000 of the 1.5 million vehicles stolen each year have VINs from legally owned vehicles. The wind is blowing your hair around as you drive down by the river breathing in the fresh air. You can’t believe the incredible deal that you got on your new luxury vehicle – “that was a steal!” you think to yourself as you continue to enjoy the drive. Later that night you are happy with the way things are going until you get a knock on the door – it’s the police. They say that your car is a stolen [...]

This week I had the opportunity to join the clinking, clanking, and loud noises going on in the service garage as I interviewed Dawson Rollinger, service mechanic, here at Runde’s. (Loud thuds and noises in the background) HEY DAWSON, I THOUGHT I’D TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETT… (Loud noises stop and the only thing loud in the room is my voice) You don’t have to yell… Oh, my bad – so Dawson, is that your first name? Yeah it is, I get that all the time, whenever I go to car shows or similar events and I tell them my name is Dawson Rollinger they always reply “well what’s your first name” What do you do here at Rundes’? I’m a mechanic. I started working at Runde’s [...]

Dave Hoekstra drove from Chicago to the Dubuque area today to pick up his new truck at Runde Auto Group.  So I hear that you came from Chicago to be here today, how was the ride up here? It was good, left early enough – around 6,  it was quiet. Are you from Chicago? Well yea, just one town west of Chicago. How did you find Runde? After looking around for awhile I found Runde through AutoTrader. What were you looking for? I spotted the Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab so I called and Al Kloft of Runde PreDriven answered the phone. He was very nice and helped me throughout the whole process. That’s great to hear! So where in Chicago are [...]

It goes without saying that families want to be assured their loved ones will be protected in the event of a vehicle collision.  Well, Ford Motor Company has developed an insert to measure abdominal injuries on a crash-test dummy that represents a 6-year-old. Made out of silicone, the test dummy is made to study the effects of seat belts in auto accidents. “The major focus [of crash tests] has always been on head and chest injuries,”Ford safety engineer Steve Rouhana said. “We really didn’t have the technology before to accurately measure abdominal response.” Current tests use seat-belts that may be too large for children that have grown out of a child-safety seats (usually around the age of 8). The new silicone dummy can measure the penetration of the seat belts going into the child’s abdomen. Ford studies the results and looks to improve seat-belt designs. In addition, Ford is offering the technology to other manufacturers [...]

Saint Patricks day is today.  A day of celebration and green… a whole lot of green. Even Chicago dyes it’s river green with over 40lbs of food dye today!  But have you ever wondered what the holiday is actually all about? It’s not just an excuse to go out to the “pubs” and toast the great Saint until you are passed out on the floor. No, in-fact, St. Patrick’s day has more to it than you probably know. Isn’t it great that the Irish have a great Irish person to celebrate?  Huh, what’s that? St. Patrick isn’t Irish? Are you nuts!? Actually, St. Patrick was born in Britain during the 5th century. Not as Patrick, mind you, but as Maewyn Succat. He was kidnapped by Irish marauders at the [...]

Well, future owners of the 2010 Chevy Camaro have one thing less to worry about as official reports from the EPA rate the Camaro at 18 City/29 Hwy MPG. No one likes to fill up with gas often. Taking huge beasts or power house vehicles on the road that get 12-16MPG can be a downer and luckily Camaro buyers/owners won’t have to deal with lousy performance at the pumps. Add great fuel economy to an estimated 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and you have a car that is not only fast and powerful but an all-in-one package. Below is a fuel economy comparison chart of other muscle cars out there:   2010 Chevy Camaro 2010 Ford Mustang 2010 Dodge Challenger V6        18 city/29 hwy 16 city/24 hwy 17 city/25 hwy V8        16 city/25 hwy 17 city/23 hwy 13 [...]

Has Friday the 13th got you down?  Black cats, ladders and mirrors couldn’t stop the employee’s at Runde’s from coming in to work to help meet the needs of our customers. That doesn’t mean, however, that they do not believe in superstition.  The following video will show you the superstitions roaming around peoples minds at Runde Auto Group.   If you’re not sure where all the superstition came about from “a number attached to a day”, then you’re not alone. I had no idea why this day is associated with misfortune and bad luck … that is until I looked it up. I always assumed it had something to do with the Friday the 13th movies with Jason stalking campers.  But after much research and a quick visit to Wikipedia, I found out what all the hubbub is about.  Turns out that the reason why people dread the occurrence of Friday the [...]

How often do you get a chance to help someone out in Dubuque, Iowa? Chances are that there are several opportunities for you to help someone, but how often do you actually help? Connie Jo and Chuck, owners of Chuck -n- Jo’s restaurant, (located on 890 Iowa St in Dubuque, IA) did not let an opportunity pass when they came up with “Easter Baskets of Love” Started three years ago, Easter Baskets of Love supplies children in need of an Easter basket that’s filled with toys, candy and other Easter goodies. Kids from organizations such as the Maria House and St. Mark’s are given the baskets. Everything is 100% donated and the work is all volunteer based – businesses (including Runde Auto Group) within the community donate items for [...]

What is Ford MyKey?  Well the following article will try to answer that question as clearly and concisely as possible.  As our society continues to grow, it seems like safety is a number one concern. From safety on the Internet to safety in your vehicle, there are safety upgrades integrated in almost all facets of life. Ford takes no exception to this rule as seen by the announcement of optional safety features available on the upcoming 2010 Ford Focus. Options like the teen-monitoring Ford MyKey system (see video below for more info) and Ford’s automated parking system will be available as options  in the Escape, as well as the Escape Hybrid that go on sale this summer. Ford is aiming to spread these features across the board of their available models. While other vehicles, such [...]

Pat Timmerman – one of the longest lasting and friendliest faces at Runde Chevrolet. This week we got a chance to pull him away for a little bit to get to know him better. What do you do here at Runde’s? I’m the nut in the squirrel farm! I am the service manager aka “fixed operations” for the four stores. I make sure that customers are taken care of and always have staff in place to accommodate to the customer for their convenience. How long have you been doing this gig? Oh I’m not even sure… lets see… since ’96? yea, since 96 – so about 13 years. One of the originals, huh? You’ve been here so long, have you always been from the area? Yeah, [...]

As we move forward into the future, things change. You get a Mohawk .. your dad unveils that he is superman … or you come home to the pleasant surprise of your dog having an all-you-can-eat buffet of anything and everything in the house. Changes can be big or small, and lately, in the automotive industry there have been several changes. Beyond the scope of any economic woes, one big development in the automotive industry in the last couple of years has been the concept and implementation of electronic and hybrid vehicles.        A quick lesson about Hybrid and Electric vehicles: Electric cars – 100% emission free – secure their power from batteries, the sun or hydrogen fuel cells. Being able to pull power from other sources; they are definitely more efficient on gas. Hybrid cars – Combine the cleaner energy of the electric motor with the long-range power of the gasoline engine. Not as efficient [...]

It’s not often we get to interview someone below the age of 25, so when we got to interview Amanda Hohmann, 22, we definitely listened attentively to what she had to say.   Hey Amanda, so I hear you bought a vehicle from us before? Yea, I bought a Pontiac G6 at the end of October after looking around for awhile.   How do you like it so far? Oh, I love it! I’ve never had any problems with it.   That’s good to hear! So what was the experience like at Runde’s when you were picking out the vehicle?   Oh it was good, my dad liked the fact that there really is no salesman pitches and Al Kloft [...]

As everyone knows today is Casimir Pulaski Day. Let’s get the party started! Wait… what? You didn’t know it was Pulaski day? You don’t even know who he is, you say? Well let’s make sure everyone is caught up to speed on the significance of this great man and why he is celebrated to this day. Casimir Pulaski was born in Poland on March 4, 1747 (the original spelling of his name was Kazimierz Pulaski) would live his life to end up being a hero. He is known for his contributions to the U.S. military during the American Revolution by training soldiers and cavalry of the American colonists. From his involvement and genius strategies he was given the title “father of the American cavalry.”   The holiday came to fruition to celebrate his efforts which aided America. Illinois enacted a law on June 20, 1977 for the celebration of Pulaski’s birthday. Celebrated heavily, [...]