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 [...]

December 22nd, 2008 was a day that will forever be remembered by a family in Cedar Rapids. Their lives were changed by the summer floods. They lost a lot in that disaster. But last Monday, an employee of the Archdiocese of Dubuque did a very selfless deed. She had recently gotten married. She and her husband each had their own house, which means 2 sets of everything. She decided to donate her furniture to a family that was unfortunate enough to lose most of their belongings in the flood. So on the Monday before Christmas Gene Foust, a former Runde employee who is now employed by the Archdiocese, borrowed our Community Service vehicle to deliver the furniture to the family in Cedar Rapids.  Gene works for the Archdiocese [...]

The Midwest can have some ‘interesting’ winter driving conditions throughout the seemingly never-ending winter season. It think it would be a lot easier if we all attended the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and actually learned how to drive in winter conditions. They have three ice-covered tracks with soft snowbanks to use as learning tools. I think all of us can relate to the crazy All-Wheel Drive vehicles flying past us on the interstate and then finding them in the median about a mile up the road. Or there is the other end of the spectrum…the people who have their white knuckles clenched to the wheel driving 35 mph when there is just a dusting of snow on the road.   Mark Cox is the school director at Bridgestone, and he has provided some tips to making it through the winter in one piece. Cox says when drivers are about to get behind [...]

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 [...]

Chevrolet provided Motortrend.com with their ‘First Look’ of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. They made obvious changes to the exterior, giving it the same grill as the late-model Malibu and Traverse and sharpening up the edges. Mechanically, the base model of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is equipped with a 2.4L four-cylinder that produces 182 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The 6-speed is supposed to equal the former 3.4L V-6’s performance, while producing 21/30 mpg in the FWD, and 20/27 in the AWD. The 2009 model-year gets about 17/24 in both the FWD and AWD. Chevy also added an ECO button on the dash that minimizes fuel usage while coasting. The upgraded 3.0L V-6 steps up to 255 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy is still increased to  18/25 MPG in the FWD, and 17/24 in the AWD. This is an improvement from the 16-17/24 MPG featured by the previous model. Chevy [...]

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 [...]

Time for a tires 101 course?  Most people know what features they want on their vehicle, or even what kind of vehicle they want. But what most of us don’t know, is what kind of tires need to be put on, and what each marking around the tire stands for. So, I thought I would do a little research on the subject and pass that on to our readers for future reference! At the end of the day, you’ll all be able to say you’ve had your vocabulary lessons for today. Tire Type: P=Passenger Vehicle LT=Light Truck Tire Width: Measured in Millimeters Aspect Ratio: The ratio of the height of the tire’s cross-section to its width Construction: R=Radial (Ply runs straight across tire from inside to outside B=Bias [...]

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 [...]

Chris Anderson can usually be found at the Hazel Green used car near Dubuque. I sat down with him for a few minutes this morning, so you all can get to know him better! Runde Auto Chat: How long have you worked for Runde’s? Chris Anderson: Just over a year RAC: What does your job entail? CA: I do a lot of the buying, and I also manage some of the deals the salesmen have going. RAC: What are your favorite parts of your job? CA: I like the people I work with, being a part of a successful business, and the company offers a lot of opportunities. RAC: What kind of vehicle do you currently drive? CA: Right now I drive a Suzuki SX4 hatchback because of the good gas mileage.  I drive about 35 [...]

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 — [...]

… TO LET YOUR CONGRESSMAN KNOW HOW YOU FEEL! The National Automobile Dealers Association is calling on all of its dealerships and their customers to call their members of Congress immediately, both in the House and Senate. Although some progress has been made on a proposal to provide bridge loans to the Detroit Three automakers, some members of Congress still need to be convinced. Congress needs to hear from everyone out there immediately on this issue and urge action. To locate your members of Congress and contact them directly, click here for a phone directory of House members. For a phone directory of Senate members, click here. You can contact your members of Congress through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, but the number is often busy. This issue is still very much up in the air and until the votes have been cast, the fate of the US Automakers still hang in the balance.  Your [...]

More than 335,000 Americans are employed by the Big 3 Automakers in our country, and Runde Auto Group employs over 120 people in the Tri-State Area. One out of ten people in America are employed in a service that is related to the U.S. auto industry. Please show your support:   and select “I’m a Concerned American” or call: (866) 874-9356!   Imagine what the lack of competition will do the the cost of your next vehicle….no matter what the make is.  The lack of any new domestic makes, will force Americans to buy new imports or used vehicles.  Every American should ask themselves: Will I have to wait longer for my new vehicle because there is a backorder on parts for it?  Will I have to pay substantially more than the suggested list price or book value because of a possible vehicle shortage?   If we were to lose the Big 3, [...]

Tressa Miller works in the office of our PreDriven dealership in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. She handles titles, processes deals, and answers the phones. I sat and talked with her for a few minutes today, and here is what she had to say!   Runde Auto Chat: How long have you worked at Runde’s? Tressa Miller: 6 years Runde Auto Chat: What do you like best about your job? Tressa Miller: I don’t know…I like everything about it. There isn’t really a part I don’t like. RAC: Who is your favorite NASCAR driver? TM: Gordon (As I notice the Gordon jacket hanging on the back of her chair) RAC: How many races have you been to? TM: 8, most of them were at Chicago Speedway RAC: Who will you cheer for when Gordon retires? TM: Whoever is racing for Hendrick Motorsports…just that whole team. RAC: What do you want for Christmas this year? TM: I haven’t really [...]

Timmerman’s Supper Club in East Dubuque just off of Hwy 20 has been a mainstay of the Tri-State community for many, many years.  When Supper Clubs were the rage or the cat’s pajamas back in the 1970’s, Timmerman’s was normally packed with locals who were looking for good times and great food.  There used to be nightly live music from jazz to big band and couples would sip cocktails and enjoy their meals before heading out to the dance floor to trip the light fantastic.  Well supper clubs may have changed a little, but they still continue to thrive in the Dubuque & East Dubuque area and Timmerman’s is arguably the most popular one.  It is also on the Runde short list of favorite for places to eat. I [...]

We were just talking about this the other day in the lunch break room at Runde PreDriven.  What does your vehicle say about you?  Is the type or color of the vehicle you drive an extension of your personality?  Is there such a thing as vehicle personality? Most of us think we drive the vehicles we want to drive…it’s as simple as that. But what we don’t realize is there is a psychological connection to the vehicles we drive, the way they make us feel when we drive them, and the image they allow us to portray. I think most of us can relate to coming to a stop at a red light and the person next to you looks over, as if to say ‘Nice ride!’ or ‘I wouldn’t be caught dead driving [...]

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow, and you all know what that means…TURKEY!!  Ms. Donna Ginter, a resident of Dubuque, is about to have her 47th annual FREE Thanksgiving dinner. It will be held at the Dubuque Knights of Columbus on Locust Street. Every year, Ms. Ginter and many volunteers cook SEVENTY 25-pound turkeys and 6 different kinds of salad.  They also buy dinner rolls and pies to feed those less-fortunate or shut-in people in the community. Last year’s meal fed about 2,400 people. Ms. Ginter had about approximately 260 volunteers.  They used 75 cars to deliver meals and they went through 57 turkeys. She organizes 2 festivals during the year (Catfish Festival and Riverfest), and is a food vendor at Dubuquefest. The money she makes at her booth is used to fund the Thanksgiving dinner. She also receives donations throughout the year from people and businesses. This year is a special one for [...]

The Runde PreDriven dealership up by the Three Mile House Supper Club has a new vehicle on the premises: the Suzuki Carry. Imported from Japan, these quality off-road 4WD mini-trucks can be used in the United States as farm utility vehicles, ranch trucks, and hunting vehicles. They can be used on golf courses, in parks, at campgrounds, resorts, schools, municipalities, for nursery/landscaping businesses and more. The uses for these tough little trucks are seemingly endless. Right now only used ones can be purchased in the US. New ones haven’t been mass-imported to the US yet, but if they do ever get here in large numbers, watch out for the Carry! The Carry is used to haul our water tanks for washing vehicles and other equipment needed on the lot. The Carry [...]

Dale Bird was in our dealership waiting for his vehicle to get finished in service. I stole a few minutes of his time to discuss his experience with Runde’s. Runde Auto Chat: What kind of vehicle are you having serviced? Is it a routine appointment? Dale Bird: It’s a Chevy Impala. It just needed an oil change. RAC: Did you buy the vehicle at Runde Chevrolet? DB: Yes, I bought it new here. RAC: Have you bought any other vehicles from us? DB: Yes, probably about 4 or 5. RAC: What do you appreciate most about Runde’s and how they do business? DB: It’s convenient. I live about 2 miles from here in Dubuque. RAC: Do you have any children or grandchildren? DB: We have 3 boys, and 2 grandchildren: 1 boy and 1 girl. They live in Indianapolis, Indiana. RAC: What kinds of activities are they involved in? DB: Lots of sports, but [...]

The following appeared in the October edition of the Camp Courageous monthly newsletter regarding our salesman, Al Kloft: “Al Kloft and his wife, Sherry, of Dubuque dropped off cases of footballs, hats, stuffed toy Runde monkeys, and clothes for camp.  The Klofts have been long time supporters of camp.  A special thank you to Tim Runde and Runde Auto Group for providing many of the items for campers … the campers love the gifts!”   Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals of all ages with disabilities.  The camp is located in Monticello, IA and it is a not-for-profit organization.    It was founded on and continues to run on donations. Anyone with a disability can attend.  Vision, mental, physical, and other disabilities are typical of [...]

Dave Frazier who works in the Chevy Sales department at our store in East Dubuque welcomed the arrival of his 1st son, Jackson Frazier, last month.  Dave says that he is doing well and he’s currently 20″ tall and weighs about 9 pounds.   Runde Auto Chat: What are your son’s hobbies are so far? Dave Frazier:  Jackson enjoys laying around, eating, pooping, and sleeping.    RAC:  I guess it’s getting sort of cold for long walks in the park.  Does he have any hidden talents? DF:  I’m not sure about that, but he sure has a lot of hair. RAC:  What’s his favorite food? DF:  Right now he’s hitting the Similac Formula pretty hard. RAC:  You have a daughter, correct?  How is she reacting to the new baby?

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 [...]

Heather Tieskoetter recently purchased a used Chevy Equinox at the Runde PreDriven used car store in Hazel Green. Runde Auto Chat had the chance to chat with Heather for a few minutes this afternoon about: her Runde experience, her family, the election, and life in general. So here’s Heather in a nutshell … Runde Auto Chat: What kind of vehicle did you purchase? Heather Tieskoetter: A used Chevy Equinox LT. Runde Auto Chat: What do you thin of the sale process at Runde’s? Heather Tieskoetter: It was great.  The sales staff was awesome and worked with me to help me find the perfect vehicle. RAC: How often do you get a newer vehicle? HT: This is my first [...]