ZR1 Corvette vs. The Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter jet Blue Devil vs. Blue Angel $117,000 vs. $25,000,000 Motor City’s best vs. The U.S. Navy’s finest Click the play button below to find out who wins … You’ve got a car with a top speed of 205 miles per hour and a jet plane with a top speed of 1190 miles per hour.  Granted, the Blue Angel was going to win … even with a head start, the jet fighter was still going to win.  But it sure made for a great photo opportunity and it was great publicity for the new Corvette ZR1.

This past week we had the pleasure of having a customer come in who owns this beautiful 1968 Chevy Camaro. It’s not too often that you see a Camaro of this year in such good shape. While he was here, we let him check out the new 2010 Camaro to get a sense of what the grandchild of his car looks like and how it handles. We all know that cars can’t talk without the aid of Hollywood’s magic.   However, I wonder what the conversation would be like if these two could have an actual car-to-car verbal exchange.   Take a look at these two together:

Ford Syncing is definitely a new thing.  With all of the technology that has been heaped on our generation over the past few years, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all of the awesome new “stuff”.  He’s that guy. The one that nearly avoids getting into an accident because he’s on his cell phone. In honesty, YOU are probably that guy or girl sometimes yourself — I know I am occasionally. Safety is very important while driving.  I’m quite confident that using a cell phone and texting while driving won’t exactly put a smile on your parents’ faces. It’s a good thing that now you can do those distracting activities you find yourself doing, time and time again, without putting your, or any other, life at danger thanks to Ford Syncing. Released in over twelve of the 2008 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, the Ford Sync lets those who opt for the system to wirelessly [...]

Seriously, If you don’t absolutely fall in love with the 2010 Camaro after watching the video below, then there has got to be something wrong with you.  What a gorgeous car!   Chevrolet’s engineers and designers really did their homework when they were creating this black beauty and it’s finally here after many years of anticipation and it’s available to the next lucky person who takes a test drive in it. Call our Chevy sales staff today to set up an appointment to check it our in person.    

So often we see television programs overloaded with commercial after commercial.  And for about the past 8 or 9 years these same commercials have made their way into the movie theaters just to annoy us when we show up early for a flick.  Furthermore, we have have to ask if there is anyone out there who would just like to view a news clip on CNN or Youtube for once without having to watch the preceding commercial.   From the day we posted our first blog entry, it has always been our policy at here Runde Auto Chat to provide you with uninterrupted, good old-fashioned, wholesome, family-oriented blogging.  We haven’t cluttered our blog site with unnecessary and unwarranted advertisements until now … Please take a minute to watch Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as they persuade you to purchase products like Big Red chewing gum.     But seriously folks … If you [...]

Where’s the best place to buy a family car in the Dubuque area?  If you said Runde Auto Group, then you’d be in the same boat as the Brosnahan’s. Every once in awhile you meet someone that can pick you up and make the rest of the day great. The Brosnahan family is consists of these kind of people. Needless to say, they were a joy to interview and an even greater joy to have as a customer. What led you to Runde’s today? Originally my husband, Michael, was shopping for used vehicles in Dubuque and came in to look at some trucks. But we thought about it and we have a Chevy Tahoe that is coming up on its lease [...]

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.

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 [...]

Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque recently had the opportunity to make a road trip to the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. We managed to pull up our jaws and glance at our cameras every once in awhile to snap some photos for you. We hope you enjoy viewing a few of the amazing vehicles that were there!   Chevy ran an impressive show with an array of cars including the all- electrical Chevy Volt (left) and the new Equinox (right)    

Sparked with jealousy and envy I write this post.  I tell you the truth when I say that movie and television characters have it all … especially when it comes to cool cars … cars that me and my fellow co-workers would like to own. We love seeing our favorite characters cruise, leap, fly, chase and occasionally swim with their outrageously sweet rides. Here’s a list of the top 10 cars from movies and television we appreciate the most. #10. The Mystery Machine – Scooby Doo’s van #9. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang #8. Christian Bale’s Batmobile #7. The original Batmobile #6. Herbie (The Love Bug) #5. 1969 Dodge Charger “General Lee” from The Dukes of Hazzard  #4. 1970s Camaro, rebuilt as a 2008/2009 Camaro prototype in the 2007 movie Transformers #3. 1977 Firebird Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit #2. 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am “KITT” from Knight Rider #1. 67’ Shelby [...]

When people want a good stereo in their vehicle, they normally ask, “Does this have the Bose sound system?” or “Does it come with Bose?”  Bose arguably offers the best vehicle sound system available on the market today. You know you’ve seen them all over the place, the self-acclaimed rock stars and vocalists of the roads. People listening to music so good that it makes them want to impress their audience of steering wheel, cup holder and bobble head characters with beautiful mumbled lyrics and cracking voice. Well now you can be inspired to rock even harder, and not feel as bad of energy waste, with the energy efficient Bose system being implemented in the New 2011 Chevy Volt. Prospective buyers of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will have an option to [...]

We received the following note of thanks this week from the daughter of one of our newest customers … Barbara Schroeder.   We just want to let you now we are so happy with our mother’s purchase.  Wayne Konrardy of your Dubuque area store was great.    Our mother (Barbara Schroeder) was in a car accident and totaled her Chevrolet Malibu which she had purchased through Wayne, and we were able to have Wayne help us again to get her another Malibu which she really wanted because she really liked her other one.   Wayne was great with MOM and made her feel great even though it was a bad situation.  He was able to get her into something 4 years newer and very close in options plus she got heated seats and [...]

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 — [...]

I talked to Jessica Paulson who is a loyal Runde customer from Belmont, Wisconsin for a few minutes this afternoon while her vehicle was being serviced. She had the day off today, and was happy about the well-deserved break. Runde Auto Chat: What kind of vehicle are you having serviced? Is it a routine appointment? Jessica Paulson: I have a Chevy Tahoe; It just needs an oil change and tire rotation. RAC: Did you buy the Tahoe from us? JP: Yes, we did. RAC: Have you bought other vehicles from us? JP: We recently bought a Chevy Silverado Crew Cab. RAC: What is your favorite thing about Runde’s and how they do business? JP: They take excellent care of their vehicles, [...]

Clarion Wick, a recent customer of Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque, gave me a few minutes of his time while he waited for his truck to be ready to go. I think he must have a thing for red…this is his 3rd red truck in a row. RAC: What did you like most about the process and how business was conducted here at Runde? CW: It was really good. The purchase was quick, and very low pressure. RAC: What kind of vehicle did you buy? Were there any options or features that you were specifically looking for? CW: I bought a Chevy Silverado 1500 Extended Cab; I was especially excited about the Warranty — 5 year/100,000 mile RAC: What purpose is this vehicle going to serve: business/family, etc.? CW: Mostly family RAC: Do you have any children or grandchildren? CW: 5 kids and 3 grandchildren RAC: Where do you live, and what do you do [...]

The Chevy Aveo is #1 car on the market in terms of lowest total ownership costs.  When one thinks of hybrid vehicles, the first thing that comes to mind is fuel efficiency. Though the concept is great, are the savings in fuel going to outweigh the overall price of the hybrid? Edmunds.com ran this exact study in attempt to find the long-run cost of owning a hybrid car as opposed to a normal gas-powered compact or subcompact car. They then created a list of ‘top tens’ to see where the hybrids ranked in the group. Ownership costs should include depreciation, financing, taxes, fees, insurance premiums, maintenance, repairs, and fuel costs. Edmunds figured all of their numbers on a five-year ownership plan, and assumed fuel prices of $4.06, $5.00, and $6.00 per gallon. [...]

It’s always nice to talk to our fantastic customers while they’re waiting on their vehicles to get serviced.  I sat and talked with Tony Fritz for a few minutes in our Chevy store, and he had nothing but good things to say about us…(we like hearing that!!) Runde Auto Chat: What kind of vehicle are you having serviced? Is it just a routine service appointment? Tony Fritz: I brought my Chevrolet Impala in for an oil change and tire rotation. RAC: Did you buy your Chevy Impala from Runde’s? TF: Yes RAC: Is there any feature it has that you will look for on your next vehicle purchase? TF: No, it’s a pretty standard package. RAC: Have you bought other vehicles from us? TF: Yes, probably 3 or 4. RAC: What is your favorite thing about Runde and how they do business? TF: They have straight-forward prices and the salesmen don’t pressure you. RAC: Do [...]

Were you asking yourself the same thing as me the other night … “What was that Silverado with a Ladder 5 sign on TV?” As Americans, September 11th is a date that will forever be ingrained into our minds. If asked where they were and what they were doing at the time of the Twin Tower attacks, most of us would be able to describe everything in great detail. If you were watching the Olympics last Monday, you would’ve seen a Chevy commercial featuring a pretty beat up Chevy Silverado with a Ladder 5 sign on the back. The pickup belongs to Craig Monahan, a member of the FDNY. He was off-duty at the time of the attacks, and got called in. He had 2 other firefighters with him as they drove in from Staten Island. They parked the truck near the south tower, and watched both towers collapse. He then crawled into [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Chevrolet will release the Silverado Hybrid late in the fall of 2008 (in limited quantities). It has a two-mode engine, allowing for 5 power combinations. The first mode can work in 3 ways: electric, engine power, or a mixture of the two. These are used in low speed, light load conditions for optimal fuel efficiency. The second mode is used for highway speeds, allowing the truck the capacity to run in either a four-cylinder or eight-cylinder modes. They offer the ability to tow or handle rough conditions. This engine allows for 40% more efficient city driving and 25% more efficient highway driving. The truck has all the available options as the other Silverados, but a new fuel efficiency gage is available in the hybrid. It tells you if the truck is operating at the optimum level.     Chevy takes pride in the high-quality, dependable vehicles they produce, and the Silverado Hybrid is no [...]

One of our Service Advisors, Dave Frett, received a letter of appreciation from a customer yesterday.  We’re always thankful for any feedback that comes from customers.  It allows us to gauge how we are doing as a dealership and how our customers perceive us.   Mr. Frett, Thank you so much for the professionalism you showed when I came in with no appointment to get my tire fixed yesterday. I appreciated the wonderful service that you provided in a situation that you weren’t expecting. So often when people are in that type of situation, they are less than kind, so I wanted to make sure I thanked you. Thanks for all you do everyday! Deb Schromen of Hazel Green, WI   Thanks to Deb Schromen for taking the time to write and send that quick note.  It means a lot to us.  We are thankful that we have employees like Dave Frett and we’re [...]

Runde’s first Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is currently on the lot and available for test-drives. Several of the staff members at Runde Chevrolet have driven the vehicle and were impressed with the fit and finish of the vehicle. This is something that GM certainly didn’t rush to get out to the market. They really did their homework and took their time in the development stages and the result is an extremely quiet, fuel-efficient, full-size 4-wheel-drive SUV that looks like it should cost about $10,000 more than the list price.   The first thing that struck me was the exterior look of the Hybrid. It has a real upscale look with unique and refined aluminum wheels and it can easily be identified as a hybrid — mainly due to the fact that it says hybrid on the side of the vehicle. Tahoe Hybrid owners won’t [...]