Runde Auto Group is pleased to announce that Aaron Young has been named the General Manager of Runde Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Manchester. Young, of Delhi, IA, has worked at the dealership for nine years. He began his career as a salesperson, and then worked as the dealership’s sales manager. He will continue to sell vehicles, along with his new duties of overseeing sales and service operations at the dealership. “I’m so honored to take on this leadership role,” Aaron said. “We’ve got a really great group of people here and I’m excited to really hit the ground running.” In his spare time, Aaron enjoys writing, cooking, working on motorcycles, and doing random acts of kindness, as well as hanging out with his daughter, Josie, who is currently attending college. “A [...]

The staff of Runde Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Manchester came to the aid of a feathered visitor today after it flew into the dealership’s showroom windows. This beautiful cardinal was sitting on the cement by the door after its fall.  It was dazed and confused and at the mercy of whoever would happen upon it.  Luckily for this little warbler, he/she eventually fell into the hands of Keeli Runde. “I scooped him up and he sat in my hand just looking dazed like he didn’t know what was going on,” said Keeli, the office coordinator and title clerk at Runde Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. After a few minutes, she took the bird behind the dealership and held it near a tree branch. “He climbed up by himself and then sat there [...]

Jr. and Dora S. have big plans for their new Dodge Grand Caravan. The couple, who lives in Farley, recently bought a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan at Runde Auto Group’s Manchester location. Dora said she is excited to use the van for delivering flowers for her daughter, as well as for carrying her 12 grand kids.  Dora exclaimed, “They are going to love the new van.  It rides so nice and it’s big enough to haul everyone as once … well, almost everyone.” She said the van’s automatic doors will come in handy for the children and with the automatic safety back off sensor she won’t have to worry about any of the kids getting their small fingers pinched in the sliding doors. “I used to have a van with the automatic doors you just click a button and they open.  It’s such a nice feature and I really missed not having that over the [...]

We were very fortunate to welcome back a familiar Runde customer today.  Victoria Thiede-Knipper and David Knipper purchased a Chrysler Town & Country van from Runde Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep about 3 years ago and they’ve been very satisfied with the van since that time.  So when they recently found themselves in need of a new truck, they contacted Runde’s in Manchester again.  Runde Auto Group takes pride in its repeat business as it’s quite common for a satisfied Runde customer to return to purchase a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th vehicle from Runde’s.  The Knipper familey was put in touch with Sean Dailey in the Ford Sales Department and Sean was able provide them with a quick and easy transaction as he helped them find their new F-150 crew cab truck.   In Victoria’s [...]

Samantha Heilig from DeWitt Iowa walked out of Runde’s with her new ’09 Ford Taurus X.  She was all smiles and in good spirits as she went home to show off her new ride to her loving family.   Samantha was kind enough to share her experience with anyone who would like to know what a kind of sales experience they can expect to get at Runde Auto Group in Manchester. How would you rate your experience on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best and 1 being the absolute worst? I’d give it a nine. What did you think of your salesman? He was very nice and did not pressure [...]

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.  [...]

Needless to say that this new design for the new Ford Fusion has been very well received at the Chicago Auto Show this week and people’s comments have been very favorable toward it.  The video below was shot by Runde Auto Group  — The noise in the background of the vid was coming from the new Shelby Mustang presentation across the room and we’ll post the video of that soon.  People were definitely all a-buzz about the Shelby, but this new Fusion is definitely gorgeous. The new Ford Fusion design is only about 1 inch longer and 1/2 inch wider than the previous Fusion, but it looks a lot longer than its predecessor mainly due to an extended wheelbase that’s almost 5 inches longer than the 2012 version.  A new inline 4-cylinder 1.6 Liter EcoBoost engine will be available on the all-new Fusion.  And this optional turbo engine will produce 179 horsepower and 172 lb-ft [...]

  We received the following letter from Ford Motor Co. recently regarding a Runde Ford technician, Dan Taylor, in light of his recent accomplishment. This is a very special certification that involves a great deal of time, study, hands-on-experience, dedication and commitment. By earning this status, Dan has definitely put himself in an elite group of service technicians and we are very proud of him.   Dear Timothy Runde, It is our pleasure to inform you that, as of April, 2011, Dan Taylor, a Service Technician at your dealership, has made the following achievements in the 2011 Masters Program: Chassis Master Dan is achieving this status for the first time.  Awards for this achievement include the Chassis Plaque, 2011 Ingot and 2011 Master Technician Magnet.  Dan is one of 807 technicians in the Chicago Region who holds this status. Engine Master Dan is achieving this status for the first time.  Awards [...]

One of Runde’s newest customers is Ricardo Matthews, who currently plays noseguard on the defensive line of the Indianapolis Colts.  Ricardo purchased a new Jeep Grand Cherokee from Runde’s last week and was thoroughly pleased with everything.  As you can imagine, with the NFL season in full swing, Ricardo didn’t have time to come all the way to Runde Auto Group in Manchester, IA to pick up his new SUV … so Runde’s delivered it right to his doorstep in Indianapolis. You may recall that we’ve sold a couple of vehicles to Mardy Gilyard of the St. Louis Rams.  Well it turns out that Ricardo and Mardy (both rookies in the NFL this year) were teammates last year at the University of Cincinnati.  The two teammates still keep in touch and Mardy let Ricardo know where he could find a great deal on a new vehicle and door-to-door service on top of that. Ricardo Matthews attended high school in [...]

TESTIMONIALS FROM RUNDE’S CUSTOMERS We are very very pleased with our Chevy Traverse that we recently purchased from Runde Auto Group. It is by far one of the most comfortable vehicles I have ever driven. We have been on 3 road trips and love how it handles the road!! Sure hope this Traverse lasts us a long time! We love it!!!! Thank you for making it possible when we came to see you!! I also want you to know how impressed we are with Runde’s! Awesome people and awesome service! Keep it up! Take care! Paul and Ellen S. of Dubuque, IA We still have the Jeep Commander and all is well with it. Best vehicle and experience we’ve [...]

Where do people go for up-to-date information about Ford electric vehicles?  Why Jay Leno, of course.  Who didn’t like watching Jay Leno? There’s just something about the show that sucks you in and leaves you feeling happy. Once he announced that he’d no longer do the Tonight Show, it was pretty easy to predict that there would be another show around the corner with Leno as the star. People can’t seem to get enough of him. The man is a car enthusiast with an extensive garage of vehicles that no one else could really fathom owning under one roof. To add to his already great name, he’s also a Chevy fan making him just THAT much cooler. In his new show, which will start airing September 14th, Jay will feature a section called “The Green Car Challenge” where the Ford electric vehicles will star. In the segment celebs will hop in Fords environmentally friendly vehicles [...]

Time Magazine recently published the top 10 most exciting vehicles of the year. Making the list are three vehicle makes that Runde’s offers. Here are the three along with pictures and what Time had to say about them: 1. The Suzuki Kizashi What Time Magazine has to say: “Known for small cars and SUVs, Suzuki makes its first foray into the heart of the U.S. market with the midsize Kizashi sedan. The exterior styling is fresh, and the interior packs cool features such as sporty seats and a nifty instrument cluster that give the car character. The Kizashi’s key asset could be its power train, which includes a new 4-cylinder aluminum engine that can be matched up to either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission. Kizashi won’t go on sale until late fall, and the price is expected to be in the low-$20,000 range. Toyota and Honda better look over [...]

Here is just a sample of how a few recent customers perceive Runde Auto Group.  Check out these Customer Testimonials …   “All employees were very friendly and willing to help.  We were very much pleased with our experience with Runde.” John Mitchell Dubuque, IA   “I purchased a Chevy Colorado from Alan Kloft,  I’ve needed it repaired twice since the purchase.  Both times I have dealt with Pat Timmerman… All I can say about the sale and service experiences is AWESOME!  You guys are GREAT!  Thanks!”  Dave Fangman Dubuque, IA   “I’ve been buying trucks from you guys for eight or ten years.  I don’t do this very often but this is an exception. I just wanted to say that you guys went above and beyond the call of duty while servicing my truck. I had a truck that needed a scratch taken out. When I came in with it [...]

The Ford Focus is a car you will fall in love with. With the Cash for Clunkers program running at full force, curiosity leads us to ask the question:  What vehicle are people buying to take full advantage of the program? Curiosity put to rest: out of the 80,500 vehicles The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has processed so far, the vehicle people are buying the most is none other than the Ford Focus. This shows why Ford’s C-Segment vehicle gained 43.6% in July. With 28mpg (combined – manual), a body style that will undoubtedly turn heads, the SYNC sound system, and a great overall drive …  no wonder why people can’t wait to get their hands on it. Not to mention, the 28mpg combined rating make it an almost guaranteed $4,500 credit instead [...]

Kim Murdoch stopped by Runde Auto Group of Manchester today to pick up her new (FREE) set of golf clubs that she recently won.  Who, what, why and how might be going through your head right now after reading the heading… well let me fill you in: Who: Kim Murdoch. What: Runde’s is giving her a set of Taylormade Burner golf clubs (3 and 5). Why: Because she is awesome at golf and scored a hole in one at the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing. How: With skill and grace. What does she have to say about all of this? Well, just read below and find out! Congratulations Kim! Must feel pretty good to own some shiny new golf clubs, huh? Oh yes! What is golf to you? A hobby, another sport, a stick and a ball, or a passion? I’d say it’s another hobby as well [...]

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 [...]

We recently had a chance to interview a very nice family from Manchester Iowa … the Miller Family after they bought the van they had their eye on. Enjoy getting to know this great family, we know we did! What kind of vehicle did you buy? We bought a Chrysler Town & Country Touring Edition with seating for seven. Where is the first place you’ll take your new vehicle? Probably home. Do you think it’s a male or female? And will you give the car a name? Definitely a female. And no, I don’t think we plan on giving it a name. How often do you usually trade in your cars? When it’s time for them to go! [...]

Ok, who’s excited about the 2010 Ford Mustang?  I know I am for one and I’m sure other ‘Stang fans out there are eagerly awaiting the arrival of this car.  Arnold Schwarzenegger kept on building his guns of steel year after year. After building and fine tuning his body through years of practice, he became known as one of the best body builders known. I want all of you to meet the new Arnold in town… the 2010 Mustang. Initially, people were concerned that the new 2010 Mustang would not boast a better engine than the currently used 4.6-liter V8.  Well, to everyone’s pleasant surprise, the 2010 Mustang will be packing an all-new 32-valve, 5.0-liter V8 code-named “Coyote.” According to Ford Australia’s product development director, Russell Christophers, Ford [...]

I noticed this commercial online on the American Idol website.  Thought it was pretty cool.  It starts out with a Ford Fusion sedan, which I must say is an awesome looking car.  It’s equipped with SYNC — the voice activated digital music system that Ford currently makes use of in cars like the ford Fusion sedan and Focus (you might recall the famous Focus commercial where one guy is trying to embarrass his friend by saying “Play Michael Bolton” into his friend’s SYNC system.)   Anyhoo – getting back to the Idol commercial … the lady in the Fusion says “Play artists American Idols” and then the commercial shows Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, and Kris Allen getting into a bit of a jam, but escaping in a Ford Mustang.  It’s a little hokey (Gokey gettin’ hokey), but that was sure a sweet-lookin’ Mustang that they [...]

The 5th annual Vincentric Best Value in America™ awards were recently held and General Motors proved to be to be the star of the show as ten of its vehicles earned Vincentric’s top honors. “Vincentric provides data, knowledge, and insight to the automotive industry by identifying and applying the many aspects of automotive value. Using VinbaseTM, its comprehensive, proprietary cost-of-ownership database, the company measures and analyzes the overall cost of owning and operating vehicles and its impact on the value provided to buyers. Vincentric data is used by organizations such as Cars.com, Chevrolet, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Volkswagen, Ford Motor Co., Business Fleet Magazine, Audi of America and Fleet-Central.com as a means of providing automotive insight to their clientele. Vincentric, LLC, is a privately held automotive data compilation and analysis firm headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.” The table below shows some vehicles we carry that received awards:   Vincentric Names Models with Best Value   [...]

Recently Ford had quality studies performed by the 3rd party RDA Group that confirmed what we’ve always known … that Ford builds top-notch vehicles.  According to the results, Ford is even with Toyota in initial quality tests and they passed up Honda by a significant leap. The results show that in the first quarter of 2009, problems-per-vehicle dropped by 5% to compete head-to-head with Toyota and beating Honda. The latest GQRS survey measured 2009 model year vehicle initial quality in the number of “things gone wrong,” and customer satisfaction within the first three months of ownership. The following is a list of vehicles that were used in the tests and what was tested for each vehicle. • Ford Mustang- initial quality/customer satisfaction for sports cars • Ford Taurus [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

American auto makers have been thrown under the bus quite frequently over the last few months by members of the media and by members of Congress.  However, Runde Auto Group urges you to seek out factual information about the American auto makers before casting judgment.  Please take a few minutes to look over this brief quiz to see how much you’re actually aware of! QUESTIONS: 1. What country builds vehicles that occupy two of the top three spots for long-term reliability? Germany Japan Korea United States 2.  As of August ’07, which manufacturer had the most recalls in the U.S. that year? Chrysler Ford GM Nissan Toyota Volkswagen 3.  What brand in this group has the highest initial quality?                 Acura  Chevrolet  BMW Mazda 4.  Which of the following mid-size sedans has the highest initial quality? Accord (Honda) Altima (Nissan) Camry (Toyota) Malibu (Chevrolet) 5.  Which of the following pickups has the highest initial quality? [...]