Chrysler buyers and the American Auto Industry got a shot of adrenalin earlier this week.  Because of the U.S Treasury’s recent move to provide Chrysler Financial with up to $1.5 billion in loan dollars, the lender will now offer 0% financing on select Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge models. Qualified new vehicle buyers can apply for 0% interest for up to 60 months on ’08 and ’09 model-year Jeep Grand Cherokee, Commander, Wrangler, Chrysler Town & Country, 300,  Dodge Grand Caravan, Charger, Magnum, Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram HD, and Challenger. Chrysler vice chairman and president Jim Press had this to say about the announcement, “From both a customer and dealer perspective, it is exciting news that the Treasury Department is providing funding to Chrysler Financial. Now our customers, including those with scores in the 620 range, will be able 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 [...]

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 to [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 — [...]

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, [...]

Manchester customer Deona Kelchen was sitting in our waiting room today, so I sat down and talked to her for a few minutes about her vehicle and her experience with Runde. She was a very pleasant lady, and was interesting to talk to! She lives outside of Manchester in the country. She recently returned from Arkansas, visiting her son. Runde Auto Chat: What kind of vehicle are you having serviced? Is it just a routine service appointment? Deona Kelchen: It’s a Dodge Stratus – It just needed an oil change. Runde Auto Chat: Did you buy the vehicle at Runde Auto Group of Manchester? Deona Kelchen: Yes I did RAC: Is there any feature it has that you really like? DK: It starts when it is supposed to. (Ha!) RAC: [...]

Ford is planning the world debut of the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion for November, at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November. There will be five models of the Fusion, making it customizable to any consumer’s needs.A 2.5L 4-cylinder is available in the base model. The 172 horsepower engine is expected to have more power than the Toyota Camry, and outdo the Camry and the Honda Accord in fuel economy.The midlevel Fusion is powered by a 3.0L V-6. This engine is capable of 240 horsepower (250 hp with E85). Ford is also working on a fuel shut-off system for deceleration.The Ford Fusion Sport runs on a 3.5L Duratec V-6 (also found in the new Ford Flex) that also adds 240 horsepower. The all-new Fusion Hybrid is just around the corner. It can run [...]

Francie Fortman is one of our main car runners from Manchester. He travels to pick up vehicles traded between Runde’s and other dealers.  He also shuttles vehicles from the Manchester Ford location to East Dubuque and Hazel Green, and stops in to pleasantly harass all of us with his contagious smile before he leaves again.  Runde Auto Chat: What is the farthest trip you have taken for a dealer trade? Francie Fortman: Working for Runde’s, I once went 1,100 miles roundtrip to Fargo, North Dakota to trade a Trailblazer for another Trailblazer. I also had to go to Detroit on a couple occasions. RAC: What is the most interesting thing you’ve seen on your trips? FF: The traffic on 494 in Minneapolis at 5:00 pm. (For some of us, it’s the reason we live here instead of the big city!) RAC: What is the best place you’ve eaten while on the road? FF: I try [...]

The results of the U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) study revealed that Ford is now the best in the industry for customer satisfaction in the 2008 model year. The survey was conducted by RDA Group in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and is composed of survey statistics from owners of all major makes and models after owning them for at least 3 months.  Ford lowered their “things gone wrong” (TGW) rating by 7.7% (reduced by 108 TGW) compared to last year, and are statistically even with Honda and Toyota.  From 2004 to 2008, Ford has improved their vehicle quality by a total of 33%.  Customer satisfaction reached 77%, which is the highest in history.   The Ford Focus has caught up to the Toyota Corolla, leading the compact cars category.    Overall, 18 of 24 Ford domestic brand vehicles improved in their TGW count, and they are striving to continue the trend. They have improved [...]

What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “I’m going to lunch”?   If you immediately think of a 4000 mile round trip to a burger joint, then you’re not alone.  Many of us leave the office for our half hour or hour long lunch breaks, which is usually acceptable. I frequently drive 5 blocks home to eat lunch and let my dogs out. An Assistant Editor in Ann Arbor, Michigan had a different idea for his lunch.  Sam Smith’s Thursday started out as a fairly normal day. He was at work, and all of a sudden, he decides he needs a burger. Ok, fine, Ann Arbor probably has about 50 different burger joints to choose from, except he needs a specific burger…from a West Coast ONLY restaurant chain, In-N-Out Burger. From Ann Arbor, the closest location is in Prescott, Arizona, approximately 1900 miles away. He decided to call his buddy from [...]

As much as we hate to admit it, winter is around the corner, which means very cold weather and lots of snow (especially in Runde country). Have you thought about what you need to do to winterize your vehicle? There is a lot more to it than most people think. I have compiled a checklist for you to use. Bad winter road conditions can sneak up on us if we aren’t careful, so start thinking about it early!   To Do List Before Winter Comes!   Make sure your brakes are equalized and not pulling to one side. Flush out your cooling system and put anti-freeze in. Check containers, belts, hoses, pressure caps, and thermostat. Make sure battery connections are clean and tight. Check your engine for faulty wiring, worn out spark plugs, sticking choke or emission control devices. These make it difficult for your vehicle to start. Check the [...]

Our Manchester location, Runde Ford has received it’s first Ford Flex crossover! Our Flex SEL is a Front-Wheel-Drive 3.5L V6 automatic. It has leather trimmed bucket seats, power driver seat, and keyless entry. It also has Sirius Radio and Microsoft’s Sync Multimedia Handsfree Bluetooth software installed, which allows the driver to say an artist’s name or song title and it will play it from an MP3 player automatically. The Ford Flex also provides the capacity to talk on a blue tooth cell phone without even touching it. It will dial using voice commands, and will automatically connect to a current phone call as soon as the vehicle is started. It can also connect to up to 12 phones, so if your spouse has the vehicle that day, it will recognize his/her phone as well. Check out the Flex Video Walk-Around!   Please contact the Runde Ford sales staff at [...]

Most baseball fans know of the movie, “The Field of Dreams.” But for those of us from Iowa, it’s more than just a movie. It’s home, it’s reality, and it lights a fire within us when we think of all the history that was made on that very spot of ground. It’s hard to believe that it was made about 35 years ago.  Parts of the movie were shot in Dubuque and other parts were shot out on the East Coast, but the majority of it was filmed in Dyersville, IA.  Where is Dyersville you ask???  Well it’s about midway between Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque, IL and Runde Ford of Manchester, IA. –about 10 minutes north of US Hwy 20. The field lies on the Lansing family farm.   The corn is still growing, the house still stands in the same place it did 100 years ago. The movie was released in 1989, starring the ‘Tin Cup’ himself, [...]

Meet the Jeep Patriot!  It’s the newest addition to the Jeep family that already consists of rugged, high-quality vehicles like the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee. The Patriot was recently voted as the Least Expensive SUV To Own by Edmunds.com What can be better than combining the quality of Jeep with the Lifetime Limited Powertrain Warranty? How about lower price and more options? The Jeep Patriot Limited comes fully equipped with leather interior, heated front seats, power moonroof, Sirius satellite radio, iPod auxiliary jack, Excellent Crash Test Ratings, and between 22 and 28 Miles Per Gallon on the highway*. *Trim and specs will effect fuel efficiency.   Take a look at my Jeep Patriot Walk-Around video!

The new name for the satellite radio feature that most of us have in our cars is now Sirius XM Satellite Radio.  The executives of Sirius and XM radio announced the completion of the company merger on July 29th, 2008. There is much excitement surrounding the company’s future, and both parties are foreseeing great things for them in the future. The merged company is known as Sirius XM Radio, and both brands will continue to operate as they have, as two separate entities. They are in the process of creating some new packages that combine stations from both XM and Sirius. They will offer “Best Of” package that contains premium stations from both providers. Also, the “Mostly Music” and “Sports/News/Talk” packages will combine stations from both as well. Any receivers already in circulation as well [...]

Runde Auto Group of Manchester is anticipating the arrival of it’s newest line-up member.  The Ford Flex is an all new vehicle for 2009 and it’s a very important one for Ford as it replaces their mini-van  segment.  What?  No more minivans?   Evidently Ford execs were eavesdropping at wedding ceremonies where couples actually made it a part of their vows that they would: 1) never own a minivan, and 2) not allow Michael Bolton’s music in any of their vehicles.   Check out this video test-drive of the new Flex.  It’s interesting that the reviewer states he’s 6’4″ and he has no problems with the space inside the Flex — including the proverbial third row.  It’s also interesting that the man in the video points out that he wasn’t too fond of [...]

We’ve reached the middle of summer, the time of year people are spending time on the river or in the pool and that means local restaurants are busy too as people don’t want to spend a lot of time inside cooking over a hot stove.  But you have to watch out when you start eating out a lot.  It’s easy to pack on a few extra pounds when you eat out more than you should.  I know a few people at Runde are starting diets or have been on them for a while. Chris Anderson of Runde PreDriven started the Atkins diet a couple weeks ago, and Chris said he feels like it is working for him.  Summer is also a very busy time for people, and eating out can become a habit. What most people don’t realize is that one meal at a chain restaurant can account for a whole day’s calories. They [...]

A recent Runde customer from Hopkinton, Iowa was nice enough to talk with me for a couple minutes while his vehicle was getting ready to take home. Runde Auto Chat: What did you like most about the process and how business was conducted here at Runde? Frank Riese: It was simple, and Don was thorough in answering all my questions. RAC: What kind of vehicle did you buy? Were there any options or features that you were specifically looking for? FR: I bought a Chevy 2500 truck. I wanted a good used truck with just the basic options. RAC: What purpose is this vehicle going to serve: business, family travel, etc.? FR: It will be used for both family and business. RAC: Do you have any children or grandchildren? FR: I have 3 children [...]

Donna Manternach was patiently waiting for our service department to finish working on her car, so I sat down and talked with her for a few minutes. She is a very nice lady!! (And kind enough to answer random questions from a complete stranger) Runde Auto Chat: What kind of vehicle are you having serviced? Is it just a routine appointment? Donna Manternach: I have a Ford Edge, and yes, it’s a routine oil change. RAC: Did you buy the vehicle here at Runde Auto Group of Manchester? DM: Yes RAC: Is there any feature it has that will be a necessity next time you buy a vehicle? Or anything that you don’t like? DM: When I have a passenger with me, there isn’t any space on the floor under the console for my purse, but other [...]

If you live in our around the Manchester, IA area and haven’t tried the Chuong Garden Chinese restaurant on Main Street year, we highly suggest doing so.  I’m sure all of you have heard the typical jokes about Chinese food going right through you, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a great tasting food and it’s also considered good for your health … healthier than eating a Burger King or Hardees, that’s for sure. In Manchester our local Chinese restaurant, Chuong Garden, is located downtown on East Main Street near the movie theater. I have eaten there many times, and from speaking with the workers at Runde Manchester, they have as well. A couple of the guys go for the Szechwan Chicken or Beef. I am a [...]

Manchester, Iowa added Las Flores Mexican restaurant to its downtown community a couple summers ago. I had just started dating my husband when it opened, and it didn’t take us long to discover it was going to be our favorite place in town to eat. Monday through Saturday they have Lunch Specials from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Most of the entree’s consist of two items with rice or beans. They have very quick service, especially over lunch. Most of the time we can be done eating in about 35 minutes.   My husband and I have kind of gotten into a rut. We tend to eat the same meals every time we go to Las Flores, but lately I have tried to change it up a bit. He always gets the Enchiladas Verdes or the Chimichanga. I usually choose the chicken quesadillas or the Combo #5, which is a beef enchilada and taco, [...]

Matt Sieverding is a pretty busy guy, but he allowed me to seize a few moments of his time to answer some questions. Runde Auto Chat: How long have you been working at Runde Auto Group and what do you do here? Matt Sieverding: I did an internship in 1999, and started working full-time about 5 years ago. I am the General Manager of the Manchester dealership. RAC: What do you like most about your job? MS: There is never a dull moment RAC: What kind of vehicles do you currently own? MS: A Pontiac Grand Prix and a Turbo Buick Grand National. RAC: What do you like most [...]