Thousands of people experienced the Dubuque Halloween Parade last night. So many people that came out to join in the festivities. The organizers of the parade probably would have liked a little warmer weather and a little less wind, but they couldn’t have asked for a better turn-out.  Jeff Kueter from the Runde Reconditioning Department participated [...]

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, [...]

Daniel’s Lounge is located in Kieler next to Midwest Motor Sports in Kieler, Wisconsin. They are famous for their daily specials, and for the racing fans out there, $1.00 beers at Cautions. Today’s special was roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a dinner roll. Since I am not a huge fan of roast beef, I had a burger and french fries. They were the really crispy, seasoned fries, which are my favorite. The burger was expertly cooked and still had a lot of the natural juices still inside as I took my first bite.  It was extremely reasonable for the size of it;  Daniel’s definitely doesn’t skimp on the portions. [...]

What is the Dubuque food pack program and how can a local business get involved to help young local students in our community? Sometimes we get so caught up in what is happening with our country in terms of international interaction, we forget all of the obstacles our own people face. There are many less fortunate people in our country, and they tend to get overlooked a lot of the time. For once, they are the focus of a local project here in the Dubuque area. John Deere Dubuque Works funded a food pack program for 250 students in the Dubuque elementary schools. Each school anonymously placed the food packs in their 50 neediest children’s backpacks before they went home on Friday afternoon, so the children have a better chance of eating nutritional food over the weekend.

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 [...]

Kelly Francois and her 7-month old son Cole visited Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque today.  Kelly is very familiar to most of us here at Runde’s because she used to work here for nearly 2 years.  She now works at Dubuque Data Services as an administrative assistant and she’s doing very well for herself.  Kelly enjoys stopping by the dealership every once in awhile, but this is one visit that she would have forgone if she’d had her druthers.  You see Kelly’s boyfriend, Mike, was backing up her car and backed over a metal fire pit.   So Kelly came in and had Mike Runde write up a bodyshop estimate for the repairs.  We sat down and chatted with Kelly and Cole while they waited for the write-up. Runde Auto Chat:  What happened to your car? Kelly Francois:  A fire pit jumped up and bit the back bumper of my car. RAC:  What kind of car do you drive? KF:  A [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

When customers begin looking for a new car, and a salesman mentions a ‘program car’ or rental, it has traditionally sent a red flag into their minds. But there are a lot of things most people don’t know about program cars. Sure, about 90% of them were rental cars, but rental cars are not beat on like some people stereotypically like to think. The rental companies actually maintain them better than some private owners. They always have their oil changed on time because the rental companies keep track of the odometer readings like clockwork.  Rental vehicles also come from southern states like California, Florida, or Arizona most of the time, so they do not have the hard winters and salty roads wearing on the paint. Did you know when you are considering purchasing a program [...]

What is the most scenic view that you’ve experienced in the Dubuque area? Today began as a pretty normal day at work, until my boss sent me to take pictures without telling me what exactly I was trying to find. He drew me a map, and sent me on my way. Most people can agree that when you have no idea what you’re looking for, you tend to be a little leery. I got to my destination, and realized it was an amazing landscape of Dubuque staring me in the face. He told me when I got back that lived in Dubuque for 18 years before he found out about this place and the view, and he knows other people who have lived here their whole lives who have never been to this spot either. It overlooks the Mississippi River, you can see for miles, and it also [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Runde Chevrolet has introduced a new community support vehicle to be used by non-profit organizations. It has already been used for a few events in the area, but it has just begun it’s career at Runde’s. The American Red Cross borrowed our community support vehicle to work at delivering cots and blankets to flood victims in the Tri-State area. The flood brought disaster to so many families in the Midwest, and Runde’s worked very hard to find a way to help all of the people affected.   A Letter from the American Red Cross: Thank you for your donation of Cube Truck to pick up cots & blankets. Your generous donation helped our local volunteers assist with severe flooding throughout the Tri-State area. Because of your gift to the American Red Cross, hope [...]

The Julien Dubuque Bridge had an accidental run in with a freight-hauling barge the other day.  Runaway barges are not usually a common topic in Iowa and Illinois, but last month was a rare occurrence. On June 9th, a tow of 15 barges and a bridge support were traveling downstream when the lead barge hit the Julien Dubuque Bridge and sent the others on their way. The bridge was closed to vehicle traffic for about 18 hours to conduct inspections. Witnesses say the vessels were traveling too fast for the pilot to maneuver them around the bridge. The current in that area of the river is strong, and doesn’t usually have a consistent pattern. Three of them lodged against the bridge, and several others [...]

Lenny was a little hesitant to let me interview him, so I promised to be nice. He works in our reconditioning department at Runde Chevrolet, and he didn’t have a lot to say but he gave us SOME input.   Runde Auto Chat: Everyone knows you as Lenny, but what is your REAL name? Lenny: Jeff Kueter   RAC: How long have you worked here? L: A little over a year   RAC: A lot of people think that you’re the hardest worker here. Is there any truth to that? L: Maybe a little bit.   RAC: Do you follow baseball? L: Yes   RAC: Who’s your favorite team? L: Cubs   RAC: Will you be watching the All Star Game? L: No, I have prior commitments.   RAC: Wife? Kids? L: Yes, and 1   [...]

Chevrolet introduced their Volt concept car at this year’s Auto Show in Detroit. It has the capacity to run on only electricity for up to forty miles. If the battery runs out of power, then and only then will the gas engine kick in. The gas engine works to recharge the electricity so the vehicle can run on only the battery again. On one tank of gas, the car should be able to travel around 640 miles, and get triple-digit gas mileage. The car can be charged with a normal 110-volt plug-in that you would find in your house.   Chevy is hoping to release this car in the next few years, but as of right now, they still have some issues to iron out concerning the power that the batteries [...]

Many of us don’t make it up to ‘the penthouse’ (upstairs offices) at Runde Chevrolet often, but they do exist, and yes, there are people working up there! I caught up with Lisa Rigdon this morning and got a little information about what she does on a daily basis. Runde Auto Connection: What are the daily tasks that go along with your job? Lisa Rigdon: I handle all the dealer trade paperwork and make sure the taxes and title work get to the correct states. RAC: Briefly describe the process you go through when you have to transfer a title. LR: I check the title for liens, make sure the VIN #s and mileage match up, transfer the title from the previous owner to our name, and then on to the new name. I then have to send it on [...]

We caught up with Gary Brewer before he left for the Dubuque County courthouse today … I know what you’re all thinking … but he was going to take a customer’s vehicle back to them! He is known as ‘Mr. Runde’ to the people at the courthouse, but to us he’s just ‘Brewer’. This is what he had to say about himself and his job at Runde Chevrolet. Runde Auto Chat: Everyone around here has been wondering the same thing…What exactly do you do at Runde’s? How long have you been ‘working’ for them? Gary Brewer: I pick up cars for service and return them when they are finished, handle title transfers, and I have worked here for about 4 years. RAC: What would your dream car be? GB: A 1960 Corvette. RAC: How do you feel about the Chicago Cubs leading the National League Central? GB: Hate it RAC: How [...]

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 [...]

Kevin Hanger lost a total of 36.8 pounds in 8 weeks time.  That’s amazing! Over the past 8 weeks, several Runde employees and their family members have been taking part in a weight – loss competition. Each contestant had their own strategy and everyone who entered the competition succeeded in losing weight. Thirteen people took part in the contest and those thirteen lost a combined total of 190 pounds – not bad, eh? During the final weigh-in, Kevin Hanger emerged the victor. Kevin is the husband of Sue Hanger, who works as an accountant for Runde Chevrolet. Kevin works full-time for Swiss Valley as a quality control manager, but he also works part-time nights at Runde’s in East Dubuque and he buys all of his vehicles from Runde Auto Group. [...]

The Mark of Excellence is the original name of the logo for the GM Corporation. It was first used by GM in 1966 and the logo originally included the phrase “Mark of Excellence” at the bottom. It was initially installed on the door jambs of GM vehicles. Some of us older folks might recall that the logo also was also stamped on the release buttons of seat belt buckles in GM vehicles until the mid-1990s. The “Mark of Excellence” is also an award. Runde Chevrolet was presented with this award just last week for their sales and customer satisfaction results again. Runde Chevrolet has won this award numerous times, however GM keeps raising the bar and winning the award thus becomes more of a challenge with the passing of each year. GM representatives were on hand [...]