The all-new 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is set to go on sale this fall! With a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine producing more than 700 horsepower, the vehicle is capable of 0-60 mph in just over 3 seconds. “A takedown artist, the new 2020 Shelby GT500 will surprise supercar owners with its Ford Performance racing tech, supercharged engine, and visceral swagger,” said Jim Farley, Ford President of Global Markets, in a press release. The first Shelby GT500 was recently auctioned off for $1.1 million to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Craig Jackson, chairman/CEO of Barrett-Jackson, was the winning bidder. The vehicle is the most powerful street-legal Ford ever with sub-11 minute quarter-mile scores. It has the best cornering and largest brakes of any domestic sports coupe. “With its supercar-level powertrain, the all-new Shelby GT500 takes the sixth-generation Mustang to a performance [...]

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 [...]

Our Ford Drive 4 UR School test drive event on Friday raised more than $5,000 for the West Delaware Athletic Booster Club! The event, held at the Beckman Sports Complex in Manchester, saw more than 250 test drives of new Ford vehicles. For each test drive, Ford donated $20. “It was hosted during a softball tournament so we had a great turnout for the Ford Drive 4 UR School event,” said Aaron Young, sales manager at Runde Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Manchester. “It will be a very positive boost for the community.” Thank you to everyone who test drove a vehicle! 

The Ford Ranger is making a comeback in 2019. The mid-size pickup truck, which was discontinued in 2011, has been re-invented inside and out. “Ranger has always held a special place in the hearts of truck fans,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford executive vice president of Product Development and Purchasing, in a press release. “The all-new Ranger is designed for today’s mid-size truck buyer, delivering even more utility, capability and technology for those who blend city living with more off-the-grid adventures on the weekend.” The Ranger will come in three trims, entry-level XL, mid-level XLT, and high-level Lariat, with available Chrome and Sport appearance and FX Off-Road packages, and in SuperCab or SuperCrew cab configurations. It has a high-strength steel frame, a 2.3-L Ecoboost engine and the only 10-speed auto [...]

We are excited to announce recent Kelley Blue Book awards.   KBB has named the 2018 Chevrolet Impala, the 2018 Ford F-150 and the 2018 Ford Expedition as Best Buys for 2018! The Kelley Blue Book awards choose the best value vehicles in 12 categories, as well as an overall winner. They compare features like pricing, cost to own, use-ability, consumer reviews, and more. This is the fourth year in a row that the Chevrolet Impala was named the best full-size sedan by Kelley Blue Book! You can get yours at Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque, IL or Runde Chevrolet Buick GMC in Platteville, WI! “Whether it’s a matter of price, size, style or features, the 2018 Impala will give you something to appreciate every day you own it,” Kelley Blue Book noted in its announcement. “And speaking of owning it, in addition to [...]

Runde Auto Group in Manchester, Iowa, is excited to welcome a new salesperson to its staff: Mike Visnapuu! Mike, who lives in Epworth, has worked in engineering and in the car business in the past. “Cars have always been something I have been into – ever since I was old enough to turn a wrench,” Mike said. “My all-time favorite is the ’66 Chevelle SS396. As for new vehicles, I like the Dodge Chargers and Challengers.” In his spare time, Mike Visnapuu likes to ride dirt bikes, be outside as much as possible, and spend time with his family. He and his wife Kristy have a 4-year-old daughter Emmalyn and a 14-month old son Mason. He is from the Cedar Rapids area. Mike is looking forward to [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

If the toppings are free, the more the merrier, right?  Maybe the same can be said of the Ford SYNC feature.  I’d like to think so, especially with Ford’s already impressive “topping” list of features such as Turn by Turn Directions, Traffic Alerts, Hands Free Calling, Voice Activated Music, and 911 Assist, just to name a few. However now there’s even more to look FORwarD to as the SYNC will be capable of pulling up Movie Listings, Stock Quotes, Airline and Rentals and even your Horoscope! In a tech world, Ford keeps our appetites in check with all of these great features that keep getting packed on top of their already great SYNC technology.  Check out the video below for more information and demonstrations of the new features.   [...]

Has anyone considered purchasing a Ford Fiesta yet?  Looking to get a great gas mileage car without putting a dent in your style or wallet? You have probably considered the Chevy Sonic or the Chevy Spark, but if you wait for the Ford Fiesta you will not be disappointed. I was very skeptical of the car at first. I’m 6’1″ with a big build and found these little gas-mileage cars “cramping” my style. But I went to the Chicago Auto Show and experienced the Fiesta first hand and I must say I’m impressed. The car, in my opinion, looks fantastic from the outside but what really took my breath away was the interior – QUALITY. Seriously, for a vehicle that starts around $13.5k and ends well under $20k although it felt like $30k [...]

There’s a new taxi in town … and it looks a lot like a Ford Transit Connect.  Taxi cabs are a huge part of big city life. Those of us from the Tri-States have probably been, at some point or another, to downtown Chicago (or another big city – if not you should really get out more…). Walking down the sidewalk and glancing at the traffic on big city streets, you probably think “glad I’m not driving in that mess of cars.” Chances are that you have experienced crazy taxi drivers — I know I have.  Several taxi drivers that I’ve witnessed don’t much care for the laws of the road as they almost hit pedestrians.  Since when does a red light mean go anyway?  Just as 30 is the new 20, red must be the new yellow in Metropolis. If you’re thinking about going back to Chicago in the near future, you’d better be [...]

The 2010 Ford Raptor was build for the true off-road enthusiast.  Check out this video that shows the dynamic capabilities of the truck.  Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer of the Ford SVT comments on the truck’s ability to jump (the truck was actually built to jump) and he also touches on the trucks Hill Descent Mode.   Runde Auto Group’s customer, Brian Hauber, took this footage of his new 2010 Ford Raptor going down a hill in the Hill Descent Mode. I think it’s safe to say that he loves his new Raptor so far.     If you’d like to check out a new Ford truck in person, please give our sales staff at our Ford store a call at 888-927-2630. If you’d like to check out our entire inventory, go to www.RundeAutoGroup.com — Or call us at 866-735-5200.

Dave Cannon, from Manchester, IA is definitely a Ram truck man.  He owns his own log home maintenance company. Between going camping and repairing log homes, Dave Cannon stopped by our Manchester store to pick up a vehicle. Before he stepped out the door I managed to sneak in a few questions. What did you come in for today? I picked up my new Dodge Ram 2500. We heard you were a Ram truck man, is that true? Definitely. Who was your salesperson? Cory Harbach. What do you think of your salesman? He’s a good guy and he does a great job. How would you rank your overall experience here at Runde’s on a scale of 1-10? A “TEN”, everything was great, I [...]

Top Gear, in my opinion, is the best automotive show. Recently they reviewed (in quite a hysterical way) the Ford Fiesta. After you watch the video you will know what to expect if you get chased by “baddies” in a Corvette while in a shopping mall.  If you’re not interested in a Fiesta at all and you just want to see the Fiesta race a Corvette in the mall, then skip forward to 4min, 23sec.  If you want to see if the Ford’s new compact car floats, then skip ahead to 8min, 4sec. If you have any questions about the Fiesta or are interested in purchasing one, give our Ford store in Manchester, IA a call at 888-927-2630 and they will be more than happy to assist you picking out a vehicle that is apparently fit for extreme chase scenes and horrific combat… can’t go wrong with that.    

The Ford Couple goes on a major road trip and brings their wedding to everyone who would’ve normally come to their wedding.  Ladies, ever since we were little girls we have been imagining our wedding… well at least most of us did. The pretty wedding dress, the friends, the atmosphere… it’s our perfect day. Some of us get to live out the dream and have that perfect wedding, some don’t go quite as well as planned, and others do things… well… a bit different. Introducing Chris Hodges and Jamie Case (aka The Ford Couple). These two lovebirds don’t follow the “norm” so to say. Instead of opting-in for a big fancy wedding, they decided to borrow a Ford Fusion (supplied by Ford) and hit the road to see 250 people that they [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

The 2010 Ford Taurus made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show and it was an instant hit.  And this chic design may just be what the doctor ordered to resurrect Ford’s flagship model.   It will be heading to the Chicago Auto Show next and is sure to turn heads. Once upon a time (in 1985), Ford introduced the Taurus and it was immediately ridiculed by some critics who said that it resembled a jelly bean or a flying potato.  Nevertheless, the car’s popularity took off as Americans were eager to buy this mid-sized, unique-looking, front wheel drive car.  For five years straight in the 1990’s this aeronautical spud of a car outsold all other cars on the market as sales were in excess of 400,000 Taurus sedans annually.  During the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Taurus sales steadily declined until they discontinued production of the Taurus altogether in 2006.  Some blame the conservative designing [...]