mmarshall

Yes, a lot of new vehicles come off the transporter with jacked-up tire pressures (I've seen it as high as 50 PSI). That is done (supposedly) to keep the alloy wheels from contacting the truck or train-bed on the transporter when it rocks and sways over bumps......especially with today's lower-profile tires that don't give the alloy wheels much cushioning. The dealer PDI (Pre-Delivery-Inspection) crew is supposed to bleed the over-inflated tires down to their factory-recommended settings when the new cars roll off the truck and are first inspected....that's part of their job. Often, though, for whatever reason, they don't. That's why I usually check the PSIs myself before a test-drive (proper figures are usually found either on a drivers' door-jamb label, underhood on a label, or printed in the Owners' Manual').

Depends on the type of TPM. Some of them, primarily on cheaper vehicles (like my brother's Kia Soul), operate with less-sophisticated sensors that simply compare the four different wheel-rotation speeds and then light up the warning light when one or more wheels start lagging....as would typically happen when a tire loses air and starts flattening out. That meets the letter of the Federal law that requires these devices....but doesn't tell you which tire is low until you go inspect each tire yourself. Other, more upmarket vehicles (including my Verano) have individual monitors in each tire that displays individual PSIs. That way, you not only know which particular tire has a puncture or leak and don't have to guess or examine each tire, but you simply press a button and get an instant readout any time you want.....and it still flashes a warning, hands-off, any time, for each tire if one gets too low, like that time my own left-rear tire got down to 10 PSI after that major puncture/damage. I typically press the button every time I start out in the morning or after the car has been sitting awhile, especially since that major puncture a couple of months ago.

Among manual gauges, pencil-types are (usually) more accurate than dial-type gauges, because of a simpler design that relies on fewer and less-sensitive moving parts. As far as the comparison between manual gauges and TPMs, I haven't found much difference between a good pencil-type gauge and the TPMs....though a good dial-gauge can also last and be accurate if not banged around or mishandled too much. I had a good dial gauge that lasted some fifteen years before it started misreading.

Also, remember that tire pressures will vary roughly 1 PSI up or down with every 10 degree rise or fall in air temperature. Tires sitting in the sun, on one side of the car, will often have a higher PSI than those on the other side of the car, in the shade. And, of course, they will usually be coldest in the early morning after sitting all night.....that's usually the best time to check them.

ArmyofOne

TPMS display on chrysler products is generally pretty accurate. its the MPG calc thats optimistic LOL.

It is supposed to take a reading once every 60 seconds.

ARALAT

Thanks for posting. Glad it all worked out. Enjoy the Jeep!

Fizzboy7

Fun story to read and congrats on the new JGC! I'd say it's a very fitting replacement to the Explorer.
Really surprising to hear about the CRV whoes. I'd have to estimate that was a very freak thing, as the CRV is high ontop all reliability ratings. The new motor and transmission are really getting a ton of compliments from reviewers. I also saw a top of the line one on the road which had the LED DRL's. It looked like a much more sophisticated and expensive SUV. A very pleasant growth and morphism from what was once a very basic, entry level SUV.
At any rate, great choice and let's hope it serves you well like the Explorer did.

FastTags

Most of my stories are like that. I buy a car return a car, buy another one return another one, typical day for me)

spwolf

thats why it is the best if you can take car for 2 days to see how it really works and plays in your routes. Something that i tell all of my friends, instead of telling them what to buy... yet most of them dont even test drive the cars, crazy eastern europe!

SC300Es

Good choice. I'm curious to know why you didn't consider a CX-9 or CX-5 at all?

Ed

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

thank you! yes it's a bit smaller, but definitely more luxurious and better looking!

agree 100% with all of that! it's kinda funny to see an '01 crv or something then see a '15 ex-l or touring!! but that's the case with most vehicles that have been out a long time.

thanks. cx-5 is very nice but i don't believe it yet offers the safety and convenience features i wanted like adaptive cruise. i prefer the new crv touring over the cx-5 overall. the cx-9 looks kinda dated to me and also doesn't offer the features i wanted.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

how do you do that, maybe rely on a 72hr or similar return law? dealers must love you. i at least hadn't actually taken possession of the crv i was scheduled to get.

JDR76

Nice pick up. We looked quite seriously at those while we were shopping for a new family vehicle, but ended up choosing the RX instead.

Still really like the GC, though. Congrats!

dseag2

Thanks for sharing your story, and I think Karma found you the right vehicle! I've admired the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee since the latest refresh, and if I was in the market for an SUV that would be the one. Beautiful inside and out!

Now, suck it up when you have to make the payments and remember that you got a much better vehicle. Just touch the leather on the dash if you ever get buyer's remorse.

SW17LS

Congrats! Our 2014 has been great. Huge improvement over our problematic 2011. You'll be very happy with it.

mmarshall

If you get to the D.C. Auto Show this year (still runs four more days, till Feb. 1), check out the Jeep simulated off-road course set-up....it covers a lot of indoor real estate. Downstairs, all the way in the back, behind the GM retro-Futurama display. It's not quite the same as true rock-climbing or creek-fording, of course, but still quite interesting.....one of the better displays at the show. You (probably) don't get many chances, in and around the highly urbanized D.C. area, to do true off-roading with your JGC, and this course (while not truly accurate) at least gives some idea of the experience.

Also, at the Lexus display downstairs (just a short walk across Audi's display from the main lower escalators), another interesting feature is the IS F-Sport mounted up seven feet on big steel poles so you can walk underneath it and check out the underbody F-Sport components.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

you're welcome and i think you're right!

definitely. i'm finding small details all over the place that impress. just found out the rear seats are heated, they recline, and the rear vents have a control for upper or lower ventilation/heat. i tried the heated steering wheel, the heated and cooled seats, the zillion way adjustable driver's seat, the adaptive cruise (so glad i got this!), etc. i also just found out the infotainment system can show local movies playing, give weather reports, sports scores, etc., it's crazy... obviously some or all of this has been in lexus vehicles for some time!

haha, ok duly noted. ok, now back to work i go to pay for it.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

CX-5 is pretty noisy too. My wife likes hers especially since she couldn't get over the looks of the traditional entrants (Rav4, CRV). The CX-9 is just long in the tooth. I wouldn't get that over a Pilot/Highlander/JGC