B4ZINGA

Downshifting while coasting downhill is normal when it detects the vehicle is gaining speed without driver input via the accelerator pedal.
AWD is normally off, and kicks on only when the traction control system detects wheel slip at the front wheels. Switching off the traction control (or as much of it as the TCS button permits), turns on the AWD all the time (until TCS is turned on again). During the winter months, when the snow is fresh, I'll locate a large empty parking lot and have some fun with my AWD R/T's TCS dialed down. Yes, you can kick out the rear end of a Journey, and do donuts. When it's snowy, anyway.

I don't know how the roads are in St. Louis, but I'd be willing to be the two wheels in question got out of round during normal driving and a recent rotation/re-balancing revealed the issue when they couldn't be balanced, so a tech wrote BENT on the wheels and the service adviser either wasn't informed, or neglected to mention it.

It looks like these were written on quite a while ago. I haven't seen assembly line operators write on parts, they usually enter notes on a piece of paper or plastic wrap stuck to the vehicle. Suppliers will write DEFECT, D, S, SCRAP or some indication that part is no good directly on the part so it does not get shipped, but their operators sometimes let things slip. I would think it would get caught at the assembly plant. The plant for the headliner program I'm on isn't shy about telling us when a defective part hits their floor and the assembled vehicle has to go in to the repair station.
If it did somehow make it through inspection like that, I'd be surprised that no techs in two years have discovered it until now.
But, it's not relevant now. The wheels need to be replaced. Hopefully your warranty is still good, since you can't prove it was delivered like that.

I don't know how the roads are in St. Louis, but I'd be willing to be the two wheels in question got out of round during normal driving and a recent rotation/re-balancing revealed the issue when they couldn't be balanced, so a tech wrote BENT on the wheels and the service adviser either wasn't informed, or neglected to mention it.

Depends on the trip. When we drove to Alpena and back, I used a front end mask to catch the bugs and washed the car when we got back. Driving to Port Huron for work, I do it when I do it. I need to do it this weekend...

Agreed... this is a family-oriented forum, we don't need to see nasty four-letter words like that!

Any chance of getting a pic with the new setup? When my OEM Kumho's wear out I'll be replacing them with the same size. Eventually I want to get a set of 20"x9" wheels with 265/45/20 tires. Hoping to confirm that they fit, knowing the 255 fits without issue.

Even though it's a 2014, I'd say it's a write-off. Looking at the way the hood is cocked over and the passenger doors are sticking out, there's a lot of structural damage.
But, the important thing is wife and child are okay. They'll be shaken and should be checked out for whiplash... but I'm guessing you already did that if her wrist was found to be broken. That's going to hurt quite a bit, hopefully the doctors set it right and she won't need surgery. Friend of mine was rear-ended in his Mercedes C300 a few years ago and pushed into oncoming traffic. The car saved his life and the worst was a broken ankle, but he had to have surgery and still isn't 100% right.

My plan is to find a set of Toyo Proxes 4 in a wider size (preferably 255/50/19). I had this model on my Charger (245/45/20) at the end of Winter in early 2014 and it performed very well. I didn't have the car long enough after they were installed (traded on the Journey) to find out how they performed once they start wearing, however they performed better than the Kumho Ecsta 4x they replaced when those were new. Quiet, excellent traction in snow and rain. My Kumhos currently have 17,400 on them and measured 7-7.5/32" depth last week, so I'm expecting to get get 40,000 miles out of them. Won't be for another two years, minimum.

My plan is to find a set of Toyo Proxes 4 in a wider size (preferably 255/50/19). I had this model on my Charger (245/45/20) at the end of Winter in early 2014 and it performed very well. I didn't have the car long enough after they were installed (traded on the Journey) to find out how they performed once they start wearing, however they performed better than the Kumho Ecsta 4x they replaced when those were new. Quiet, excellent traction in snow and rain. My Kumhos currently have 17,400 on them and measured 7-7.5/32" depth last week, so I'm expecting to get get 40,000 miles out of them. Won't be for another two years, minimum.

Even though it's a 2014, I'd say it's a write-off. Looking at the way the hood is cocked over and the passenger doors are sticking out, there's a lot of structural damage.
But, the important thing is wife and child are okay. They'll be shaken and should be checked out for whiplash... but I'm guessing you already did that if her wrist was found to be broken. That's going to hurt quite a bit, hopefully the doctors set it right and she won't need surgery. Friend of mine was rear-ended in his Mercedes C300 a few years ago and pushed into oncoming traffic. The car saved his life and the worst was a broken ankle, but he had to have surgery and still isn't 100% right.

AVP and SE still have the old style front and rear fascias, however SE has the LED tail lights and both have the split grill and DODGE across the liftgate, as well as the new style interior.

FYI, a later model R/T with body color door handles (such as my 2014) is likely a Rallye. Rallye also deletes the roof rails and trades the chrome grille and headlamps for blacked-bucket headlamps and body color grilles. For some reason they didn't put a Rallye badge on it like they do on the Dart Rallye and new Charger SXT Rallye. Seeing chrome handles is more likely to be a Crew (up until 2013) or Limited (replaced Crew).

FYI, a later model R/T with body color door handles (such as my 2014) is likely a Rallye. Rallye also deletes the roof rails and trades the chrome grille and headlamps for blacked-bucket headlamps and body color grilles. For some reason they didn't put a Rallye badge on it like they do on the Dart Rallye and new Charger SXT Rallye. Seeing chrome handles is more likely to be a Crew (up until 2013) or Limited (replaced Crew).

AVP and SE still have the old style front and rear fascias, however SE has the LED tail lights and both have the split grill and DODGE across the liftgate, as well as the new style interior.

It's optional. I'm glad I have it, thought I wish the second row headrests weren't so tall, or folded down as well. Kinda of annoying having to recline the front seats forward each time I want to fold the second row down.

Not precisely true. 300 SRT was axed for much of the world, except for the Middle East, South Africa, and Australia. There is a 2016 300 SRT that us Yankees and Canucks are deprived of.

More often than not, high octane results in better fuel economy. However, the cost differential does not support using the higher octane as the increase in economy tends to be minimal.
Lately my R/T AWD has been in the 17 range, driving four miles one way to work with plenty of stops and traffic on the way. On the highway, I can get 26-28 at 75 MPH with four adults and luggage. I rented a base SXT V6 AWD for a trip to Toronto, and at 65 MPH with just me, my suitcase for the week, and my computer bag, I got 32 MPG.

Anyone with a Crossroad that wants tinted tail lights... I'll switch lights with you so you can tint my basic lights and I can have the Crossroad style! Tinting tailights is something that never really stuck with me, and I've never done it. This winter I'm hoping to have the time to open up a set of tail lights for my 300M, paint the turn signal and brake light sections gloss black, install custom made LED arrays, paint the turn signal portion of the lens red to match the brake section, and have a pretty cool looking set of lights. Depends on how the chrome reverse light section reacts to being taped off, as that needs to stay chrome for optimal rear visibility at night. We'll see, one planned winter project among many.

Anyone with a Crossroad that wants tinted tail lights... I'll switch lights with you so you can tint my basic lights and I can have the Crossroad style! Tinting tailights is something that never really stuck with me, and I've never done it. This winter I'm hoping to have the time to open up a set of tail lights for my 300M, paint the turn signal and brake light sections gloss black, install custom made LED arrays, paint the turn signal portion of the lens red to match the brake section, and have a pretty cool looking set of lights. Depends on how the chrome reverse light section reacts to being taped off, as that needs to stay chrome for optimal rear visibility at night. We'll see, one planned winter project among many.

Not precisely true. 300 SRT was axed for much of the world, except for the Middle East, South Africa, and Australia. There is a 2016 300 SRT that us Yankees and Canucks are deprived of.

My thoughts exactly. Referring to him as a douchebag is a nice way of putting it.

My thoughts exactly. Referring to him as a douchebag is a nice way of putting it.

My thoughts exactly. Referring to him as a douchebag is a nice way of putting it.

You're kind of a douche bag. For someone who doesn't want it to sound like you're bagging on his ride, you sure went out of your way to be a dick. Like you said, not everyone is expected to like each other's taste, but the way you went about it was childish and ridiculous.