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2014 GC "EcoDiesel" OWNERS!!! Review..

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2014
124K views 468 replies 137 participants last post by  Chivvalry 
#1 · (Edited)
Same as my last thread, just looking for owner's reviews their new NAFTA EcoDiesel GC so far. I won't bother adding the poll to this one bc I'd like to see the ratings in you guys' posts. Keeps the responses legit, and cuts down on voter fraud. ;)

So as you all take delivery, drive it around for a lil bit (few days maybe), then let me know what you think.. 1-to-10 format.

Ex. This JEEP is a 'HEEP' of sh!t....... 1-10, I give it a 0. Oh wait, it cost me $50k! Make that a -5. :mad:

or..

This thing is awesome!!! I couldn't be happier....... 1-10, I give it a 10! :D

Or something in between.. You get the point. Thx guys and gals. I can't do TOO much about what you guys' concerns are, but some of the ppl up the ladder who browse these threads can, so let em hear it. And again, thx for your purchases and hanging in there despite all the setbacks. :thumbsup:
 
#5 · (Edited)
I've seen a couple of the misc. first impressions posts, but I really wanted to kinda seperate the reviews from the other stuff.. The other threads have really transformed and kinda lost my interest.

This is more for the guys who lurk but never post, and don't wanna sift thru tire talk and waxing brand new cars, to find the reviews. :smh:
 
#3 · (Edited)
I give my Overland a 9, maybe 9.5

Going to copy my review from earlier in the week.

Now that I have a couple to days to drive and get the feel on the Jeep I wanted to give a better review. I have three issues that will be addressed at the dealer on Thursday. 1. DEF tank not full 2. Driver tail light not flush to body 3. TPMS shows wrong pressure to manual pressure gauge.

Vehicle: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
Granite Crystal exterior /Vesuvio indigo and Jeep brown interior

Currently at 315 miles on odometer. Down to 3/4 tank and the EVIC estimation until empty is 346 miles

Options:
3.0 ECODiesel
Advanced tech package
Quadra Drive II
Engine block heater

Exterior:
Fit and finish are good. The paint is great and looks so deep you could swim in it. I ordered Granite and it looks just awesome. I do not like chrome all that much but I really do not like black plastic trim. You have to be so careful to keep wax off the black plastic. All body panels line up nicely. No issues on the hatch misalignment reported by others. The driver tail light does not fit flush to the body. On the top edge by the hatch it seems to curl too much and contacts the body before the housing can be fully seated. So there is a gap to the quarter panel and crates a sub flush condition to the hatch. The dealer has said they will replace the housing.

Interior:
Absolutely love the color contrast and stitching. The blue is very dark and no one seems to realize it’s blue and not grey. The leather is soft but not lambskin soft where you feel it will scuff and scratch easily. I am still setting up my setting on the EVIC but I did notice that the TPMS does not display the correct tire pressure. I have set the pressure to 36 psi at cold and the display shows all 4 tires at different pressure from 37 to 39 psi. Maybe there is a software flash for this. The big radio is just awesome. Still learning where everything is. No issues anywhere on the interior. The pano roof does not squeak, rattle, or leak. With the shade all the way open it really lets in the light and will be very nice in the sunlightless Michigan Winters. It would be nice if there was a coin holder though. The heated seats work well as does the heated steering wheel.

Engine/transmission/driving:
The diesel is everything I expected it to be. It is smooth and quiet. The transmission upshifts and down shifts without any issues and is very refined. I’ve been mostly driving in ECO mode. I live in a hilly rural area. Most hills the trans will stay in 8th and sometimes drop into 7th unless I’m pushing on the throttle but it never struggles to climb. Running with the ECO off the shifts aren’t as early and I think this is where I will mostly drive. I really like the automic Aero mode when driving. Played with Sport mode but it holds the gears a little too long for cursing. With the need of zipping in and out of traffic the Sport mode will work great. Mileage has gone from 25.3 cruising in areas with only a couple stop sign and traffic lights down to 24.1 with the morning commute with on and off throttle driving. I have not yet tested the Quadra Drive. The auto dimming headlights are excellent and work better than they did on my '07. The rain sensative wipers work perfect too.

There is a short turbo lag when accelerating from a complete stop and flooring it. Maybe a second or so before the turbo spools up. You are still moving though until that time but to someone new to a turbo diesel this may take a little get used to. The VM engine pulls strong from a stop and under normal driving there is no hesitation or lag. Very smooth and confident.

In summary this is an awesome Jeep. My hat is off to Chevy, Milous, Willix, and the others on producing a Jeep I plan to keep for a very long time. :thumbsup:
 
#7 ·
Thanks mazster43 once again your review is excellent. Thanks. :thumbsup:
I think once the trail light is straightened our I would up my vote to 9.75. (I'm a picky b*stard) I hold out from a perfect score only because of the tail light. This Jeep really is everything I could want from a vehicle and plan to keep my unicorn until the parts return to their original compositions.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Just wanted to jump in and give a quick first impression after my first day… full review to follow about a week from now.

Vehicle Condition as Delivered: 7.5/10
Had no alignment issues and I looked very closely at this. I DID have a pretty decent sized chip on the very front of the front bumper and 4 distinct scratches down into the glass on the rear drivers side window. Dealer ordered touch-up paint, as I offered to fix the paint chip/scratch myself, and we are working out how they are going to fix/replace the back window.

Vehicle Design: 9/10
AMAZING so far on my 130 mile trip back from dealer. Overall I think the engine gives the Jeep a "heavy duty" truck feel but the suspension and ride quickly reassure you this is anything but a hard riding HD pickup. Vehicle does show its weigh when maneuvering but is tuned to do almost anything you ask with ease. Night time headlights are great and so is the transmission.

One thing to note guys…. can somebody pay particular attention to their fuel mileage a few miles before and after their odometer hits 100 miles?? I swear I saw a 3mpg shift immediately after hitting 100 miles on the highway. At first I was a little unhappy with the mileage with my highway driving on the first half of the trip, as I was seeing 27'ish, but after the clock rolled over 100 miles I was almost immediately seeing 31'ish numbers at 75mph! Mileage seemed to just keep climbing the more I drove it so I am excited to see where it lands!

Full review to come later...
 
#16 · (Edited)
I am not sure what you mean by the mpg part... Like it wont give an average until you hit 100 miles? I think it gives one as quick as 1-2 miles...

You did remind me of something though. Our vehicles give a "total run time" clock in one of the pages in the center cluster, what did everyone else's read? Mine shows it drove 14 miles in 5 hours... Idle much???? That didn't make me happy to see.

EDIT: I don't think it was the dealer that idled the car for hours as I specifically asked them to keep idling to a min.
 
#14 ·
Never owned a new vehicle ( gas or diesel) that didn't get better mileage after getting some miles on them. My Silverado, with the 6.2, is just starting to improve after 22,000 miles. 12.5 mpg is the reason it is being replaced with the Summit.

SF
 
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#18 ·
I have a 13 Outback and mileage has not changed since day one. Now with 17000 miles. First vehicle that has ever done that. YMMV I guess. I will be thrilled with 28 on the hiway. I can't justify the diesel based on cost as this isn't a need but a want. Mileage pay back isn't but fun factor is...
 
#19 ·
To the Fuel Economy comments, I did notice 2 things....

Yes the fuel economy was pretty crappy the first short bit and that cleaned up quickly. This may be related to sitting for a month and barely ever running.

Another thing I noticed is that the engine does run differently once up to optimal temperature. When it is cold it is actually a little noisier than once it is warm and I do see a bit of a mileage difference vs when it gets warm, but I think that is all to be expected. When I say optimal, I am only going by the analog gauge and it appears it really quites down and hits its stride when the needle hits the first 1/4 line. I should likely look a little further into running temps but I need to be making some longer trips.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Have you tried resetting the average in the evic when you fill up? I do it every time I fill up, along with the Trip A odometer.. I like to track actual mileage vs. the evic's projected mileage. Well not really, it's just something I can't stop myself from doing. I've found that when you reset the mpg average the projected miles to empty jumps up a bit.. If you don't, it goes off old averages.

For example, I get about 12.5 and MAYBE 350 miles to a tank if I take it easy. When I fill up the evic typically shows 370ish miles to empty, and when I go into the averages it reads whatever it was based off old driving habits. But if I reset the average after I fill up, when I start the truck it reads like 420ish miles to empty, and when I start driving, if I jump right on the freeway it'll read almost a whopping 16mpg!!! :rolleyes: Obviously as I drive it changes and goes back down.

Point is, you can get a fresh reading on each tank as your engines break in.. Unfortunately my truck is well broken in (60k miles), so 13ish is about all I'll ever see. :( But if you all are starting at the projected mpg, then I wouldn't be surprised to hear 34-35 next summer for some.
 
#25 ·
Picked up Overland ecoDiesel from dealer last night. Following are a couple of comments:

1) Salesperson said the corrosion warranty is not covered in Wisconsin. Is this true?

2) Salesperson gave me a detailed overview from inside of GC. Main question I had for salesperson was how do I turn on the lights. Salesperson responded that the lights automatically go on. In fact, this is only true if the lights are set to "AUTO headlight", but the lights were set to "off: daytime running lights". 22 mile ride home at nighttime was not easy. 1 or 2 cars flashed lights at me. I had difficult time taking turns in subdivision with turn signal on because daytime running lights would turn off. Ended up not using turn signal because I could not see when making a turn. (I watched several videos about features of Jeep GC.) Jeep should produce video on how to use lights for both customers and sales staff.

3) Salesperson said that I should bring in for service every 5000 miles. This is more frequent than in manual. Is service every 5000 miles needed?

4) I asked salesperson if urea was full. Salesperson said yes, but tank was less than 1/2 full.

5) I asked if TSB 08-049-13 Rev E dated Oct 25, 2013 has been updated. Salesperson said he thought so. (Current software version is 13.33.7)

6) I requested to not have any dealer decals put on vehicle. Overland had dealer decal installed. Salesperson proceeded to pull off decal.

7) Blind spot monitoring system did not work.

8) Dealer wanted to sell me extended warranty from Fidelity Warranty Company. Based on quick internet search, this looks like a ripoff company. I purchased the 8 year 120k Chrysler Maximum Care plan with 100$ deductible for 2k. (Maybe jeep should have dealers only sell quality plans.) Thanks Willx for your informative posts regarding warranties.

Thanks to all JNAP employees who produced this outstanding vehicle! (I will provide a more detailed review with a number rating later.) I am proud to own the diesel JGC assembled in the USA. My favorite comment is from chevyboy_711: "Your Jeep is my job. You quit buying 'em, and I quit working.. So on behalf of everyone at JNAP, thank you for your purchase(s). Enjoy!"
 
#27 ·
Picked up Overland ecoDiesel from dealer last night. Following are a couple of comments:

1) Salesperson said the corrosion warranty is not covered in Wisconsin. Is this true?

2) Salesperson gave me a detailed overview from inside of GC. Main question I had for salesperson was how do I turn on the lights. Salesperson responded that the lights automatically go on. In fact, this is only true if the lights are set to "AUTO headlight", but the lights were set to "off: daytime running lights". 22 mile ride home at nighttime was not easy. 1 or 2 cars flashed lights at me. I had difficult time taking turns in subdivision with turn signal on because daytime running lights would turn off. Ended up not using turn signal because I could not see when making a turn. (I watched several videos about features of Jeep GC.) Jeep should produce video on how to use lights for both customers and sales staff.

3) Salesperson said that I should bring in for service every 5000 miles. This is more frequent than in manual. Is service every 5000 miles needed?

4) I asked salesperson if urea was full. Salesperson said yes, but tank was less than 1/2 full.

5) I asked if TSB 08-049-13 Rev E dated Oct 25, 2013 has been updated. Salesperson said he thought so. (Current software version is 13.33.7)

6) I requested to not have any dealer decals put on vehicle. Overland had dealer decal installed. Salesperson proceeded to pull off decal.

7) Blind spot monitoring system did not work.
1. I doubt the warranty is not covered just for living in a specific state. That seems like it would be hard to enforce.

2. Almost every vehicle has the same type of head light switch, including the jeep GC. Located to the left of the steering wheel on the console. You just turn it to one of 4 positions. At night 2 of those 4 will turn the lights on. There is no need for supplemental training to turn on head lights.

3. The first oil change should be early, like 3000 miles or less. This is due to the engine break in process, and the oil getting contaminated quickly during the first few thousand miles.
After the first one just go when ever the vehicle tells you to. The max limit should be 1 year or around 10,000 miles. Which ever comes first.
As a reference BMW has a 1 year or 12,000 oil change schedule on there diesels, or at least on my 2011 335d.
 
#26 ·
You can't get a reading on a tank of gas if your vehicle goes more than 300 miles before empty because only the 300 newest miles are used with the older miles being dropped off continuously Your average shown can never be more than the last reset up to 300, that's the complaint. If you have a full size truck with a Cummins depending on the year/options it isn't even capable of tracking average mileage for a half of a tank.

Please keep in mind I'm saying this is true IF it hasn't changed in the last couple of years. I personally use a phone app called My Car to track my millage using real math at the pump with all my vehicles.
 
#42 ·
You can't get a reading on a tank of gas if your vehicle goes more than 300 miles before empty because only the 300 newest miles are used with the older miles being dropped off continuously Your average shown can never be more than the last reset up to 300, that's the complaint. If you have a full size truck with a Cummins depending on the year/options it isn't even capable of tracking average mileage for a half of a tank. Please keep in mind I'm saying this is true IF it hasn't changed in the last couple of years. I personally use a phone app called My Car to track my millage using real math at the pump with all my vehicles.
Does anyone know if EVIC still uses the 300 mile limit to calculate mileage?
If so, I'm going to have to fire up an app to track it.
Thanks
 
#32 ·
Manual is online. I have read it and see that some things are consistent like the headlight switch but others will take some in the JGC seat training especially the EVIC.
Good thing is you made it home safely and now you can study that dictionary sized operator manual
 
#34 ·
These things do happen. I had a friend who drove his Audi for 2 months including at night before he found out that the lights were not automatic.

So good thing you made it home safe and yes too bad the dealer is unclear about how their vehicles work.
 
#35 ·
This is a preliminary review because I really have not had a chance to drive my new Grand Cherokee enough to provide justice to its great attributes.

As said by others, my very first impression is WOW. This really is the most sophisticated trail-ready SUV in the world. I was quite convinced by the time the EcoDiesels were shipped, but I knew I had made the right decision after just ¼ mile of the test drive. So far, I am very impressed. My GC is a Limited with CRD, LUX2, ORA2, ATG, Granite exterior, black interior with 9/28 build date.

Vehicle condition as delivered (Jeep) – 9 / 10
The tailgate alignment is perfect, no issues what so ever. However, there are a couple of fit areas. The driver-side passenger door and the fuel door may need a slight adjustment, as they are not quite flush with body panels. There may also be an alignment issue on the front right hood and fender. These are very minor; I don’t expect an issue at all with adjustments. I have a couple of twisted window gaskets, which I will monitor.

I have found nothing to complain about with paint – no scratches or blemishes, nor have I found anything wrong with the interior – no noise or rattles. Overall, I am very very satisfied with the Jeep build. Thanks Chevy, Marlon, and the whole JNAP team.

Vehicle condition as delivered (Dealer) – 6 / 10
First, let me say that my dealer provided JG members excellent purchase deals and the Internet sales department is top notch. I think the make-ready services could have been better however. I was asked to inspect the vehicle before it had been detailed, making it difficult to inspect the paint condition effectively. The DEF tank was filled, but spilled in the fill compartment and down the side of the body and rear tire. ArmorAll was used on the tires after a request for its exclusion. The front tag bracket was left in the cargo area rather than installed. The RA4 radio was not upgraded to current version, rather I was told that the VIN indicated no update was needed. After a couple of trips back to make-ready, the appearance issues were corrected. No efforts were made to educate me on features and operation. I knew that I could upgrade the radio myself and I really did not need help with the features. However, it would have been nice to be asked.

Vehicle Design – 9.8 / 10
I have to say this again… WOW. There is not much I could change. The CRD offers the best of everything that Jeep has to offer. That sounds like the commercial, but this vehicle is that good! The diesel and 8-speed tranny combination is spectacular - smooth shifts in both directions, no clunks, no issues. All driving so far has been in ECO mode, I have not experimented with Sport mode yet.

Some may believe the seating is a bit firm and not plush enough, but the seating fits me very well. This is a daily driver for me, and I am more concerned about functionality and durability. I think the black leather was a good choice for me, but if I could have had the dark brown in a Limited, I would have gone that route. The heated seats will not get much use in Texas, but the ventilated seats are fantastic and already appreciated.

While I am still getting comfortable with the technology features, I cannot emphasize enough the value of the blind spot warning system available with the Advanced Technology Group. It is worth every penny. I have not yet mastered the adaptive cruise control, but I look forward to getting there soon. I didn’t think the exit/park suspension-lowering feature would be that useful, but it turns out to be a very appreciated feature. I have not activated it as an auto exit option as of yet.

If I have to say something negative about design, I would say it could use additional interior storage nooks, but that’s being very petty.

Uconnect – 9 / 10
My unit was delivered with 13.33.7 version software. On the way home, I received the “Vehicle Phone Needs Service” a couple of times. The message was on for only a few seconds, and no issues were evident with system usage. The following day, I upgraded to 13.38.52, and I have received the phone service messages a couple more times. I will give it 48 hours before re-installing again to see if the message goes away.

Other than the phone message, the Uconnect system has been very responsive; all items appear to work as designed. Music from SD and USB are spot on, however the radio volume seems to be lower than with media choices. The NAV system is super, it even pronounces a major street near me correctly (Fry instead of Fairy). The level of customization for both EVIC and Uconnect is incredible. If it were not for the phone service message, I would have given Uconnect 10/10.

Fuel Mileage – 9 / 10 additional data needed.
Unfortunately, my route home after delivery was in stop/go Houston traffic, no freeways. Even in that mess, I averaged 22.4 mpg – how cool is that! To test highway speed performance, I took a short 20-mile trip at 75 mph with cruise control in use most of the time. EVIC indicated 27.8 mpg. While not scientific, it certainly gives an indication of the incredible fuel mileage expected of this vehicle.

Epilog
In my opinion, Jeep has a HUGE hit with the Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel. I am so glad that I visited Jeep Garage and learned about this incredible vehicle, and I am even more excited to say that I own one. The journey to Jeep ownership took me from newbie questions to a walk through the JNAP facility, and finally having a Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel in my own garage.

I want to thank all of the Jeep Garage members who provided opinions and information along the way. A special thanks to all the “insiders”: Chevy, Marlon, Milous, Willx, and the others I don’t know as well, your insight was especially helpful with my first Jeep purchase. I joined as a lifetime member, and I look forward to staying in touch as we enjoy our Jeeps and encourage others to choose the EcoDiesel.
 

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#40 ·
This is a preliminary review because I really have not had a chance to drive my new Grand Cherokee enough to provide justice to its great attributes.

As said by others, my very first impression is WOW...
Great review even though it's preliminary, as you indicated. Was also good to hear your impressions of the dealer, which I wanted to ask about - did you and Shannon speak with the same dealer rep? If so, would you mind telling me who that was? They have one in transit that I'm particularly interested in. :D PM me if you don't want to post that info here. TIA, and enjoy that beautiful ride!

Gary
 
#36 ·
Brainstormer
Thanks for the feedback. Just reinforces my decision to go with the JGC with diesel. Soon as my SO gets back in town we will pick a color and get this done with the same dealer you are using (thanks to Shannon on that)...
 
#38 · (Edited)
I had planned to pick mine up today (Nov 11) but Saturday afternoon I felt the itch so bad that I left the football tailgate party I host for home games as soon as the game started, packed up my trailer of tailgate stuff, dropped it off, and went to pick up my Jeep.

Delivery: Everything went smoothly there. The DEF tank was only 80% full, but I knew that. I talked to the dealer on Friday evening and he told me it would be topped off for my scheduled pickup on Monday but they didn't have enough on hand to fill it until then. They put in what they had. The truck looked good, I'd rate it as 90% clean. The interior still needed a little cleaning but I was picking it up early (called an hour before I showed up saying I was on the way).

Fit/Finish: No problems here. The rear hatch isn't 100% exactly aligned...but not like some of the pictures I've seen on here. Its not enough that anyone, ever, will notice. Everything else looks great. It has exceeded my expectations here.

Driving: It took about 20 miles for me to get used to the engine/transmission. But I absolutely love it. There does seem to be a bit more 'lag' in eco mode then when it off. For my mixed rural/city driving so far (about 130miles) I haven't liked eco, and have spent about 80% of the time in "Drive with Eco Off" with the other 20% split between "Eco" and "Sport". I decided I wasn't going to even look at mileage until after the first tank. First impressions - very smooth and the torque is "always there"

Other:

DEF - I picked it up with 80% showing (dealer said to bring it by to fill anytime). Last night I backed it up my steep driveway and parked it 'nose down" since I need to run my tailgate party trailer back out to my farm and temporally have taking up the Jeep's space in the garage (my HOA would be on me if I parked the trailer outside overnight). This morning it was showing 100% DEF during my 10mile drive to work. Either: 1) The sensor is wrong or 2) the sensor is in the front of the tank and the way I parked gave it a false reading at start-up and didn't pull a new level during the drive. I have it parked in my flat office parking lot today, I will see what it does later.

Child Seats - I haven't heard much mention on this forum about them, but I have 2 kids and have set up the Jeep for two child seats. My 2 month old rides rear facing in Chicco Keyfit seat (base in center position in the back seat, using seat belt to secure it). This seems to work out great so far. Jeep does allow the rear facing seat (per the manual) to touch the back of the front seats. It will do this if they are far back, but not too badly. Great fit. My 2.5 year old rides in a Sunshine Kids Radian XPSL (same seat is sold under the Diano brand now since they bought them out last year) forward facing. This would fit well on either side in the back, but I happen to have it on the passenger's side only because it works better with our garage layout. I'm confident you could use 3 across in the Jeep....but I sure don't plan to ;-)
 
#41 ·
I have posted my review already after my initial couple of days, but I have found some more things since. I've had my Diesel Jeep GC Overland for a little less than a week ( I picked it up November 5th). :D

Exterior - 9/10
I do not have the tail light fit issue, but did notice the headlamp fogging a bit. I will be showing that to the dealer. The overall look of the Jeep is awesome. I love it. I am really happy. I am 8 1/2 months pregnant and really like the setting that lets the JEEP down and moves the seat/steering wheel when I put it in Park. It helps me out a lot! My fuel door fit is terrible. The dealer has ordered a new part and it needs to be painted and fixed. I understand how the fit issues happen at a factory and it's no big deal to me to have the dealer fix it - things happen during launch of a new vehicle.

Interior - 9/10
I love the finish and contrast stitching in the dash, the IP and the large touch screen. I like the fact there is a place for my sunglasses (don't laugh, having someone design a place for everything is important and shows attention to the customer IMO), and I am just figuring out all my personalized settings. I also really like the blind spot alarm - it works really well. VR is taking some getting used to, and the text option is awesome. Got to tell my Jeep to text daycare that we were running late. Very cool. I do have a 'water stain' on the driver's side dash by the a-pillar that looks bad. The dealer has ordered a new dash pad. More to come there. I'm a bit worried about that repair being done post production. I also am running UConnect 13.33.7 vs. 13.38.52 so the dealer will update that when my Jeep is in for the other repairs. The main thing I've noticed from running that version is that Navigation has no idea where my Jeep is on the map - it bounces around and recalculates ALL THE TIME. I think it recalculated about 20 times on the way to Birch Run while we were simply driving north on 75. Annoying - yes, but fixable. Otherwise I am extremely happy and love the inside fit/finish and functionality.

Overall ride: 10/10!! Don't judge because I'm a girl….my husband has a 2010 RAM diesel (1 ton crew cab) and I drive the hell out of it. I just can't park it. So the diesel JGC was my solution. I can get the feel of a truck, actually park it, and also get the quietness of the cab and suspension comfort I need (I commute 70 miles round trip daily for work and conduct a lot of conference calls via blue tooth). It has the get up and go I need for dealing with the idiot drivers on I75 and the fuel economy I need to not break the bank. I am really, really, really happy. Fist tank of fuel got me 27 mpg. I'm good with that for the first tank and driving a mix of city and highway. I know it will get more stable once everything is broken in.

Thank you Jeep - JNA for the great truck and thank you Jeep Garage for the great feedback on this site!! :)
 

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