When you are experienced with cars you develop an arm torque wrench. Basically if you go to take a nut off and its already somewhat loose, then chances are it was never properly tightened. This is then confirmed roughly by checking how much force it takes to TIGHTEN a different bolt that has not been touched. You will never get super accurate when checking tightening torque afterwards but its close, within 10 or 20% Finding a lug nut move with a wrench set to 80 ft-lbs is quite concerning, and could certainly lead to a loose wheel if the car is driven hard. As to why its happening from the factory, I have no idea. If the book says 129 ft-lbs then I go with the book.
129 isn't even that high, Cadillac uses 140 on the CTS sedans, Chevy uses 140 on the new C8. They must have hired those inexperienced engineers from Tesla. All I'll say here is that I've now got 15+ events and never found a loose lug since I began tightening them vs how the car came from the factory. 129 works.
I get that you can get a sense of the lug didn’t feel too tight, but I’m willing to bet if you torqued two nuts on your car, one at 129 Lbs and the other at 80Lbs, you would find it challenging to determine a big difference. I think I was more directing my reply to those on this thread that stated their lug was only at 80Lbs. How do they know this. ? Again, seems that determining that is far from an exact science. I’m wondering if they could perhaps be wrong. Who knows.
I just found this thread, didn't read all of it. My 88xxx MY, Geminis, delivered 12/26/20, was LESS than 70 ft/lbs.