Review written on 6/1929.
The press around the Philadelphia Motors Athletic may look more appealing than the Osiris. But is it really a better Phaeton? As long as it's not as bad as the Athletic, Philadelphia Motors should be happy with their results. We luckily have a test model to figure out where this vehicle stands in the market. And if it lives up to what the advertisements are saying about it.

On my first track run in the Philadelphia Motors Athletic suffered 2 cracked rips and a ruptured spleen. Not from wrecking it, but from the sheer raw power of this Phaeton. The Athletic's 60 hp @ 2658RPMs 4778 cc I3 engine drives you into the seats while you accelerate with an impressive 23.227s 0 to 60 mph time and a top speed of 86 mph. The Athletic is able to keep this speed all the way up to the the top speed of 86 mph. We found that with 96 lb-ft of torque this machine can tow an impressive 191 lbs. On the track testing the Philadelphia Motors Athletic did have some slight issues. Of course it was not designed to be a track car. But as a Phaeton it should have better handling than it does. In most cases in the real world this shouldn't be any problem. But it is still sub-par at best. After my hospital visit, I came to the conclusion that this is the best Phaeton I've ever tested on the track. Buy IT NOW!!!

While certainly does not have the best features or materials. The Philadelphia Motors Athletic does provide the bare necessities required in a vehicle of this type. No more and no less. As well as it should. If you wanted to spend that extra bit you would of bought the better vehicle. Was Philadelphia Motors wise in this respect? Maybe, but we do think they should of offered at least a little more bang for the buck so to speak.

Basketball players and sumo wrestlers should probably avoid the Philadelphia Motors Athletic. If not for any other reason, the 25 cu-ft of cargo and passenger space is slightly cramp for even an average sized person such as my self.

The team at Philadelphia Motors cut a lot of corners when it came to building the Athletic. It is apparent in everything from the interior to the body panels to the paints to the molding. Its not designed to last. But its not exactly the worst car on the market. You can do better.

Do expect major repairs over the life time of owning a Philadelphia Motors Athletic. This is to be expected as it's not designed to be a life long vehicle.

Out on civilian streets you'll never be thought of as a eco-maniac while driving your Philadelphia Motors Athletic. With its sub-par 17.4 mpg the Athletic will hit your wallet hard. Don't worry, the gas station clerk is a nice guy!

If safety was your priority, then this isn't the best on the market. That being said it's better than a lot of vehicles as well. The folks at Philadelphia Motors didn't make safety their focus, but there are enough features here to keep most people's minds at ease. And that's pretty much the jest of the thing. The Philadelphia Motors Athletic is average in all respects.

Overall the Athletic is a borderline acceptable vehicle. Philadelphia Motors did the bare minimum amount needed to make this Phaeton worthy of consideration. Sure, it falls flat in many areas. But it does do some things well. We would still consider this car below average and would only recommend it to consumers who are interested in it. If you are, check out your local Philadelphia Motors authorized dealership.