Review written on 6/1947.
It is not everyday one gets to drive a new automobile. Typically you find your self stuck with the same vehicle for at least five years before you purchase another one. And with the rate of depreciation and the amount of time we spend in traffic, this makes finding the right vehicle all the more important. Philadelphia Motors believes their Quaker Diesel may be the best Pickup Truck to enter the market. How does it compare other Pickup Truck such as the 408 and Quaker Diesel? We'll find out in this month's Vehicle Review!

Our first test is always on the track. It is here where we can measure the performance of the Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel without getting a speeding ticket! And that's good because we would rack up the tickets in this Pickup Truck. Not for going too fast, but for going too slow! The Quaker Diesel is slower than grandma's mobility scooter. You seriously might as well walk. The 71 hp @ 1592RPMs 4362 cc I4 engine should be used in a lawn mower. Not in a car. The Quaker Diesel lugs it self to a horrible top speed of 65 mph. And strains to hit 26.413s 0 to 60 mph. With 188 lb-ft of torque, our smoking wheels were able to tow 5247 lbs. It is amazing they even allow this vehicle to drive on the roads. All in all we hate this car performance on the track. There is not much to say about the Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel when it comes to handling. As a Pickup Truck it's below average. As an everyday driver it'll do its job. In summation the Quaker Diesel is mundane.

Once track testing was over it came time to look at the Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel's interior. We found that it was very bare bones. So much so that we could not stand to be in it for long. It seems Philadelphia Motors was trying to make something retro by filling the vehicle with decades old styling and gadgets. We recommend looking at other vehicles if you plan on buying a long range vehicle.

The Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel gives you a sense of home away from home. With 76 cu-ft of cargo and passenger space the Quaker Diesel feels like a second living room. Which was what Philadelphia Motors was probably thinking when they made this vehicle. "Lets make a vehicle that people could live in." Well Philadelphia Motors thank you, because after my wife threw me out, this is my new home. And let me tell you, it rocks!

While not exactly handmade, Philadelphia Motors did put a bit of extra work into the Quaker Diesel and it shows. Panels actually fit and are made to last. The finish doesn't fade in the sun, and all the bolts have washers. It begs the question why buy a lower quality car every 5 years, and not buy the Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel which should last a few generations?

The Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel is not a particularly reliable car. In fact, it is quite downright bad. We suffered a catastrophic brake failure in just a couple of days testing a new car. While this might be a fluke, we wouldn't bet on it from the complaints we've heard.

Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel's 13.5 mpg city and leaves plenty of room for improvement. We do truly believe that the engineers at Philadelphia Motors can squeeze a few more mileage out of this vehicle to get it up to at least average.

Safety is another important topic on the minds of many. The Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel maintains the average amount of safety features for this type of vehicle. While not overly impressive, it should be enough to keep you alive in most cases. Don't expect miracles however.

All in all, the Philadelphia Motors Quaker Diesel is a good choice among its peers. It checks just enough boxes in our Pickup Truck tests for us to give it our recommendation. There are a few other Pickup Truck that are better than the Quaker Diesel. But for some buyers, the Quaker Diesel is still a good choice.