Review written on 8/1964.
The Shooting Brake segment is not for everyone. But the Arrow may be the vehicle for you. Philadelphia Motors sure hopes it is. So this week I took a trip down to Philadelphia Motors's headquarters to test out the Arrow. Luckily we've also tested the Arrow and the 469 this year. So we should be able to give you a verdict on how it stands in the Shooting Brake community.
As always, our first stop with the Philadelphia Motors Arrow was the track. This Shooting Brake may wow some people. It's certainly has better power and performance than most of its peers. The 214 hp @ 4999RPMs 4976 cc V4 engine is able to put a healthy amount of rubber on the road. When you do this properly, you're able to propel the Arrow to a top speed of 96 mph and drag times of 17.267s 0 to 60 mph are a breeze. With 180 lb-ft of torque, our smoking wheels were able to tow 22 lbs. Philadelphia Motors really did well with the Arrow when it comes to the track. I certainly think this vehicle is better than most in its class. In the real world the Philadelphia Motors Arrow could not even handle a U-turn, let alone our beloved test track. Why the hell would engineers at Philadelphia Motors even put a steering wheel on this train? This has to be one of the worst handling Shooting Brake I have ever driven.
Philadelphia Motors's interior design stands out among its peers. The material selection is fantastic, each seat is crafted by fine artisans, and the ride quality outstanding. Arrow is also full of features other drivers can only dream about. You will not want to leave the inside of this vehicle.
Inside the Philadelphia Motors Arrow it feels like they could add an extra row of seats. There is enough room to even lay down, which is amazing! The 59 cu-ft of cargo and passenger space ensures that you always have plenty of room to do whatever it is you need to do. And that makes us happy.
The workmanship put into the Philadelphia Motors Arrow is unparalleled in this market. From its hand finished panelling to ultrahigh quality materials the Arrow is truly a work of art that should last a life time. It seems Philadelphia Motors has perfected the perfect.
The Philadelphia Motors Arrow did very well on our dependability tests. We did not have any major issues in long term testing. The minor issues we did have were easy to resolve and not very costly. We believe that the Philadelphia Motors Arrow is dependable enough for even the most unknowledgeable owner. It proper care and maintenance, even if done by a shop, the Philadelphia Motors Arrow should last a very long time.
The Philadelphia Motors Arrow's fuel economy is impressive, but not in a good way. The Arrow's 15.1 mpg is one of the worst in class. This might not be troublesome when you look at the numbers, but it will be when you actually have to pay for it.
The extra effort from Philadelphia Motors to make the Arrow feel safer pays off. The reinforced frame makes the vehicle much more impact resistant. Don't go driving into walls your self, just take our word for it.
When it comes down to it, the Philadelphia Motors Arrow is one of the best Shooting Brake on the market. For almost everyone on the looking for a Shooting Brake, you won't find a much better vehicle than the Arrow. It testing team was astonished by the results. We give it our total and complete recommendation.