Review written on 5/1954.
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 Altoona may be the best Full Sized Sedan to enter the market. How does it compare other Full Sized Sedan such as the F8191 and French? We'll find out in this month's Vehicle Review!
On first glance the Philadelphia Motors Altoona seems to have everything you'd want in a daily driver on the track. It is not overly powerful, but it packs enough punch to get up and go. While you won't win any races, you won't hold up any traffic. The Full Sized Sedan's 129 hp @ 3738RPMs 4288 cc Flat6 engine does well enough under load to keep you satisfied. The Altoona is able to top out at 86 mph and accelerates at 22.990s 0 to 60 mph. While the 146 lb-ft of torque you get is not insane it is more than enough to tow 22 lbs which was a decent amount for this class. Ultimately the Philadelphia Motors Altoona is your average Full Sized Sedan on the track. Compared to its peers in the Full Sized Sedan class the Philadelphia Motors Altoona selling point should not be driveability. The Altoona offers bare bones handling. There is just enough grip in the wheels to keep you from flying off the side of a cliff... But not much. On the track, it is not much better.
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. Altoona is also full of features other drivers can only dream about. You will not want to leave the inside of this vehicle.
The Philadelphia Motors Altoona is one of the most spacious vehicles in its class. With 53 cu-ft of cargo and passenger room you should never have any issues with transportation. Even if you have to move an elephant...
The Philadelphia Motors Altoona has just enough labor of love in it to make it better than most other vehicles. Even though it came off an assembly line you can tell that the employees at Philadelphia Motors love their job. This is reflected in the quality of material and workmanship used to finish the product.
I imagine it'll be rare to find a Philadelphia Motors Altoona in repair shops or even junk yards. These things are well built with quality parts. And that will show in the long run.
Here is a pro-stock tip. If the Philadelphia Motors Altoona sells any meaningful number of vehicles, be sure to buy fuel stocks! It's that bad! The Altoona gets an abysmal 15.8 mpg! This is not the vehicle for trying to save money on fuel expenses.
While talking with engineers at Philadelphia Motors we found out that the Altoona was designed to be nuclear bomb proof. While we don't really know if that is bluster, we do sort believe them. Specially when it ran through the concrete brick during crash testing without leaving a dent on the hood.
I was happy with the time I spent in the Philadelphia Motors Altoona. This car is truly magnificent. I think future generations will look back at this vehicle and think, "I wish I owned one of these." It is absolutely one of the best Full Sized Sedan you can buy. An instant classic that others in the segment will be compared to. I wish I could spend more time with the Altoona but it is time for them to take it away. I believe I might go buy one myself.