Review written on 5/1958.
The Van segment is not for everyone. But the Appalachian 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 Appalachian. Luckily we've also tested the Adirondack Diesel and the R4925 this year. So we should be able to give you a verdict on how it stands in the Van community.

As always our first test is the track. Right off the bat I knew that the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian was not going to be a show stopper. The vehicle is sluggish, specially for a Van. However it does what it has to. Get you from point A to point B. And while getting there quickly isn't a priority, with all the traffic these days, could you really enjoy anything faster? The 122 hp @ 4348RPMs 4778 cc I3 engine does struggle, but there is enough there to do the job. The Appalachian tops out at 69 mph and can accelerate in 22.355s 0 to 60 mph. So while not fantastic, enough for a daily driver. With this 118 lb-ft of torque can tow 1115 lbs. Once again. Not great, but not bad. On the track testing the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian did have some slight issues. Of course it was not designed to be a track car. But as a Van 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.

Interior build, materials, and features are average for the segment. The Philadelphia Motors Appalachian's cabin isn't going to amaze. But compared to most other vehicles of this type, it's not going to let you down. It has most of the standard features, and comfort, while lacking in some areas, is decent.

The Philadelphia Motors Appalachian gives you a sense of home away from home. With 123 cu-ft of cargo and passenger space the Appalachian 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!

Philadelphia Motors has really put some effort into the production of the Appalachian. And it shows in the construction quality of the machine. Panel gaps are non-noticeable. Nothing shakes or rattles when driving down the road. It's a well-built vehicle.

The Philadelphia Motors Appalachian 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 Appalachian is dependable enough for even the most unknowledgeable owner. It proper care and maintenance, even if done by a shop, the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian should last a very long time.

Here is a pro-stock tip. If the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian sells any meaningful number of vehicles, be sure to buy fuel stocks! It's that bad! The Appalachian gets an abysmal 6.2 mpg! This is not the vehicle for trying to save money on fuel expenses.

While the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian is certainly impressive in term of safety, it's not overly designed in this fashion in a way that would imped its enjoyment. Never the less this vehicle is more than safe enough for even the most uptight and poor drivers among us.

When it comes to Van there should be only one vehicle to think of. Have you thought of it? Did you read this article? It's the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian the best Van I have ever driven! And the best one you've ever read about!