Discussion
I can't see how passing car damage can be a factor when there's a 50-50 chance of which way the car would be coming from (OK, not quite 50-50 as you would generally park on the side of the road you've been driving but still quite possible to get hit either way).
My understanding is that if the door opened at any speed above walking pace it would be pulled wide open by the air catching it which would at best damage the car and at worst pull put the passenger that was holding on to the handle. Put that together with the side impact and general rigidity issues and you've got a layout with far more problems than advantages.
The RX8 overcomes this with the way the doors latch together so the rear doors cannot be released until the front is opened.
My understanding is that if the door opened at any speed above walking pace it would be pulled wide open by the air catching it which would at best damage the car and at worst pull put the passenger that was holding on to the handle. Put that together with the side impact and general rigidity issues and you've got a layout with far more problems than advantages.
The RX8 overcomes this with the way the doors latch together so the rear doors cannot be released until the front is opened.
I've a colleague with a 4 door 1 Series BMW - It's a nightmare getting in and out of the back (and I'm hardly big) although the rear seats themselves are reasonably spacious.
My RX8, on the other hand, is a doddle - The rear hinged doors work really well, although despite Mazda's claims I've never worked out HOW you're supposed to get out in an emergency if the front door isn't open...
M.
My RX8, on the other hand, is a doddle - The rear hinged doors work really well, although despite Mazda's claims I've never worked out HOW you're supposed to get out in an emergency if the front door isn't open...
M.
The reason for having suicide doors is that it's easier to get in and out with them (proving you reverse in!
Reason for not having them is that if the catch fails they fly open whereas front hinged are pushed shut by the air flow.
My 1951 car has them, but from about that time they disappeared.
I'm sure there was some legislation about it - NG (sic) TFs had to have front hinged as they had to meet modern regs, but it was possible for owners to change them so they looked like an MG TF.
Reason for not having them is that if the catch fails they fly open whereas front hinged are pushed shut by the air flow.
My 1951 car has them, but from about that time they disappeared.
I'm sure there was some legislation about it - NG (sic) TFs had to have front hinged as they had to meet modern regs, but it was possible for owners to change them so they looked like an MG TF.
Desiato said:
A quick Google and Wikipedia came up with this
"For a time, the last true, independently opening suicide doors on a mass produced car were fitted on the Ford Thunderbird four-door sedan from 1967 through 1971. The 1971 model was the last American production automobile to feature rear suicide doors, because after this time, safety concerns prevented their use"
Erm, nope."For a time, the last true, independently opening suicide doors on a mass produced car were fitted on the Ford Thunderbird four-door sedan from 1967 through 1971. The 1971 model was the last American production automobile to feature rear suicide doors, because after this time, safety concerns prevented their use"
The Supercab pick up trucks still have suicide rear doors.
Some very relevant points raised by the posters here showing that the negative safety features of suicide doors outweigh the undoubted practical side. So how are the modern proponents of them such as Meriva and RX8 getting around this? Surely they are not just ignoring the safety risks. Having them only open if the front doors are open does not stop them being hit into a careless passenger from behind.
HD Adam said:
Desiato said:
A quick Google and Wikipedia came up with this
"For a time, the last true, independently opening suicide doors on a mass produced car were fitted on the Ford Thunderbird four-door sedan from 1967 through 1971. The 1971 model was the last American production automobile to feature rear suicide doors, because after this time, safety concerns prevented their use"
Erm, nope."For a time, the last true, independently opening suicide doors on a mass produced car were fitted on the Ford Thunderbird four-door sedan from 1967 through 1971. The 1971 model was the last American production automobile to feature rear suicide doors, because after this time, safety concerns prevented their use"
The Supercab pick up trucks still have suicide rear doors.
The rear doors can't be opened without the front doors being open.
Blackwedge said:
Some very relevant points raised by the posters here showing that the negative safety features of suicide doors outweigh the undoubted practical side. So how are the modern proponents of them such as Meriva and RX8 getting around this? Surely they are not just ignoring the safety risks. Having them only open if the front doors are open does not stop them being hit into a careless passenger from behind.
I don't believe that was really ever a major issue. As someone's already pointed out it's just as likely to happen with front opening doors with oncoming traffic and (with traffic coming from behind) if the door isn't there surely the car will hit the person directly anyway...?The problem was them opening and then being forced open by the air pressure and people falling out...
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Monday 3rd January 12:26
With these feet said:
Surely recent rear doors cant be classed as suicide since the fronts have to be opened - seeing as the door once shut becomes the B pillar for the front?
I think that's basically the solution to their original problem, but back then we couldn't make structures strong enough and most cars weren't monococques.That said I can't work out why the new Meriva has them at all. Surely sliding doors are better on an MPV, so you don't always have to find loads of space to open them when the kids and their luggage comes storming out. I have a sneaking feeling it's so put-upon MPV dads can feel they're driving something which shares a feature with a Rolls-Royce, instead of just putting their foot down and getting an estate like any sane parent would do.
t picture i know but only one i can find!
john2443 said:
The reason for having suicide doors is that it's easier to get in and out with them (proving you reverse in!)
Reason for not having them is that if the catch fails they fly open whereas front hinged are pushed shut by the air flow.
My 1951 car has them, but from about that time they disappeared.
This comes up time and again on PH. Most of the stuff posted so far is nonsence. They are no more of a safety hazard than pop up head lights.Reason for not having them is that if the catch fails they fly open whereas front hinged are pushed shut by the air flow.
My 1951 car has them, but from about that time they disappeared.
In the 20s and 30s most car doors were heavy and cars had coach built bodies. In order that the doors didn't drop you needed to space the hinges as wide apart as possible and that meant on the taller mid post rather than the A post. Post war steel monocoques became the norm and the alternative of mounting the door at the front became feasible.
DrTre said:
JonRB said:
i remember said:
I can name a few just off the top of my head
You mean all the ones that have already been discussed in this thread (which you clearly haven't read at all)? 
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