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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
posted by
JimmyA
on January 27, 2015 at 10:03 AM
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Re: Re: Re: Re:
posted by
Kabu
on January 26, 2015 at 6:08 PM
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Re:
I see your point, Annicita. I guess there are pros & cons to the cars doors, no matter in which direction they may open. Of course, if anyone parks too close to you, that's a problem all by itself! In some cases, you may end up having to climb out the window . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 26, 2015 at 5:43 AM
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Re: Re: Re:
That's very true, Kabu, about cars in general. Years ago, when you saw a Mustang, you knew it was a Mustang. When you saw a Camaro, you knew it was a Camaro. Same thing with Impalas, Mercuries, Corvettes and Lincoln Continentals. Now, when my wife and I are out and about and see these cars today, I couldn't even tell you the manufacturer of the car, let alone the make or style! No character at all is absolutely right . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on January 26, 2015 at 5:41 AM
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not me! I prefer the way they open now...hard or impossible to get out of the driver's seat if someone parks too close to you especially since the steering column would block the part where the door opens the widest
posted by
Annicita
on January 25, 2015 at 5:43 PM
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Re: Re:
I have to wonder except that they do have a few more bells and whistles and some real leather that I cannot tell these days between any of the high end sedans....except for their manufacturers logo. They really don't have any character.
posted by
Kabu
on January 25, 2015 at 4:55 PM
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Re: For some reason your article made me think of that old saying
You're absolutely right, Pat, on every count. No, changing the door position now on today's cars probably won't make that much of a difference, but I still say it would make it easier for people to get in and out of their cars. Now, your concept about 'distracted drivers' is a whole new agenda, one that has been addressed before, and probably will be again. I have a different word to use for the person behind the wheel other than nut, but I'll keep it family-friendly for now . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:51 PM
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For some reason your article made me think of that old saying
about the most dangerous part of a car being the nut behind the wheel. What with air bags and seat belts, it's a bit safer from a mechanical standpoint, but there are so many more distractions, cell phones, texting, etc., and so much more traffic, I don't know that re-orienting the doors would do much. But the old cars were much more interesting as art, with my favorite being the '35 Ford coupe with a rumble-seat in back, and the '57 Chevy...
posted by
Pat_B
on January 24, 2015 at 2:28 PM
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Sounds like a very dangerous situation, C C T, but I'll bet the design and construction of that car probably saved your life! Yes, they did make 'em a lot tougher back in the day! Today's cars are made of plastic and fiberglass to make them lighter ( and thus give them better fuel efficiency ), but they can be crushed beyond repair in the simplest of accidents! Give me the ol' steel and metal models any day . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:19 PM
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Re: JimmyA
Really, Sir Wiley? You had never heard the term 'suicide door' before? Well, you may think that design was 'stupid,' but I still it had practical applications. It doesn't really matter anyway. I seriously doubt that design will ever come back . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:14 PM
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It would indeed, kabu, and according to certain research, the cars with those types of doors were very popular with the gangsters! They were designed and built so much better than the ones today, weren't they? They had such flair and character, not like some of the mass-produced junk we see now . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:11 PM
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Re:
Really, chuck? Well, the bulk of the cars with these "suicide doors" didn't last for very long, but there were many. There were pros & cons, and eventually, safety regulations kept the doors opening as we see them today. But there are arguments to bring them back . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:09 PM
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Just not sure, eh, lovelylady? Well, tune into Turner Movie Classics, find a movie from the '40's when those cars were most prevalent, and watch the ease with which the people get in and out of the cars. They do make sense . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:04 PM
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And I would imagine, FSI, that the direction the doors open wouldn't really matter at your car wash because people aren't supposed to be opening their doors in the first place! I still believe there are practical reasons for having the doors open in that direction . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:03 PM
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Re: Jimmy
I suppose, Naut, we can agree to disagree, because I still think those doors opening in the opposite direction seems to make more sense. Like I wrote, I watch those old movies with the cars with those doors, and it really looks as though the people are having an easier time getting in and out of the car. Plus there's that 'incline' factor to consider. I too usually back in to certain spots to make it easier to leave later, but rarely on my driveway. Yes, my door has swung back and caught me in the leg more times than I'd like to recall. But if they opened the opposite way . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on January 24, 2015 at 2:01 PM
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Didn't a few cars have sliding doors Jimmy , but it did not take on. My first car was a real toughy I once crashed into a telegraph pole after someone slid into me . The Mudguard was caved in but the mechanic just beat it back out and a touch of black paint. The only prob that scared me was I was overtaking a lorry halfway along and the car would not go any faster a good job an oncoming bus slowed down.
posted by
C_C_T
on January 24, 2015 at 10:12 AM
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JimmyA
I'm older than the car and I never heard that term but I remember the stupidity of that design.
posted by
WileyJohn
on January 23, 2015 at 5:43 PM
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not all that i looked up do bur aren't they beautiful vehicles....This looks just made for an old gangster Movie...How easy it would be to get into the car.
posted by
Kabu
on January 23, 2015 at 4:55 PM
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First time I hear of this thing. Thanks for sharing!
posted by
Chuck_E_Ibrahim
on January 23, 2015 at 3:21 PM
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posted by
lovelyladymonk
on January 23, 2015 at 2:02 PM
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It is funny you should write about them. My dad and I were talking about suicide doors the other day...I do agree that it would be better for vehicles to have them.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on January 23, 2015 at 11:20 AM
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Jimmy
My driveway slopes too - and I always back up into my driveway and my garage - mainly because it's much safer to drive out! No risk of backing over little tykes on their bikes...And 'suicide doors' have always been a bad idea...
posted by
Nautikos
on January 23, 2015 at 9:19 AM
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