Video: Disappearing Car Doors

I imagine its a fair-weather solution. Raining? Everybody gets wet when anybody gets in or out. Kids in the back? They scatter before you can get out. How about arm rests? My Mom is 82, and uses the door to help get in and out. Any controls on the door? How would that work? Wiring would have to be creative. And forget about map pockets.

Have you ever had a power window not close properly or at all? Or fail to open? And you were still able to drive away, right?<p>Well, we can complicate that for you.

8,000 BMW Z1s were made with this type of door: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z1" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z1</a><p>Wikipedia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliding_door_(vehicle)#Vertical_doors" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliding_door_(vehicle)#Vertical...</a>

Anyone know a rule of thumb to equate number of moving parts to failure rate? I've always assumed a positive correlation but don't have any numbers to back that up.

This is cool, it's been around for about 10 years. I seem to recall there was crash safety and leakage issues with this setup.

So, umm, how do I get in if the battery is dead to open the hood and jump the car?

Blog spam. Why isn't this a direct link?

Nice idea, but it is a failure in safety - imagine a side impact..

Video posted on youtube on september 2007, and the domain registered that same year.<p>Here's the horrible website: <a href="http://www.disappearing-car-door.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.disappearing-car-door.com/</a><p>And Flickr: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/disappearing-car-door/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/disappearing-car-door/</a><p>Has to be a hoax...

More info:<p><a href="http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-4491.." rel="nofollow">http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-4491...</a>.<p>If you scroll down you'll find the "consultant for the marketing" MIGHTYTHOR who responds to some questions. Funny that it was exactly today, last year, that he replied.

convenience - yes, safety - not so much. I wouldn't want the back sit with the kids to be open while I'm still in the car. I want to personally open it while standing outside.