Door handles

[FarmerPug]

A random topic for a bit of a discussion.

The exterior door handles on the 406 they are "flush" with the surface of the door, and i think this type of door handle is the best for giving a car a nice clean look. What has happened to this type of handle.

It seems most car companies use the grab and pull type functionally they work ok but ive always preferred the flush type.
Im just wondering why nearly all car companies have adopted this style instead of flush handles, is there another EU health and safety thing going on?

[lozz]

Ithink its more for Disabled people,

My dad is almost blind,& seems to get in the car easier with them rather than the ones that are flush,

ithink it was the mk3 mondeo that had the first set of 'suit-case handles fitted- back in 02 'ish.
ialways thought they looked 'daft at first,

[dirtydirtydiesel]

E 46 bmw's had em from about 99

[Bailes1992]

Ford Focus had them from '97.

[steve_earwig]

You may have to provide illustrations for those of us with no access to/interest in the cars you mention

[Rolebama]

Some years ago, around the mid-90s, there was a fad of superglueing broken razor blades inside flush door handles. Maybe it was some manufacturers answer to that problem. It was a prevalent enough problem at the time that those of us in the motor trade were advised to have Hepatitis C innoculations.