by 
Crumb Eye
ANSWERS: 2
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Fashion. They fell out of it. Suicide doors originally were based on the horse drawn coaches doors. Coachmakers, who worked extensively in wood, worked on both prototypes of cars (models) and on the wood incorporated in the bodies of cars and trucks. None of the back doors I am familiar with had any locking devices to prevent their opening at speed, hence the moniker "suicide doors" was used in America. I believe European cars were still using the style into the 1970s. Now, we have a whole bunch of new vehicles sporting the "new" style of door, especially four-door trucks. 1) Because it is different. 2) It really is easier to get out of a back seat forward that backward. 3) All of them have a lock to keep them from opening by accident (hence, no longer suicidal.) 4) No need for a center post between front and rear seats.
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The lack of a pillar in the middle makes them limited in the size of the doors, as well as leads to squeaks in the chassis due to the lack of rigidity for that length of car.
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