How about clamshell doors? For North America and relatively recent, your choices are a nice sporty Mazda RX-8, or a Honda Element. You’ll have to find either used, because they went out of production in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
This thread is making me remember the 75 Monte Carlo I drove in college. Not only did it have the huge doors, but the driver’s seat swiveled. They sure don’t make 'em like that any more.
I remember the long doors of the past. I also remember they tended to sag badly after a few years. Examples I remember: '68 Cougar, '73 Buick Regal, '76 Cutlass, '71-'73 Mustangs, and more.
no doors sagged as badly as the '70s GM F-bodies (Camaro and Firebird.) those doors were so heavy they must have been made of mercury filled lead.
I appreciate all the great suggestions. Gives me a good starting point when I begin shopping for our next family car.
There are some great ones being made today. Just have to find one that fits my family’s current needs. Priorities changes as people age.
Dodge Challenger looks like it has a pretty big door. And I think you can still get a Honda Accord as a coupe.
I know, right? My house was built in 1956 and the attached garage is tiny. My 1984 Buick Regal barely fits in it and forget about opening the doors all the way.
One other consideration: When I purchased my last car in 2013 the CarMax salesman told me that the insurance of any car with 2 doors is billed at the sports car rate, even if it is not a sports car. I asked if this included pickup trucks, he said it did.
So expect to pay more insurance for a 2 door car.
Wide doors have the issue of limited ability of opening in tight parking lots. I used to have such a car and hated the long doors, I could not open it wide enough to get out without contortions.
The issue is rear seat access - if the designers actually intended for an adult to be able to sit in the rear, the doors were made wide.
With sub-compacts and sports cars, the “rear seat” is a glorified hat rack and not intended as seating.
I had that problem with my Mustang, and I’m skinny. If you can park in the handicapped spots (and it sounds like you should) they have wider spacing between parking slots specifically for those with mobility issues. I would still look at a modern sedan, though. The doors in my Malibu are quite large. It’s a nice roomy car and comfortable cruiser.
The Ford Transit Connect seems to have a lot of rear-door room.
http://dreamaticl.com/images/ford-transit-connect-camper-2016-2.jpg