is it just me or did ford really phone it in on the XF door handles?
both of mine just snapped off the friggin door is there a decent aftermarket set i can get my hands on?
thoughts and ideas are greatly appreicated

Matey, the trouble isn't with the handles it is the door hinges that cause problems.
Back in the 80's we used to sell HEAPS of these handles for XD/XE/XF because the bushes in the door hinges were worn and so the door dropped slightly putting pressure on the lock and striker, the easiest way to fix it is to replace the door hinge bushes and to have the door adjusted.
If you have trouble with this in the future and you don't want to change the bushes, just stick your butt against the door when you lift the handle, this will take the pressure off the lock.

The handle is the same one they used for the Cortina TE/TF and I NEVER sold one for them as the door hinges are different and have no bushes to wear.
You will need:
4 Hinge Pins part number EHC P22840 A $7.90 ea
8 Hinge Bushes part number XD F22841 A $3.15 ea
1 L/H Black Door handle XD F22401 A $38.50
1 R/H Black Door Handle XD F22400 A $38.50

There was a clip available for the pin but it has been obsoleted, I am sure you could find an external circlip from a hardware place to do the job.

i came across the door handles at supercheap the other day so the hinges must really f**k up alot for supercheap to have xf specific door handles on the shelf

Well, they were a problem from about 1982 to1987. The Door DOES drop, that's a given. Change the bushes and fix the problem.

Curious, do the bushes wear out prematurely?, could you make some of a different possibly harder compound that might last better?
or is it just an age ssue especially since the bulk of xf's ec. that lasted are tradies utes that continue to cop a floggin.

The door is heavy and the design of the hinges was bad. The Cortina had a hinge arrangement not unlike the E series except it was 2 welded pieces, 1 on the door, the other on the pillar with a long roll pin joining them, they gave no trouble at all.
The original XD/XE/XF Door Hinge was such a pain to change bushes in so most people never bothered. The pin that held the hinge together was a peened over type and had to be ground off one end and never fitted back properly. When the XH came out they decided to not only change the door lock but also the Hinges, they added a dog's d**k style pin that could be removed and was held in by an external circlip, this made things EASIER but still, the Hinge design is woeful.

Open an XD/XE/XF door and have it about 10-12 inches ajar and stand at the end of it then lift the door up and down, you WILL see what I am talking about

sombody has owned a xd/e/f. lol i have also had a xe. and i managed to never break one handle in the 2 years i had it.

Thanks Guys im fixing them as i type no more busted handles for me

Worst door handles ever!
How many did I have to replace when I had my XF?? Freakin heaps!

Is it possible to change the door hinge bushes in an XG without taking the door off?

No.

my dad had a xf many moons ago and also a ZL was replacing door handles all the time