[Willie Green]

Do these always work now?

I honestly don't know.
I can remember back in "the good old days" when getting out of a car was pretty easy. All you had to do was pull the handle to open the door. If it was locked, the lock would automaticly open. The few cars I remember having to pull the lock button up first were a real pain in the neck, but I can't remember whether they were designed that way or if it was simply because the lock-opening mechanism had broken.

Nowadays, with all the electronic pushbuttons, recessed handles, etc. etc. I have a tough time figuring out how to get out of any car that I'm unfamiliar with.

[dark_lord]

You want some real fun, fly into some city and rent an unfamiliar car - at night - and try and figure out where the headlight switch/knob/lever/rod is - while sitting in the dark in the rental lot.

[xsmommy]

they work. both in a Mitsubishi Montero and a Toyota Sienna van. If i lock the door from the do-hickey on my keyring, and my kids try to get out, it will set off the car alarm and i don't think they can get out. This was with my 14 yr old too, i had inadvertantly locked it that way, forgetting that it would cause a ruckus if she were to attempt to get out of the car.