I thought by the time features come down to low end Chevy's they are on everything. My wife's 2001 has laminated side windows.

Not sure if you watched the demo on YouTube but that seems to show it breaking a laminated side window.

Unsuccessful locating database with side-window info on all vehicles. You'd think Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would have.

Many articles to suggest still not a standard. One such from 2007 Market Trends in the Automotive Glazing Industry says in part, ""In North America, roughly 5-8% of all vehicles sold in the North American market have laminated front side glass. When you look at SUVs, I believe the total is in the 8-9% range which comes with laminated side glass - it is not an option but vehicles are sold with it as standard fitment. Now that the Dodge Ram pick-up truck features [laminated side glass as standard], that by itself means some 15% of the pick-up trucks sold in North America have laminated front side glass."

This from early-2010 suggests standards/requirements still being hammered out in proposed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 226.

I know my ol' beater doesn't have laminated side glass.

Is the punch "one use only" or can it be reset?

Works like standard spring-loaded center punch. For window-breaking, push/release repeatedly until window breaks. No separate "reset" required. Works forever, or at least until/unless spring fails to perform as designed.

Aside: The written instructions accompanying Houdini don't specify, but I've read (but no personal experience) that faster results if tool used in a lower-corner (vs. middle of window where there might be some "give" to glass) AND where the tiny coded numbers/letters are etched at bottom lower-left because, supposedly, the etching process creates an ever-so-slight "weak spot" in the glass. YMMV.

Thanks, xbanker.

The video shows the firefighters hitting the corners. Makes sense.

I got mine a couple days ago. I'm sure not gonna try 'em out on my car windows but they leave a pretty darned good dimple in the arm of my computer chair.

Some comments on my Houdini purchase. Its a lot heavier than my ResQme, although more compact. The snap release is very tight and it must be disconnected to employ the punch. I had to unsnap and resnap it about 30 times to lossen it up. The tightness might well interfere with functioning in an emergency. I may add a dab of silicon. Seatbelt cutter is sharp, but not as well angled as on the ResQme. The flashlight switch must be held in the "on" position to keep it lit, albeit its bright. Finally, the whistle is not very loud or easy to blow. The two-for-one price was right, but its somewhat inferior to the ResQme.

Agree with your assessment.

- Houdini is heavier. .95 oz (27 gr) vs Res-Q-Me's .60 oz (17 gr); outside dimensions are similar.
- I experienced same problem with both Houdini units' cutter-guards ... difficult to remove, and unlike Res-Q-Me, must be removed in order for window-punch to function.
- Res-Q-Me lanyard attachment point is sturdier.
- Houdini rates flashlight at 5 lumens/10 hours run-time. Requires 2 x CR1216 lithium coin cells.
- Houdini flashlight switch is rudimentary and not very robust. Of the two units I received, one flashlight hasn't worked.
- No doubt in my mind that both will shatter non-laminated auto glass as claimed, but using both punches on a birch plywood board, the Houdini's spring seemed to be a little more robust and made a slightly larger impression in the board.