The two articles on the front page about the 2007 engines and the jump in coach sales last year certainly are reflective of the industrys two faces today.

The worst of the industrys protracted economic slump appear over, but theres still plenty of uncertainty, especially regarding the 07 engines.

As UMA President & CEO Victor Parra said in opening Motorcoach Expo last month, many operators report their companies are doing better. For more than a few, 2005 was an exceptional year.

At the same time, the introduction of the low-emissions engines next year has scores of operators, and their maintenance chiefs, worried.

The memory of the dismal performance of some post-2002, EGR-equipped diesel engines is still fresh, and no one wants to see a repeat next year.

The engine builders generally expect far fewer problems with the 07 engines, than the 02 models, because they have had much more time to prepare this time around.

That is comforting but everyone would feel a whole lot better if hundreds of the engines had been operating in fleet tests for the past few months to back-up the assertions. That hasnt happened yet, but the tests reportedly are coming.

Meanwhile, operators are likely to do what they always do when there is uncertainty, rising prices, and higher operating costs -- extend trade cycles or pre-buy. So, a year from now, Bus & Motorcoach News may have a new front-page story -- about how great coach sales were in 2006.