Two-Trick Ponies

When car companies get in trouble, as all of the "Big-3" manufacturers are at this time, they tend to look at one or two new car models to pull them out of the ditch. It's a long-shot and mostly wishful thinking, but it's often all they've got to go on.

Buick hopes the new 2006 Lucerne, a replacement for the dull Park Avenue and LeSabre, will do the trick, along with the even less exciting LaCrosse, which replaces the Century and Regal. Not likely, but we'll wait and see.

Pontiac introduced the 2006 2-seat Solstice roadster a few months ago with a lot of hype and some pent-up demand, but limited production. It's a cute little car, but with a characteristic cheap GM interior. Not a chance.

Chevrolet is looking for the new HHR (a me-too competitor to Chrysler's once-hot-but- now-not PT Cruiser) and low priced Cobalt to help them improve overall sales. Not likely.

Ford is throwing out the old (yawn) Taurus and replacing it with the (yawn) Ford Fusion. Mercury is replacing the Sable with it's version the Fusion -- the Mercury Milan. Rental car company sales will keep these models alive, as they have done for their predecessors. Consumers will generally ignore them.

It's difficult to say what Chrysler and Dodge think will help. The new Charger is a cross between the dull 300 and even duller Magnum. I guess that makes the Charger double dull. It certainly won't pull the company out of trouble.