I have the opportunity to purchase last years Shimano Curado 200E7 for $100 or a this years Chronarch 200E7 for $130. Both are brand new. I hear there is no difference between the two. What would you guys choose?

Just get the curado, I read or heard somewhere that the new chronarch is "last year's curado dressed up in a tuxedo." Wish I could remember who said that,..hilarious

Awesome deal for both. However, for $130 I'd probably go with the Chronarch.

I prefer the color of the chronarch off the top. I think it does have a few extra bells(spool), bearings, etc, also

Depends how cheap you can find a NIB Curado E7, the new Chronarch E7's are $199 most places, with the $30 rebate it brings it down to $169, I think there are quite a few new Curado's floating around for less than that. Personaly I like the green better, and see no reason to jump to the Chronarch when E7 are still around. Now when the Curados dry up yes......

Buy them both.

If you can only afford one I would go with last years curado. The new chronarch has a plastic drag star. If I am paying $200 for a reel it should be all metal. I'm not a big fan of the color scheme either. It looks like the white would show scratches and boat rash easier. Take the $30 and buy some lures.

So no one knows for sure if there are any differences between the two?

According to Tackle Tour the differences between the two are negligible. The new Chronarch is the old Curado, the difference being in the gear ratio's, and the paint job. The Curado was available in 5:1 and 7:1 the Chronarch is is available in 5.5:1, 6.4:1 and 7:1. I have a Curado e5 and it's an awesome reel. Think I would save the cash and get the Curado.

This year's Chronarch or Curado would be a G series, not an E series, right? The E series Curado from last year is very close to the new 2012 G series Chronarch, with the exception of a slightly different drag and different paint (or so I hear). I recently got a Curado 50E and really like it. If $30 is enough to sway your choice, go with the Curado G. If you like the name and color of the Chronarch E, a $30 difference is not much. But I think they are essentially the same reel and they started retail at the same $199 price.

This year's Chronarch or Curado would be a G series, not an E series, right? The E series Curado from last year is very close to the new 2012 G series Chronarch, with the exception of a slightly different drag and different paint (or so I hear). I recently got a Curado 50E and really like it. If $30 is enough to sway your choice, go with the Curado G. If you like the name and color of the Chronarch E, a $30 difference is not much. But I think they are essentially the same reel and they started retail at the same $199 price.

Shimano doesnt have a Chronarch G yet. The new modles are the Chronarch E and Curado G.

Looking at the Curado E and the Chronarch E, It doesnt matter which one you get, you wont be able to tell a difference. I originally thought my Chronarchs had less back play in the handles than my Curados, but now I am not so sure. Basically it comes down to which one you think looks cooler and how much the $30 difference matters to you. At those prices I would buy both :-)

Great, thanks for the input guys.

Id get the chronarch for an extra $30

Just to let you guys know. I ended up getting the curado 200e7 for $100 and a curado 300e for $175. I love craigslist lol.