Abu 6500c's

I'm still fishing with the original 6500C's from the 1970's ! I've used one for spares when needed and bought a few bits and pieces on Ebay to keep them going. Sure, for the nostalgia, it's great to fish with tackle I used as a teenager, but their life expectancy is limited !

I've been looking at the current range of 6500C's and find myself a little confused between all the mags and the rockets ! I hardly ever used the brake-blocks in my reels, so I'm not certain the magnetic brakes would really be much help. I was once a proficient pendelum caster and can still manage a decent distance.

Question is then which 6500C in the current range do you think offers the best value ? I don't really like the look of the cheapest models !
Level-wind is a no-no. I'd prefer sticking with ABU.

Thanks in advance !

i have a mag elite pro the gunmetal grey one ,its been updated with a brass bullet and had the blocks and holder removed and is grand ,a bit more of a solid feel compared to the older reels i think thats down to the new gears ,i know a few people who had problems with the new high speed version it kept going into gear during the cast and stripping the gears but they are big hitters doing full pendulum ,maybe thats been fixed since they first came out?

have been using a 6500c chrome rocket for the past 7 year! is a smooth as silk, outcasts my other 2 multies- mag elite, penn 525. wash it in fresh after every session and strip it once a year and clean and oil the bearings. hastle free and sings like bird... without a doubt the mag reels dont sing and can feel restricted. even though they cast well and get good distance my personal favourite has to be the rocket with standard abu brake blocks with rocket fuel lubricant round the bearings.. the only way to go!