I've been looking to get a new tent recently and I'm fairly sure I'm going to get a Terra Nova Laser Competition 1 mainly due to price/weight considerations.
A friend has offered me his almost unused 2006 version for around £100 less than a current new version. While saving that amount of money is obviously a good thing, it is not my primary consideration. As far as I can tell the tent has been updated slightly most, if not all, years so I was wondering if anyone had any experience with different versions of the tent and could tell me what's changed for better or worse?
for me I would get the new one as a 6yr old tent could be UV damaged (sunlight) and just basic wear and tare like damaged groundsheet,stitching etc. New tent = piece of mind and no falling out if your not happy with it.
"almost unused" = in its bag away from sunlight so don't be worried about its chronological age but whether it stored clean and dry, mold could have caused damage in storage.
FYI i used my Laser Comp in April '08 then didn't use again til Sept '11 and it came out looking exactly as I stored it and it was perfectly fine, that was because I had hosed it down til clean in '08 and left to dry before storing.
Sorry can't help with the questions, I'm sure there are design changes but not massive ones. I have the 2008 version. ISTR posting about guying changes? You might need to add some guys to match current?
Just got a reply from Terra Nova saying the only updates to the tent was the 1 this year so not sure what I was talking about in the OP So really it mostly comes down to whether I want the peace of mind but hole in wallet of new 1, or the slight gamble on a slightly used but wallet friendlier tent. I'll probably dither over it until the last possible moment and end up buying a completely different tent!
Just got a reply from Terra Nova saying the only updates to the tent was the 1 this year so not sure what I was talking about in the OP So really it mostly comes down to whether I want the peace of mind but hole in wallet of new 1, or the slight gamble on a slightly used but wallet friendlier tent. I'll probably dither over it until the last possible moment and end up buying a completely different tent!
Get the used tent out. Look all around it. Erect it and soak it ideally in garden under heavy rain. Then decide. It could be simply as-new and you've saved $
Most failings can be patched or use a SilNet sealant on small holes. Doing this not only have you checked its not damaged, but learned how to erect it in a safe environment which you'd be doing with a new tent anyway right?
New tents can also have a failure and replace under warranty.
Thanks for all the advice. I ended up going for a completely different tent in the end. Managed to find a new Power Lizard for £240 which I much prefer to the Laser Comp for various reasons and my only reservation on it had been the £320+ price tag.
So really it mostly comes down to whether I want the peace of mind but hole in wallet of new 1, or the slight gamble on a slightly used but wallet friendlier tent. I'll probably dither over it until the last possible moment and end up buying a completely different tent! 
nowt wrong with that 
