Try both if you can, then set about some serious shopping about for parts, trawling for deals that may or may not exist. in the end whichever of the two you will have a bang up to date hardtail that will go on and on, upgradeable for years etc. btw i have a soul and for me is the best bike ive ever owned, also a roadrat for commuting and light touring. both were built slowly and lots from here and various sales. soul is revelation/08 xt/hope dt 5.1/thomson/build. roadrat is 9sp 105 flatbar/ various tyres / sometimes sks-rack. im well happy and have no desire to change every season like i used to. so together we will ride out the crunch(excuse the pun).