I believe that the factory will continue to rectify chassis breakages on early cars, even though they have never admitted that the chassis will break, and they are also prepared to retro fit the latest Centa compensator at what they assure us is cost price, whatever that means, though I suspect it is far cheaper than going in to buy one. So it may be a good idea if buying a 2012/13 car to check with the factory, if you can get through to anyone, that they will continue to support rectification. Other than that then there is no reason why an earlier car should not be just as good as a later car, given the saving over a newer one.
On a small point of order re: the differences between the 2012 and 2013 chassis, they all had the bolt in tubular cross member just behind the engine, but the 2013 car also had small triangulated gussets in the area of the front wishbone brackets. It is also possible, although I am not at all certain, that the chassis tube walls may have been slightly thicker as well.
