Camagnolo Centaur vs. Shimano 105?

Jasobe said:

[font=Georgia] Hi everyone,
I just got a sweet deal on a few year old (2002 or 2003) Litespeed Titanium frame from a friend of mine. The model is the Tuscany (I got it for $200 - only been ridden 800 miles or so and is in perfect condition). Yes, the man is a good friend indeed. 🙂
My dilemma is this: The bike also came with a Dura-Ace bottom bracket and a Dura-Ace front derailleur. Now, I've been exicted about piecing it together with Dura-Ace and Ultegra stuff as I can come across it and afford it (I'm a graduate student), but now another friend of mine who works in a bike shop has a deal for me on a new 2006 Campagnolo groupset (8 pc.) for $400.
This would mean that I can't use the Dura-Ace bottom bracket at least, I know, and while I know that he's offering a good price for the groupset, it Centaur good enough stuff for this frame? The Litespeed Tuscany, from what I understand, is considered the "workhorse" of their line, and is good, of course, but not the best. Is Campagnolo Centaur pretty much the same as Shimano 105? Should I hold out and try to peice it together with better stuff? $400 is a lot to me right now, and I also don't want to get sick of the components in a year and wish that I had got better stuff.
Anyway, thanks for reading this far, and I'd appreciate any advice ya'll would be willing to give.
🙂
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Usually Veloce is seen as the 105 equivelant, Centaur is one better than Veloce. I have a Veloce bike and it's excellent. Personally I wouldn't hesitate to take the Centaur deal, it's reliable and excellent quality. The area you want to worry about most on your build is getting some light and efficient wheels. The Centaur groupset won't let the bike down at all. But heavy, or inefficient wheels will.

[font=Arial]Fantastic deal for $400. The 08 Centaur skeleton differential brakeset and Ultra Torque chainwheel is as good as the Dura Ace counterpart. I think the Centaur is even offered in century finish which makes it even better.[/font]

If you can afford it you can't go wrong with campy. My old bike, 82 motobecane, that hangs in the garage is still equipped with entry level campy 980 and it still works great, i ride it whenever my cannondale is in the shop.

Another vote for the Campy Centaur. It way more than good enough for that frame. I have Centaur on a Kestrel frame, and it is certainly not holding me back. In fact I would venture that Centaur is the best value in component groups out there now. A lot of the upgrades of Record and Chorus without the price.

You can eBay the DA BB and FD and probably get $50-60 back from that.