I need to buy a new cordless drill. Any recommendations? [View All]

[amerikat]

My Panasonic drill is now 10 years old and the batteries(15.6 volt NiMH) are not holding a charge. The drill body still works fine. I bought this drill because it was the first to have NiMH batteries and it was smaller and lighter than most drills at the time. I was working at a cabinet shop
at the time and was drilling and driving screws all day long. After I got
this drill everyone in the shop gave up their Dewalts and everyone bought the same drill that I had.

I looked at the Makita 14 volt Li-ion because they are made in the US, and
Li-ion batteries are a bit lighter.

After looking all over the web I'm thinking that I should just
get another Panasonic. They still make the same model. I would get a new
drill body, two new batteries, new charger and a new case.

That way I would have two drill bodies, two Chargers, two cases and
I can use the flashlight that came with the original drill.

I guess the question is, are the new drills that much better than my old drill?

I can replace the one I have for about $200. The Makita would be at
least $259 and then I would have to buy a new flashlight for another $50 bucks.