[sybir]

Only problem with a spool is that you'll start popping CV's on pavement if you've got a lot of traction; the diff can't unload, so if it can't spin the inside or outside tire, the bearing cages start taking the abuse. But, like Nick said, it's the way to go, especially on a transmission you don't want to be popping open to adjust all the time. Phantom grips are hit or miss, but if there's a fitment for it, I'd grab another diff, build it with the PG, and see how you like it; then you have a second (spare) diff out of the car that you can weld. Spools also start wearing the rest of the transmission on FWD cars, because you're transferring all those loads both ways, back to the input shaft, etc. The Legacy Turbo I had that was RWD didn't blow up its spooled rear, it went through so much shock loading the pinion/input shaft started wearing as well as the input shaft bearings, giving it so much slop it was leaking out the front of the diff, lol. If you've got a spare tranny, it's no big deal, but I figure you're not trying to throw a parts budget bigger than the car at transmission parts in the short term.

FWD axles should be cheap; keeping a couple of spares (hell, 2 full sets is only going to be around $250-300 from Napa, etc) is going to be your best way to go, with either setup.