Up to date, or Timeless?

Okay, I’m editing Between Heaven and Hell, a novel I originally wrote ten years ago. As many of you may have noticed, the world has changed quite a bit since 1996, what with the new century, lots-o-war and conspicuously missing tall buildings in NYC.

So I have a question. Should I update the story to remove any and all indicators of time, or just update them to the present?

I see pros and cons both ways. When Daniel’s rattling off “bad men” throughout history, a reference to Osama might lend some weight to the scene. But will it also make the story feel as dated ten years from now as it does to me today?

On the other hand, while removing time references would give the story a sense of currency no matter when it’s read, certain things, like how Susan does research on her laptop, are going to be giveaways. I may not mention the model years of cars, but I do mention the smell of gasoline. How long will that be relevant?