Best use of money - Retrofit vs LED Light Bar?

So here's my thing; I live in an more "urban" suburban area and work midnights. I'm fairly pleased with my factory headlights but really miss my old HID's I had in my Dodge Ram I used to have; so I've decided I want to do something about it.

Obviously, in a perfect world, I'd have both the retro and the LED bar when I really need light. That said, I don't make nearly enough money, nor need to refocus the sun in front of my truck every night. In fact, except for a few miles where there aren't any street lamps; I probably wouldn't get the chance to use the light bar. I think it would be too bright to use in routine driving. However, with money being a factor, the light bar is the cheaper of the two routes. Not that much cheaper; but cheaper nonetheless. OTOH, the retrofit would increase my headlight output significantly (I think, no?) and would maybe even push me to a point where I wouldn't even consider needing the LED bar. To be clear, I live in Central Suffolk County, Long Island; there aren't exactly off road trails here and we don't exactly farm anymore this close to NYC.

So help me out oh lighting guru's of TW! Give me some input, will ya?

 

Light bar, retros don't even come close to the same output.

 

LIght bar

 

True true, but wouldn't a light bar be ridiculous to the other drivers on the road if I were to use it during "normal" driving? Figure I would mount it to the front bumper area.

 

retrofit, as you will be able to use that 100% of the time when driving as they wont be blinding people, but with a light bar, you will only be able to use that when no other other drivers are around.

 

Retro like paranoid56 stated.

 

retros, the supplemental lighting afterwards

with the retros, you'll use them whenever you drive at night, and are an exponential upgrade from stock halogen/reflectors. Then, if you need more lighting, you can add the bar later

 

x2, Retro all the way. Light bars are for more off road type deals. If you need more daily driving light get a good retro and fogs.

 

I am just going to say I wouldn't think he would be running the light bar full time on the streets with other cars on the road. Stock OEM halogens are fine for everyday driving and when you need the extra light all you have to do is push a button with a light bar.

 

Retrofit is used all the time. Light bar isn't.