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You don't say what your main photographic interests are, or what body you have, so it's a bit hard to say. Bear in mind that you are not losing 'a bit' at the wide end....you are losing a lot!. The difference between 17 and 24 is substantial.
Having said that, the 24-105 is a great general purpose lens,and the IS is a definite plus. (If you use the wide end of your existing lens a lot, see if Father Christmas can chip in so you can have both. 
)
I have both lenses and cannot fault any of them, other than i think you will do better in the focal range but that is it really.
Personally I rate the build quality on my 17-40 higher than the 24-105. The lens doesn't extend at the front - it does on the 24-105. Both are optically excellent in my opinion, but ultimately the choice is one of preference to what you like to use it for. Having both would be ideal.
A.
Agree with Adam. Having recently upgraded my kit, I actually find I'm using the 24-105 more than I ever did the equivalent crop sensor lens (EF-S 17-85IS). Both optically superb, and again as per Adam, if you can have both, get both. However, if you really can only have one, I'd say go for the 24 - 105 as it is the more versatile lens, capable of doing moderately wide shots, and medium telephoto stuff too.
My other half ( KathyW on this site ) had both the 17-40 & 24-105.......
She still has the 17-40, Sold the 24-105, That said she is a real landscape shooter so the 17-40 is the better lens for that job at least ( Full & Crop frame ).
One thing I do know is that she will never ever be parted from that 17-70 lens, I'm not even allowed to touch it.....
So its a case of horses for courses, Rather than one being better than the other, As both are pretty darn good.
Personally I'd have both, At least for a time, Then you can see which one floats your boat more often.....
Its hard to judge what might be ideal for you, Due to a lack of anything to go by in your portfolio.....!!!!!!!!
The 24-105 lives on my 5dIII and the 17-40 comes out the bag a lot too, I find them a perfect combination. I wouldn't want to be without that range of 17-24.
Malc
I have both and if I could only keep one it would be the 24-105. On a full frame camera I can use the 24-105 to shoot some interiors and landscapes. The 24-105 is more of an all-rounder. Would rarely want to use the 17-40 for portraits or as a walk-around lens.
In my opinion they are two different lenses for different purposes albeit they cross over at one end of the scale. I use the 24-105 on my 5d most of the time as a general purpose lens from landscape, portrait and do all street and travel lens. I don't have the 17-40 but I have the 16-35 which is used for landscape and some interior type pictures. I wouldn't part with either as they give me a wider choice and the 16mm is significantly wider than the 24mm in angle of view.
It really depends on the photography you do and are you on a full or crop sensor. If you can do both then do it and not regret it as if you ditch the 17-40 I think you'll miss the wider end.
The 24-105 is a great lens but as already said it is not as solid as the 17-40 in construction. I would say 70% of my picture taking is with the 24-105, 20% with the 16-35 and 10% with my 70-200.
Think about what you photograph and what is the most useful lens range for those subjects.
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