Mike - I am not fond of the Yahoo forum format either. I do like the Country Coach forum on IRV2. We have a 2002 Affinity that we like a lot. We have 119,000 miles on ours. The single slide CC's from the late 1990's are great coaches. A couple of advantages you get when you go a little newer is IRS on the front. In general this gives you quicker turning circle. This is an advantage you will be happy you have often. Our coach likely only weighs a little more than this 99. We have 505hp and 1550 torque. You will get up big hills with 385, but slower. We breeze up hills in 4th gear.
That all said, you will likely pay quite a bit more with the bigger motor and a newer year.