How Frugal do I want to be...........

New/Used

I keep going back and forth.........trying to decide.  I won't buy a 2011 or 2012, but if I can get a good price on a new 2010, I just may do that.

The difference between the used models I'm looking at and a new 2010 is about $30,000.  What could I do with that money???  Have you ever read any of Warren Buffet's financial advice - he never buys a new car. He talks about the value of the money saved in future value. If I take the $30k and put it away and forget about it, what will it be worth in 10 years? 20 years?

I've already checked into some Alaska workamping jobs, and I want to drive to Alaska in 2012, so I need a dependable RV to do this. If I buy something that is 6 or 8 or 10 years old, how will it do on the Alaska Highway? 

And, what if I buy a lemon, and have to replace the used RV sooner, and how much will I spend on unknown repairs to the used RV? So, maybe I won't be able to put away the entire $30k and forget about it.

So, do I make my decison on what I want/need now, or do I think about the future? I can buy cheap, and get on the road sooner, (would not have to finance a cheap RV, would not have to wait for my house to sell). Will I have more breakdowns, leaks, problems. I like the idea of having a warranty on anything that may go wrong in the first year or two.

No one can predict the future, but we can do some planning.

So far, of the used RV's I have been inside, I have not been impressed with the insides of any of them, and many of them have rust in the compartments for the water and propane, so this has me leaning towards the 2010.  But, the frugal side of me says.....don't spend that extra money.

What to do?  What to do?  Wait a week or two, if the 2010 is still around then it was meant to be, if it's gone.... keep looking.