No year was particularly faster then any other. The newer bikes have better castings and as a whole tend to make better average power but not always more then older ones. The newest engines (96 and up) are the best candidates for big displacement engines but the older ones work fine in that aspect too.
93 and up at least gets the larger brakes and forks, 96 was the spin on oil filters, and 99 had certain transmission upgrades.
Other then that, buy based on condition, color, and add-ons if you like it. Keep in mind a lower mileage older vmax is not necessarily better then a newer higher mileage bike. Sitting for long periods can be harmfull if they weren't prepped right.
Of course some add-ons may or may not mean that the bike was treated more harshly.
having said that - I do have my 05 for sale and actually just found out that I will have an 85 for sale. The 05 price would be $6000 back to stock (except the trans and solid mounts). The 85 was built by us and finished up last summer. I think one or two of the guys here may have a pic of it when we took it to Topeka. It's Brads bike that we put all the black chrome on and the huge mufflers on the 4-2 system. Anyone have a pic? The burgundy bike. I charge him $7500 to build the bike with no labor figured in (since it was a friend). It has a 2004 (or newer - don't remember the exact year) engine in it, venture diff, and everything either black chromed, painted, or powder coated. Looking to get $5000 for it.
Sean