I've owned the 18 volt Dewalt circular saw for 5 years now. It's been a workhorse and seems to have plenty of life left in it. Cordless convenience, no need for AC nearby, etc., etc. - it's addicting if you build much at all. But the 24 volt saw is a huge step up. I got a chance to play with one at a manufacturor's demo show. The 24 volt model is a huge improvement over the 18 volt. This baby goes through dimensional lumber with ease. Blade pinch doesn't bother it nearly as much as it does the 18 volt model. The 6 extra volts is probably part of the advantage, but I bet the extra cutting teeth matter even more. This is an expensive tool, so if you're not going to use it fairly often, say once or twice a month, you might want to stick with an AC saw. Batteries for these tools seem to survive better with regular use.