I've had several generators over the years, including two Hondas. None of them held very well except the first Honda, a 3500-watt model. It is 25 yr. old and still works fine, though burns a little bit of oil on start-up on cold mornings.
I purchased a new Honda, 4500 watt, couple yr. ago because I ran across a sweet deal and had been pondering upgrading. If you want a generator to last many years and start every single time, can't go wrong with Honda. And I'm talking about a HONDA, not an off-brand with a Honda engine. You want a top-quality generator and electrical set, too. Some of the Honda-powered off-brands have crummy generator sets.
On the other hand, if you want one just to be there if and when a storm cuts off power, and that might not happen but once in a very long while, a cheap-o model might do the trick and save some bucks. If you want something to use and to be very reliable, the better brands save $$$ in the long run.
People I know who have a generator for only rare emergency spells have mostly sized them to run the freezer and refrigerator. Not a/c or elec. water heater. If it's big enough to run the refrigeration, it is certainly big enough to run some lights and a radio and computer and charge a cell phone. A fairly modest model will run those essentials.
