This is my first generator, but we moved to a rural area where the power goes out regularly so we needed an backup generator. I was thrilled to be able to find a portable generator this size, because we can't afford a standby generator. I was so impressed with this generator when it arrived. It was so easy to set up and came with an extra air filter, oil filter, and so on. Very nice tough. I feel much better know we'll have heat and water if we lose power this winter!

I needed a generator that could power the 240v well pump as well as a few outlets and refrigerator during any power output. This Generac model came up at a great price, I could not pass it up. Unit looks basic, but has all the features and power I needed. Assembling the unit is simply other than the cotter pins for the wheels. Simpler bow tie cotter pins would have made things easier due to the restricted space due to the battery. An internal charging system that would charge the battery while operating would have also been nice. Unit is quite for the power rating. Unit is heavy, so bring a helper when you buy.

After a lot or research I purchased two 2011, 6500e generators, one for my parents and one for my sister. Other then one generator being shipped with one end of the fuel line disconnected because of a missing hose clamp, the units seem to be great machines and well built (haven't had to use them and have only run them for a few minutes). However, we broke the AC/DC Adapter cord that keeps the battery charged, its made out of a very flimsy thin wire. Well, trying to find this simple part has proven to be an exercise in frustration and this is why I don't recommend the product anymore. Three dealers I visited don't stock it, even though I bet it has to be the most ordered part because it's so flimsy and easy to break. I can't locate the part on the generac website or on the internet, no matter how you word it, the part can not be found. My mother, my girlfriend, my sister and I have spent many hours trying to find this part. I traveled 60 miles to three dealers only to have them tell me they can't find it anywhere. And NO the AC/DC adapters at Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Walmart, and Radio Shack, even the universal ones with lots of different ends, don't properly fit the generator !! The store adapters are all 12 V and the one that came with the generator is 14V. The part is >> AC/DC Adapter, Model YP-018. (Specifics are 120v-60hz, 20W, 14vdc, 800 mA, 11.2 VA). I own a 16 year old Sears 3500 generator and ordering parts for this machine is very simple.

Our generator was purchased in the event of a power outage. We have had our house wired to accept gen power by an electrician. Our electrician was SO impressed with our generator. He even mentioned it was robust enough to power our whole 2400 sq.ft. house, except for the AC. During our testing, the machine started up within 1 second, made less noise than we would have thought for its size and power. The controls are easy to use and understand (I am a novice at this) and maneuvering this beast was actually pleasant. Sturdy contruction and high quality gives you an excellent feeling that this can handle high demands. During our testing, it performed perfectly and did power the entire house with ease (45% total load with EVERY light, fan, appliance turned on). If I could give it 6stars, I would.

This generator has great power runs well when it's on but every day you have to jump start it because there isn't a alternator that charges the battery when it's on. It's a hassle trying to always make sure the battery has enough juice to start the generator. If not your out of luck.

I purchased the Generac GP 8000E after a recent ice storm where we lost power for 2 days... also, have encountered power losses in summer with hurricane/wind storms. Upon delivery, there was very little assembly necessary before it was ready for service. Excellent quality construction. Has a good set of features to make it easy to use with the electric start... maintenance to keep in it service looks minimal. As the electrician, who installed our breaker panel interlock, stated... you have close to a whole house generator at a fraction of the cost."

Bought the GP8000e for my ski cabin. It will run everything including well pump and hot water heater when we loose power which has become more frequent. Happy with my purchase. Decided to go with Generac since I already own a Generac generator for my primary home.

Purchased this generator due to a prolonged power outage in the Northeast in October. Didn't want that to happen again, especially during the cold winter months. Setup and startup were a breeze, and the generator fired up on the first pull. The piece of mind knowing I will have back up power for our furnace and essential appliances is worth the cost paid.

I have always wanted one of these generators, the reputation is backed up by it's performance. Unit is packaged correctly to prevent damage. Unit is extremely easy to assemble and set up. Started up almost instantaneous the first time, and all the features are very easy to learn. I plan on using with a power transfer switch to power my house when power is lost. Great product, great company, great reputation!

The GP8000E is a very capable machine. It can run our whole house and never falter. The electric start was a requirement so my wife could crank it up. There is the first weak spot. The machine is just 4 months old and has 3.2 hours on it and the start battery has cracked and is leaking. Yes, I recommend the unit, but I recommend that you plan to replace the starting battery very early. The 20amp cord that comes with some is of marginal utility, I suggest that you look a 14-30 cord if you chose to do much at all.