I've got a few gas and a few diesel we use on jobs (construction). The diesels are much more expensive, but they run longer for a given amount of fuel, are built to last longer, and diesels can run on a variety of fuels in an emergency (I've heard of old army guys mixing gas and oil to make diesel, plus you can run vegetable oils, kerosene, jet fuel, propane, butane, and of course...diesel). Plus diesel fuel is much safer to store than gas. I really think they are better, but unless you are a contractor who uses it everyday it might not be worth the cost. If you decide to go with gas Honda is the way to go for sure. They start easy, they're quiet, and they seem to last the longest.