So, if you have two Honda's and are happy with them and have no intention of purchasing a CPE 2000i why are you here?
Is your intent to undermine the 2000i and CPE or is there some other agenda that I am not aware of?
I'm here because I am interested in generators. I've spent thousands over the years making mistakes (I have 3 mistakes in my cellar!) I hope I can help others from making the same mistakes.
I have often recommended the Champion 3500 generator, both on here and in person, as a low cost alternative to expensive inverter generators. The Champion is quieter than most open frame generators, inepensive, has an RV plug, but it's biggest attraction is that it doesn't break the bank!
Differirng opinions is what makes this forum great. ...and I certainly don't take it personally.
A good friend of mine bought a Champion, based on my recommendation. He has had relatively good luck with it.
The success of the 3500 was not because of their low price. It was because of the reputation CPE has earned for a quality product, excellent tech support, continued service and parts availability.
While I agree somewhat with your statement, my experience is that most people buy the 3500 watt Champion because they are inexpensive. I have seen many posts where people have stated that they won't put much money into repairs, since they can buy a replacement for $299 right now and a few years ago, some were buying them for $199.
Established companies are constantly introducing new, unproven equipment. Truck engines, suspensions, transmissions, ECM units, etc. We accept them because we have confidence in the engineering and commitment to quality a company offers - not how long a design has been on the market.
Again I agree somewhat, but companies come and go, even companies with good products and good reputations. Glendale (Titanium) and Holiday Rambler are a couple well respected RV companies that didn't make it through tough times. HR was lucky enough to be brought back by Navistar, but Glendale closed it's doors.
What happens if Champion doesn't survive? Where will anyone buy replacement parts. The same could happen to Honda or Yamaha, but they are old companies and more likely to make it. Even if they didn't, they are so popular, I would expect some other company to buy the rights to make replacement parts.
Yes, the Honda is a proven product. No question about it. But that does not make other products inferior.
IMHO, the Champion hasn't been around long enough to know if they are compatable in quality to Honda / Yamaha.
That is one of the reasons I chose a Volvo HDT. Now there is something with a proven performance record. I think everyone should own one.
Ok, we disagree again.
We have all brands of HDT trucks at work. The older Volvo HDT's were OK, but the newer HDT's with a Volvo (or Mercedes) engine, have a terrible reputation. Since the Volvo / Mack "marriage", their quality has gone downhill in a big way.
I guess that's another argument for another thread...
And by the way,
MrWizard wrote:
and champion has documented proff on this forum of excellent customer service and parts availability
My buddy had a carb problem with his Champion and Champion was willing to help him. Unfortunately, finding someone locally that would work on it was not so easy. He finally did, but it was a small individually owned shop where the guy has a "real job" and does small engine work evenings and weekends.
If the problem had been in the generator instead of the engine, I doubt he could have found someone in our rural area, to work on it.
I'm sure if it were a Honda or Yamaha, that wouldn't have been the case.
IIRC sams club carries the inverter model for $499, and has been posted several times
It has also been posted several times that many Sam's Clubs aren't carrying them. I believe someone said (earlier in this thread) there were none (at Sam's Club) available in the state of California.
The ohter problem with Sam's Club is they often offer an item for a short time and never stock the item again. Time will tell if that's the case with the Champion inverter.
Since Cabelas offered the 3500 for so long (and still offers it), I'm surprised they haven't offered the 2000 inverter.
