Rick
Diesel is the way to go.
There will soon be 6.5 and 10 KW gensets available in Santiago. Extra quiet and very well priced.
Depending on just what appliances you have in your house in Sos?a, you can figure out how much you need to have on "standby" . However, a 6.5 kw set should do you fine, unless you have central A/C and a 100 gallon electric water heater...
As soon as I get details, I'll let you know more about these new gensets.
As to why diesel over gasoline?
1) Safety
2) Long term economy and
3) Ease of maintenence
4) Great re-sale value
Diesel is safer to handle than gasoline.
A diesel engine will run for years and years with no headaches
Given, of course, that you change the oil and filters regularly, and maintain the starter batter up to par. No points, no plugs, no distributor to worry about
Gensets with good maintenence records are always fast sellers.
HB