I didn't do any research on toilets, but for some reason I thought Toto was better.

I thought so too but now two unrelated contractors have said otherwise.

If they both flush, and use the same amount of water, then what would make one better than the other?

I think I know why.
Contractor often recommend the item that have a higher profit margin for them.
Example: when we were painting our house we thought sherwin Williams is a better paint, but when we talk to 3 different contractor they all say dunn Edwards (later I realized that DE paint is cheaper than SW paint and DE gives contractor a better discount than SW, therefor making their bid price more competitive.

I will agree with fred on this one.

@fred s, thanks, it totally make sense the way you explains it. Love Houzz learn something new every time I'm here :)

A general warranty is 1 year. A painter will be long gone before the paint fades. You will know if a toilet works well the first week you use it :)

I have 2 Toto toilets and won't get anything else. We replaced a cute British toilet that was just awful in terms of function, one year ago with a Toto. I haven't had to use a plunger since. It used to live next to the old toilet.

The Toto brand is much more expensive than the American Standard one so it would make sense then that there is more money to be made by the seller on the Toto toilet. A contractor has no vested interest in either as they do not get any of that profit and if they ever want to be used or recommended again by their customers, are likely to recommend the brand that gives the buyer the least trouble. This is what made me start to re-think the Toto brand.

I still love the manual dual flush and the "automatic" functions on my Toto toilets. Master ensuite opens when you approach it and flushes when you leave :)

I will not joke in this discussion as I don't do toilet humour. Ask each firm for phone numbers of satisfied clients also read the fine print on each warranty.

No problem with American Standard, but prefer Toto, particularly the dual cyclone flush action that swishes around the bowl and effectively cleans with each flush.

Thanks for this comment but don't all companies try to copy each other with new technology? The Toto has the dual cyclone flushing mechanism but don't the others have some sort of glazing so as to prevent the stuff from sticking? What about replacement parts? Are they just as easy to get for the Toto's as for the American Standards?

pmags, your last point is one to check wherever you may be located. I find AS replacement parts are not stocked locally and must be ordered (unless the most basic, commonly ordered line). Any good toilet should have a suitable finish--but that dual cyclone flush is quite something and I have not seen it duplicated (yet). The water is shot horizontally from two shoots and swirls the entire bowl. I'm a fan. Not every Toto has that flushing mechanism and I migh prefer another toilet in circumstances where that was not the primary goal. A Cyprus project called for a granite-like egg shaped bowl--Villeroy & Boch--beautiful. That kind of decision is about budget ;-)

Here is what I found out when researching toilets. Years ago TOTO had a patent on part of their design which had to do with the width of the drain pipe. Of course, this would result in fewer clogs. Now that patent has expired, and other manufacturers have wider drain pipes.

I have a TOTO that I love - actually took it with me when I moved (it has all the fancy schmancy bells and whistles). It's actually the TOTO *seat* that has all the cool features, and the seat can go on any brand base (as long as you match round/elongated to each other). If I had realized at the time that it was only the seat that made it special, I would have just taken the seat when I moved. Anyway, no problems from the TOTO at all.

My other toilet is a Glacier Bay from Home Depot. I haven't had any problems with it either. It was the least expensive white ADA-height toilet available, I believe less than $100.

Toilets-important topic! A key feature of any toilet I install is the shape of the base. A smooth casing for easy cleaning is preferred. Orangecamera, I think the seat you are referring to is the Toto "washlet". There are several shapes and these do come in sizes that fit non-Toto toilets - the key is to find the right fit. If you have a ToTo that has all the bess and whistle's built-in (not just in a washlet) then I would take it with me, too! You can take a vacation in Europe for the price! The washlet is a much cheaper way to get the same functionality. Happy flushing!

@ orangecamera, do you have a bumpersticker on the glacier bay that says your other toilet is a Toto?
The best point here, so far, is the availability of parts. Where I live, you may as well buy a whole new toilet rather than pay a plumber to make the several trips to order parts and then install them for a Toto.

LOL Fred :)

in the same price bracket, both are great.

I own a showroom and we sell every brand of toilet out there, but 85% of the toilets we sell are Toto. I personally have 4 Toto's in my home and the "Double Cyclone" flush is in my opinion the best flush on the market.

I don't know about warranties for new toilets, but I have the original "Standard" toilet in my place...1916. I'd say it's a well made product!.

We have a toto toiler that isn't tremendous flush. However, a disadvantage is the water does not shirt downward from rim to clean it.

Correction: IS a tremendous flush! Never, ever clogs. The size of the trap also effects whether a toilet clogs or not.

Just redid our three bathrooms and put in three new Toto's. They are fabulous. Don't use nearly as much water, have an incredible flush, and are gorgeous to boot.

Expensive...but worth it.

We just came back from "toilet shopping". Strongly considering the Toto. Can any of you posters who love their Toto tell me the style you have. The one we are leaning towards is the Dexter II.

Thanks to all who posted! It was enlightening to get different opinions as well as facts. We are in the process of building a new home and are down to these "head-scratching" decisions. I had never heard of the Toto brand but it looks worthy of consideration.

You can use Toto UltraMax II. The UltraMax II Toilet uses CeFiONtect ceramic glaze, which creates an extraordinarily smooth, ion-barrier surface to help keep the bowl cleaner with every flush.