I should add that I have never had an acrylic tub, have had the same style of 1950s cast iron my entire life, so really have no idea of what to expect as far as maintenance, durability and ease of cleaning.

I'm mid-remodel and have an Archer replacing a Villager-sized unit. Looks great, but I haven't used it yet. I also was seeking something with some more depth to it.

I think there is a toto cast iron with dimensions similar to the Archer, but for about twice the price. The one unique (I think at least) feature about the Archer is the very high overflow, and the oblong shape of the overflow. Needs a special drain for it, but it gives it is key to the extra depth.

I did want to note that I have the one with the apron, NOT a drop-in, and I do not feel that I would require additional insulation besides the foam I already mentioned--and my tub is on an outside wall in a cold climate.

Thank you for the quick response! Knowing that someone else has weighed all the pros and cons and is coming to the same conclusions helps put my mind at ease. I'll be looking at the Archer tomorrow at the plumbing supply store. Thanks!

I can only reply to the *bathing a small child* concern with a deep tub. My Bain Ultra Air tub is 18.5" inches deep. The surround is 3.5" wide on the sides. I'm a short 5' and yes, it is difficult to bath my 2 yr old grandson. In fact, if he's not really dirty and my back is screaming at me, I'll drop his little hiney in the tub, squirt some of his liquid soap in the tub and turn the air jets on low :)
Monica

I sat in the 5 foot Archer and Bancroft models and chose the Bancroft. Although I'm average in size, the Archer felt too narrow to me. I think that is because of the arm rests and the width at the sump which is only 19.7 inches compared to 22 inches in the Bancroft.

While looking at Kohler's website, I saw a new cast iron bathtub, the Highbridge, that you may like. The depth to the overflow is almost 13 inches, and it's designed to make it easier for parents to bathe small children.

Have you looked at the Toto 1525? It is deeper than the Villager and about 2" wider. Maybe you can look at that too. I negotiated a good price on Faucet Direct.

Thanks for the suggestions. The sales rep at the plumbing store showed me the Highbridge - which is a beautiful tub but I believe the cost is around $1500 dollars. I'm just not sure that I want to spend that just to have cast iron. If you're interested, however, I did notice that there is a integrated tiling flange on the Highbridge and a "no-apron" option - in the show room there was a similarly tiled tub with a marble mini-subway front - it was great looking.
The Toto's are a little pricey for me as well.
I appreciate all the input and after seeing the Kohler Acrylic tubs in person, they feel very solid and while they are not cast iron, they don't feel like cheap plastic either. I think I'm going with the Archer. thanks!

I am struggling with the same issue - I will have to order a tub within 2 weeks and I am going around and around on the cast iron vs acrylic choice. After reading these posts, I am feeling better about acrylic. I am probably going to go this way - they are so much less expensive.

In case anyone checks back - I ended up ordering the Bancroft. The Archer requires a toe touch drain and has a unique, slotted overflow. I have long, VERY thick hair that sheds continuously - Gross topic I know - but an important issue b/c I need a drain that will either catch hair on its own or let me place my own hair catch. Which the flip/toggle switch drain on the Bancroft will. An added plus - wider tub!

I will be installing an acrylic Hydro systems whirlpool (air's not enough for my muscles!) that is a delicious 19" deep, 42 wide and 73 long. After lying down in it at a local store, I found the slope of the back to be divine, and more suprisingly, the armrests to be vital with such a deep tub (I like to read in there). So it will clearly not even look like a cast iron tub.

And I don't care!!

Plus, a cast iron tub that size on a second story would cause me too much concern, particularly since the house was built with an acrylic whirlpool (pink-lovely).

If the features that acrylic allows are important to you, don't be worried.

The local store (Snyder Diamond) where I tried my tub (ordered on line) told me most people with very large upscale bathrooms such as ours are doing acrylic now, unless they want a traditional footed soaking tub look.

I just thought I would share my first experience with my acrylic tub, having grown up with cast iron.

I was so excited to finally have the tub (with jets) to bathe in, on my day off I filled it with water, the same way I have always done.

I started to ease in, it was very hot, I was a bit surprised, but managed to get all the way in. After about 5 minutes, I got light headed and had to get out!

Well, I was so accustomed to having to "heat" the cast iron, when filling the tub, that I made the bath too hot! I don't find that I have heat loss greater than the cast iron, and in fact, find I refill the tub with hot water less in the acrylic tub.

No regrets. LOVE love the depth.

I have had nothing but problems with my Bain Ultra jet tub. My tub would turn on randomly throughout the night, so I would be in bed and hear air rushing from the tub in the middle of the night. Within a year of installation the lights on the keypad stopped functioning. Called their customer service department and they will not honor their warranty. Apparently their electronics and keypads are poorly constructed. The Bain employee I spoke to suggested I replace the tub altogether.