I have a Kohler Rialto which is nearly 20 years old which we're replacing in our master bath renovation, and a San Raphael in our powder room we did four years ago. If the ones you're looking at have a round bowl instead of elongated, just be sure you'll be comfortable with that. Our San Raphael has a round bowl, which we did because the powder room is small, but I don't find it as comfortable as other elongated bowl toilets. The San Raphael comes both ways, and I'd encourage you to get the elongated, even at the expense of a few inches. (Unfortunately, it also costs more.) The Rialto, I believe, only comes in a round bowl.

The other issue is that both the Rialto and San Raphael use older Kohler flushing technology than the Class 5 and Class 6 Cimarrons. The San Raphael uses Kohler's Ingenium flushing technology; the Rialto is one of the last (the last?) model using the older-still Rimjet flushing technology. That doesn't mean you won't find them perfectly acceptable. These flushing systems don't have the larger 3" flush valve Toto pioneered and Kohler adopted on its Class 5 toilets, so they don't flush the water as quickly or forcefully -- but they do swirl the water, so the bowl is washed better than the Class 5 Cimarron.

Since you didn't like the Class 5 Cimarron because of the lack of rim wash, did you consider the Class 6 Cimarron? Class 6 is Kohler's answer to complaints about the Class 5 toilets flushing well but not washing the bowl well enough. You can get more info on Kohler's site. I don't have one; I'm just making you aware that this model exists.

-- Eric

P.S. I know it's too late for you to alter course, but to set the record straight for others who may read this thread: Although Toto is a global company, Toto USA builds toilets at its huge plant in Georgia. Thus a Toto toilet is American-made, while a Kohler toilet may be made in Mexico.

thanks so much for all this info...jeeeze, i wish i would have went for the toto in the first place. anyway, yeah, gaining that extra 5" would make a big improvement and thats why i havent considered the class six toilets from kohler. when you're pressed for space i guess you have to compromise. the elongated san raphael brings me right back to 30 ", so it looks like thats out. i wish either one of them (rialto or san raphael) came with flush six technology, but,oh well, what can you do. thanks again

I am going to throw out another thing to consider and that is how much surface water is in that bowl, when choosing my first replacement toilet I researched this heavy. This would be more important or maybe if you can't have the swirl at least have the large water spot. My toilet doesn't swirl but no skid problems.

jjaazzy:

Would be interested in what toliet you chose and how you researched surface water in the bowl.

I'm looking for toliets for 2 of my bathrooms and like the look of the Kohler Memoirs (Series 6). Does anyone have a Series 6?

I want good performance. My old American Standard Toliets from the late 1970's have always worked fantastic. Due to remodeling though I have to get rid of them, but would be disappointed if I got a new ones that did not perform well.

Thanks. Jani

Hi,

Just checked the Kohler web site and the only class six toilet is the Cimarron'
The Memoirs is a class five. I just installed two Memoirs and seem to work just
fine. I did get one with an insulated tank since what I was replacing was a 33year old
insulated kohler which never sweated. For the second one I didn't want to wait 2 months
since it was a special order. I don't have AC and it gets humid in the summer,
I hope i didn't make a mistake. Good luck.

Hi, Grammy:

Thanks for the info on the Kohler Memoirs. Hope they continue to perform for you. Jani