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Which washlet?

14 years ago

Everyone seems to love the Toto S300 from what I have been able to read. What is it about that model that beats out the cheaper ones?

I would love to save some $$ if there are alternates that would be just as good. But there seems to be a lot of S300 fans and I figure that there must be a good reason!

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Comments (12)

susanelewis
14 years ago
From what I see, it has everything but the automatic open/close feature of the lid. The huge price increase between the two models doesn't warrant that luxury feature IMHO.
PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
14 years ago
Got the S300 and love it......
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Actually, at this moment, we are especially up-to-date on the question of the topic line. We are remodeling our powder room (the bathroom that guests in our home use), and one of the primary reasons is to make it adaptable to a washlet-style seat. My spouse's sister and her husband have had Toto Washlets in both their upstairs and downstairs bathrooms in their home in Kamakura since the early 1980s, and we perforce use those appliances every year when we visit them and stay in their home; our home in the United States has seemed deficient without one. Last month, before our annual visit to Japan, I looked into the options, and one (very slightly, at its feature level) cheaper attractive on the North American market is the INAX Clessence. I admit that, in all my years spent in Japan, the brand INAX had not registered on my consciousness until last month. That changed in a hurry. After deplaning at Narita International Airport, I used the restroom in the Customs area while awaiting the arrival of our bags. All INAX fixtures. The next day, we met friends at Ginza 4-chome to see the art exhibition in Wako Department Store, and, looking down Ginza Doori, I saw a large INAX logo atop a building on the other side of Yurakucho. When I commented on it, our friends responded that the INAX Showroom and Gallery had become a favorite meeting place in central Tokyo, so we went there after Wako. Six floors, including one floor devoted to a gallery. Very hgh-end plumbing fixtures, including complete toilets, tile bathtubs, vessel sinks, high-end plumbing fixtures for both kitchen and bath. Everything was very elegant and understated, in the manner of the Dornbracht fixtures sold in the United States. When we mentioned INAX to our sister and her husband that evening, their comment was that INAX was absolutely top-rate --- if you can afford it. In Japan, INAX "advanced toilet seats" sell for a premium above the price of similarly spec'ed Toto Washlets. Very much the same kinds of comments, we found, were made unanimously by others, similar to comments about Miele appliances here. We took a side excursion down north (in Japanese, any trip away from Tokyo is "down," even when the direction is north) to visit friends and relatives in Sapporo. In the brand new terminal at Haneda International Airport, all of the fixtures were INAX. At Chitose Airport, all of the fixtures were INAX. We stayed in the new (opened mid-2009) Mercure Hotel in Sapporo, and all of the fixtures in our room and all of the fixtures in the restroom off the main lobby were INAX. Yes, we have used Inax "advanced toilet seats," in several locations, and in every respect they seem at least as well built as any Toto Washlet we have encountered, and they function flawlessly. For our part, we have decided that the "washlet" that goes into our remodeled powder room will not be a Toto Washlet but will be an INAX Clessence. Here is a link that might be useful: History of the company that makes INAX
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The ADM is 15.5" wide, which is the same as the Toto S300. I suppose I could be happier with the E200, which is 14.5", but I'd have to spend hundreds of dollars more and that starts to sound like I'm a little crazy! The ADM gets good reviews, and looks pretty much like the rest of the bunch in terms of shape, thickness, etc. I probably would get used to it, so it's good to hear you did, mongo. qt3 - Were you considering buying the Neorest? Those are gorgeous, and I imagine it would be pretty expensive to replace a seat. I'm talking about a mere washlet seat - and one that cost me only $150. Still, if I can't deal with it, I should just return it before I start using it. Sigh.
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I bought the SW844 about 7 months ago and really like it. Im disabled and bought it for need more than just a luxury and I could not be happier. The one I have has the remote control, I highly recommend that, has the energy saver device so you can save power on heating water, the soft close seat, oscillating water supply...man all I need is an MP3 player and a flat screen TV in there and I could just stay. we ran the power cord down behind the toilet drilled into the vanity and brought the cord up and out of the vanity right at the GFI plug next to the sink, its hardly noticable. Its a real conversation piece when I have company also..LOL
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Last year I put this item in my daughter's Christmas stocking, and all my kids were nuts about it. My older daughter bought one for herself and her husband ... plus one for him to keep beside his desk at work. My youngest daughter wants a second one to take to her dorm room next fall. I'm showing the one that fits a small, standard phone, but they come in larger sizes too -- even sizes that fit Tablets -- and I think the larger sizes would work for the bathroom remotes. https://smile.amazon.com/Command-Smart-Phone-Station-Clear/dp/B0084M69YW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506909708&sr=8-1&keywords=command+hook+phone+holder (Off-topic, but are other people having trouble uploading pictures today?)
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monicakm_gw
14 years ago
Here is Toto's comparison list of models. The S300 seems to have the best features at the best price point. LOVE my S300!

Here is a link that might be useful: Washlet Comparison
tarnator
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks guys!
Monica the chart was very helpful.
Seems to me that the big things that the S300 has over the E200 are a few different cleanse cycles, the air purifier, and the instant heat water. Are these features worth the extra $$?
monicakm_gw
14 years ago
>>Are these features worth the extra $$?OMGOsh yes!
It might take awhile to learn how and when to use the various cleansing options. I use them all. I change water pressure every day, multiple times a day. Air purifier...well, you tell me! :) And (almost) instant hot water saves you from getting a shot of ice water where that might not be too desirable. In Texas, in the summer months (April-Oct) our Washlet's water temp is off by default. Sometimes I'll turn it up. And we keep the seat heater turned off during the hot months too but come cold weather, there's nothing better than a toasty seat :)
Monica
tarnator
Original Author
14 years ago
OK,
Thanks Monica!
I read another thread somewhere and there were raves about the air purifier feature. So I guess I am sold. Darn it, was trying to save some money, but I guess it will have to be the S300 after all :)
monicakm_gw
14 years ago
Also, the C110 doesn't have a remote. The controls on on the side (inconvenient) vs a remote that can be mounted on the wall or cabinet.
Monica
tracey_b
14 years ago
I'm getting close to ordering the S300 Washlet for our new house. I'll be ordering the toilet soon, too, and haven't decided on which one, especially the height (ADA or not as I'm only 5'3"). Can anyone tell me if the seat on the Washlet is any higher than a standard seat? That might help me decide on the toilet.

We had an AS Cadet3 ADA in the last house, and it was okay for me, but probably wouldn't like it if the seat were any higher than the standard seat.

Thanks.
drjoann
13 years ago
Bumping in hopes of an answer on the seat height. I'm 5'2", so this is a big deal. Once, we had to check in late at our hotel, & the only thing left was an ADA room. I got them to move us the next day because I wasn't going to be able to deal with the toilet for a whole week.

We're also building a new house & I would like to be able to "surprise" DH with a Toto washlet after the fact. If I make sure there is a GFCI outlet installed in the correct position, would I be able to retrofit the washlet to the existing toilet?

I know it would be easier to do during the build, but I'd like to give DH a "treat" that he doesn't know about. (Also, I'm tired of change orders.) In the planning stages, DH wanted a bidet, but we didn't quite work it in. I tried to talk to him about washlets, but he was too distracted to embrace the idea.

Thanks - Jo Ann
tracey_b
13 years ago
Thanks Jo Ann. Hoping someone will answer soon. I need to order the toilet and washlet asap. I wish toilets had an "intermediate" height. I don't like the ones in the handicap stalls, but I don't remember our AS Cadet3 being that tall. Can't believe how much thought is going into a stupid toilet!
PRO
Avanti Tile & Stone / Stonetech
13 years ago
Well....we opted for the Gerber "Tornado" toilet and are supremely happy. It's a Toto "Knock-Off" for about half the price...and plays well with the Washlet-
pvel
13 years ago
I am considering the e200 to save a couple of bucks over the s300. Will I be happy?

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