when did buying a toilet become so complicated?

16 years ago

We are looking for a very traditional, old-fashioned looking toilet for a bath we're adding to our 100 year old house.

Everyone seems to recommend Toto for their flushing (VERY important). But the only Toto that I really like is the Promenade which doesn't have their best flushing technology (the Dartmouth is my second choice, and that does have the g-max flush). I really like several of the American Standard Champion models, especially the Townsend, but I've read very mixed reviews about American Standard -- they flush well but have leaking/reliability problems? The Calla II from Porcher is beautiful, but salespeople in two different showrooms that sold it warned me against Porcher (so why do they carry it???)

So I guess here are my questions -- are the Totos really that much better and that much more reliable? How hard is it to make an attractive, old-fashoined looking toilet that reliably does what a toilet is supposed to do? Are there other manufacturers I should be looking at?

Help! I'm a little confused and frustrated...

Thanks all!

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Comments (12)

rococogurl
16 years ago
You might also look at the Toto Carrollton, which is a super flusher. We have it in a trad bath and stylewise it would look great in an old house.

Everyone has different experience in this area but you see few complaints with Toto. I have 2 Totos (including a Promenade in our powder room and it's fine but I find it a bit small).

We have one Kohler -- the most expensive toilet -- which has clogged twice now for no real reason. The Totos have been flawless. The Carrollton is also very quiet at night.
kgwlisa
16 years ago
It became complicated when we stopped using 5 gallons per flush. :)
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oruboris
16 years ago
I think the Toto Clayton [formerly baldwin] has a nice tradtional feel-- I'm using it in my 'arts and crafts' style bathrooms because of the squared off front. Just enough detail from the curving tank and detailed floor area to keep it versatile:

{{gwi:1443358}}

Has toto's best flush system, too.
budge1
16 years ago
Just like you, we wanted the promenade for looks but liked the flushing power of the dartmouth.

For our 100 yr old house we went with the dartmouth for the bathroom we use most (the one we are currently renoing) and promenades for the other two bathrooms that don't get used so much. We've had the promenade in the basement bath for about 3 weeks now and I really like it. It isn't as quiet as some I'm sure but it is quieter than our old one.
mpwdmom
16 years ago
Peruse this site for a few minutes:

Here is a link that might be useful: Terry Love's toilet reports
User
16 years ago
My sister lives in a 250 year old house and she just did her bathroom. She chose the Callista toilet with the square seat. It is really pretty (if you can call a toilet pretty?)

I am going to post her bathroom because it is one of the prettiest bathrooms I have ever seen. I hope to get there in the next week.

I don't know what model...sorry.
jamesk
16 years ago
I have Toto toilets with both the G-Max flushing system and with the more ordinary Power Gravity Flush. Frankly, I can't tell any difference. Both flushing systems seem to work equally well. I don't have any problems with either. Both flush reliably every time.

I simply wouldn't worry about being able to get the G-Max system. Personally, I don't think it's worth the extra cost.
organic_donna
16 years ago
I installed a Porcher in a friends house. He has had it for ten years without any complaints.
Donna
arlosmom
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all of your feedback! With all of the noodling around I've done on the internet, I've yet to come across negative Toto comments, so I think Toto will be the winner. I showed the Dartmouth and the Promenade to my DH and he prefers the Dartmouth style...the decision is getting easier.

Now we just need to make the other 100 decisions about bathroom and kitchen materials! : )
jgirl_2007
16 years ago
I've narrowed my choices to the Promenade & the Clayton toilets and pedestal sinks. I like the Clayton better but DH prefers the Promenade. This will go in our pool bath which will also be used by guests. I'm not sure if the Promenade not having the G-max system is such a big deal or not or if the price difference between the two suites is justified.

For the other three baths I decided on Ultramax for the master and kids bath and Drake for the guest suite.
budge1
16 years ago
Cleo, do you mind posting the pix of your sister's bathroom in a seperate thread so that we don't miss it.

Thanks!!
Lynne Reno
16 years ago
I spent longer picking out a toilet than I did tile. I ended up with a Toto Carlyle and after having it for awhile I will never buy anything but a Toto again. The Carlyle is skirted which made installation a bit harder, but I don't regret that decision at all.

when did buying a toilet become so complicated?

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rococogurl

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when did buying a toilet become so complicated?

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