We just bought our first Toto and it's great. We chose it based on all the raves at the TerryLove.com forum, a great resource for this info.

This forum has always been solidly on the Toto bandwagon, but I am a huge Kohler fan. Kohler has the perfect combination of function and beautiful design. I find Totos are a little behind on aesthetics, but that's obviously a personal thing. :)

Jeannine-
I gave up on Kohler due to a couple of bad experiences, but that was years ago. I'm sure some of their models are quite competitive with Toto now. I just tend to stick with something when it works for me.

I put a Kohler Memoirs Stately in my condo in 2009 and never had a problem with it...and that was during the last iteration of their flushing technology.

I get that people love their Totos and they don't clog, but I haven't seen anyone complaining about a Kohler around here.

When Toto lovers rave, it reminds me of Dyson fans. The Dyson is great vacuum, but so are most of the other vacs in that price range. If you're upgrading from a cheap, junk item, you are obviously going to be impressed, but a lateral movement won't have you noticing much of a difference.

I ordered the kohler San socci for my remodel . Everyone loves the toto power flush but I hear that a lot people hate the small water spot that might leave messy stuff stuck . I did not get toliet yet so no idea if it's great .

Pretty impressive data

http://www.map-testing.com/consumer-household-toilets/

http://www.dev.map-testing.com/assets/files/2014-04-14-all_tank-type_toilets.pdf

This is the one that I am very happy with

http://www.gerberonline.com/downloads/specs/Toilet/21-818.pdf

interesting video showing how it works

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7F8jQ1Y5v1Q

I bought a Kohler Memoirs toilet from HD last year. I like its look, but we have to be careful because it sometimes keeps on filling until we open the top and give it a jiggle and it sits uncomfortably higher than our previous 20-year old kohler. But it flushes fine; quick and quiet.

mdln-
Do you have that Gerber, and are impressed with its performance or are you saying you're impressed by its test results? I know that different manufacturers and models perform differently, but I had three Gerbers (can't remember model) that came with the house I bought several years ago. I replaced them with Totos: the Gerbers would plug up on about a weekly basis. The first clue was the gift the previous owner left me: a plunger parked next to each one.

Hi kudzu, I have it and (am embarrased to admit) love it. No plugging and I know I use a lot of TP (something I've always done, even remember my mom complaining about it when I was a child).

I put a toto in the guest bath but it gets little use I cannot really evaluate its performance.

Was afraid to buy 2 of the same just in case I'd made a bad choice.

mdln-
Thanks for the info.

Our plumber recommended Gerber and we have in 2 of our bathrooms. IN 9 years I have NEVER had a clogged toliet. Getting ready to replace the Kohler in my master with a Gerber. There is never a need to double flush with the Gerber.

Some of the new toilets have a power flush option. It's like they build up pressure some how and WOOSH the water goes down.

In my home I made the mistake of letting the plumber use an off set toilet flange. This toilet backs up all the time and I think it has more to do with the off set than the toilet.

John, could you explain what the issue is with the 'off set toilet flange'? Is that not standard installation? What would be the correct way to do it?

Sorry to see there is no consensus about the best toilet, because I have to order one very soon. [g] I did take a look at that study mdln linked to and American Standard had a lot of toilets with the highest score, 1000, and no one here has mentioned that brand. Also surprised that the Totos that were mentioned, only received an 800 score in that testing, whereas the Kohler's had some toilets that scored 1000, like the American Standard.

Most toilets mount over top of a toilet flange or water closet flange. Most are straight up and down. But some are off set to all the flange to be moved up to 2" off a center mark or to get around a pipe. These off set flanges I think slow the dump of water after a flush and aid in nuisance clogs.

Thanks John - good explanation. Hope we don't have a need to get around a pipe. [g]

prairiemoon-
Don't get too wrapped up in the numbers. I've had three Toto Ultramax toilets -- rating 700 -- for about 10 years and had only one clog...when someone threw a popsicle stick in the toilet and it got stuck crossways in the trap. In making my selection, I looked at reviews from a source that was reliable:

Terry Love Plumbing: Toilet Report

Thanks kudzu - I have seen that website - you consider him reliable because he is a plumber? I notice he mostly recommends Toto. I've checked Consumer Reports and Consumer Search and the reviews on Amazon. At this point, my head is spinning. I have a growing list of what I want but not finding one toilet that fits the whole list. lol I imagine there is more than one toilet that will be a good choice. I hope another day of this will show me the one that is right for me. Really, I think what most of us want is a toilet we never have to think about. [g]

prairiemoon-
I consider him reliable because I've used him several times on plumbing issues (he lives about 2 miles from me) and I think he knows his stuff. His toilet ratings are based on his own experiences installing them and knowing which ones do and don't involve callbacks. I think his ratings are sound, and he also maintains a well-respected plumbing forum where he and a number of other plumbers hang out and answer questions. It's sort of like the Plumbing Forum here on GW, but dealing with a wider range of issues.

kudzu - Thanks for explaining about Terry's site. Nice to have a plumber you feel good about hiring.

I am leaning toward Toto's today. I do like the styling of some of the Kohlers and I like their reputation for faucets, but the positive reviews on the Totos are significant and I'm seeing reviews that might reflect a quality control problem at Kohler. The Totos are somewhat plain in appearance, but really, the dependability and function is more important.

I was considering getting a one piece that might make it less prone to leak and easier to clean. Have you had a one piece?

I'm also going back and forth between the Drake I and II where one is higher rated but uses 1.6gpf and only comes in a standard height, and the other uses 1.28gpf with an elongated seat at the comfort height.

I'm a little concerned, that I have old plumbing in a house that's over 50 years old and the lower water amount, while it might clear the toilet, might not quite clear the pipes.

Any thoughts?

I have one-piece Totos because I have a modern house and like the clean-looking design. I also liked the idea of not having to worry about a leak at the seal of a two-piece (although this doesn't happen very often with most manufacturers if the toilet is put together properly).

I also don't think that you need to worry about the lower amount of water not clearing the pipes. The flushing action of a decent, low-flow toilet has a lot of torque to it, and it's not like your house is ancient...

I lean more toward traditional design, like a Kohler Memoirs, so the Toto is definitely more contemporary for me, but I think it's workable. I like the idea of not having any potential for a leak too. I guess if it isn't a question of clearing the pipes, then the lower water toilet might be worth considering. Thanks, Kudzu.

Put a new Kohler upstairs about 4 years ago. Put a Toto in the 1/2 bath on the first floor about 2 years ago. Both are used daily.

The kohler had an issue twice with running so far. When I tried to put on a new supply line, it wouldn't go on right because the tower threads were plastic and had been cross threaded, so they leaked once the old one was removed. So new tower. It did come with an easy off seat for easy cleaning, so that was a plus. No clogging issues yet. Flushes ok. Water spot is a little small, but we have a SquattyPotty so that naturally aims you better.

Not a single issue with the Toto. We have a Vespin II with the dual cyclone flush. It still gets some discoloration where the water comes out even with the Sanigloss, BUT it's only got two holes and you can see them! The Kohler has the traditional ring of small holes that accumulate the ick, and it is hard to see to make sure it gets clean. Oh! And the Vespin is skirted!

IF I have to buy another toilet, I'd go with Toto again based on what I've read and my own experience.

Thanks, William, for sharing your experiences. I have been less than enthusiastic about toilets with the 'tower' technology. I'd much rather have 'tried and true' than innovative. I wondered if it would be a problem if you had to replace a part and I guess it was for you, having to replace the whole tower.

I just looked at a photo of the Toto Vespin II

Toto Vespin II

What is that small square in the rear? I do like a skirted toilet.

I've just realized that the toilet we now have is a Kohler. lol We put that in about 15 years ago, when they were first coming out with the water saving toilets. It has a problem with running sometimes, and clogging sometimes. We had a plumber here for a kitchen faucet installation and he changed the flapper last year and now the toilet flushes twice every time you press the lever. I don't quite understand what he did to accomplish that, but it rarely keeps running and clogging has been minimal. Of course, flushing twice defeats the purpose of the low water toilet. So I am looking forward to replacing this. We also have a very old 5 gallon toilet in another bathroom that will finally be replaced.

Anyone have a kohl er portrait toilet

I have a Kohler Cimmaron which is used daily that we put in about 8 or 9 years ago, and not one single clog (even as I write this I'm nervous about jinxing it), but it's been great. I was pretty anxious because it was replacing a 5 gallon tank that was original to the house, and I couldn't imagine that 1.6 gallons could do what 5 did. It's perfect.

Toto Drake install here, from back when they first introduced their 1.3-gpf models. Very happy with everything but will admit that the small water surface area does sometimes present -- umm, additional tasks before one leaves the bathroom. But that does not happen often enough to make me regret the purchase.

Funny that this popped up today. We are getting ready to do another bathroom reno (we'll be buying our third Kohler Memoirs Stately for this one).

The original Kohlers from when the house was built in the 70s were here when we moved in and though the tanks are huge compared to the ones we see today, there still aren't any problems with them.

It seems like Toto and Kohler have lots of happy clients. :)

I've replaced 6 toilets all with Kohler. The flushing power especially of the canister style is impressive. They last and repair parts are readily available and inexpensive. A nice bonus is they are made in the USA, and I'm supporting jobs in my country.

I'm a fan of the Kohler toilets with "Aqua-Piston" technology (I'm not even sure if its supposed to be for more powerful flush, or to keep the bowl cleaner, but it does both of those in spades.) We have 2 now: Tresham one piece skirted 1.5 years old now; Santa Rosa 1 piece 1.6g recently installed (in different bathroom). Love both. I never see, uh, marks in either and I live with 3 adult size male slobs.