Are Toto or American Standard toilets better?

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== == == Answer == One thing to keep in mind when purchasing a toilet is the availability of replacement parts. I purchased a Toto Drake toilet about four years ago, and it now needs some new gaskets and a replacement flush valve. Imagine my surprise to learn that parts are almost universally unavailable. Even the Toto Store at totostore.com doesn't have much in stock, and was not able to fill my order for a replacement flush valve assembly. The distributors recommended by the Toto Store also did not have the parts in stock. The toilet works well, but what use is it if it can't be repaired?

== == == Answer == Anything would be better that Toto, including an outhouse. We have one that is about three years old. We have had leaks almost constantly. I've replaced the shut off gasket at least 6 times, the whole apparatus once, even the float once so Winnelson could sell me something else for three or four dollars.
I bought a gasket about a month ago (August 2007) and it started leaking. I took it and the one it replaced with me to Winnelson which is only about 20 miles away and nobody else handles Toto. When I walked in the door I thought I must be troubling the two employees, one of whom seemed to be napping. They finally caught the eye of another in the next room and he deigned to come wait on me.
They were all defensive about the junk I had bought. I reminded them that one was only about a month old. They couldn't care less about that, either. I ordered two of them and said that if I get another leak soon I'll put the other one in and go buy an American Standard. He went and got my gaskets, charged me for both, I asked if they didn't warrant one even for a month and he told me I'd have to contact Toto. He gave me a number for Toto that connects to a dating or some other hookup number. Figures. They make junk, their dealers don't give service, they don't honor anything and their contact number is for dating.
== Answer == It depends on the model.
Just about every toilet has a two inch trapway (2 1/8") these days.
The 1.6 gpf flush has caused some major re-engineering in the last decade. Toto toilets, coming mostly from the Japanese market where 1.6 gpf (or 6 liter/flush) has been the standard for decades, have (or at least had) an tremendous advantage over most other manufacturers.
Regardless, two toilets, that while probably on par with each other, are "heads" above the rest are the AS "Champion" model and any Toto model that is a "G-max" flush.
== Answer == Definately American Standard is better! I've installed Toto & their quality control is in question. The Drake model leaks. A/S has redesigned the Champion since its release. I have had no problems & many happy customers with American Standard. You may see the opposite opinion on site's like Terry Love's Plumbing. Remember, the site belongs to a dealer for Toto so he is going to say it's better than American Standard. I have installed both brands & American Standard always comes out on top. Plus they have a 10 year warranty on the Champion. Toto does not.
== Answer == I am a fan of American Standard also. Toto is expensive and overrated. I have been installing A/S for years w/o problems. I agree with Plumber Pete regarding Terry Love's site. This guy pushes Toto for every question someone has. He appears to be a one-way, opinionated hoity-toity who knows nothing about reality. A/S is THE biggest plumbing company. Kohnler, Mansfield, Crane, & Eljer are also the biggest in the US, Toto is not. People go to Terry Loves site for advice & get the same answer for everything "You can buy a Toto".
== Answer == "He appears to be a one-way, opinionated hoity-toity who knows nothing about reality"
Hey! I'm just the guy that installs the toilets in his home and then lets you know how they are working.
I've had the American Standard Champion, Kohler Cimarron, Eljer PF/2, Gerber Ultraflush, American Standard Cadet, American Standard Glenwall, Gerber Aquaflush, Western 832, Briggs Vacuity, Kohler Wellworth, Toto CST704, Toto Ultramax, Toto Ultimate, Toto Dalton and others.
I think using them is reality.
In addition to "in-home testing" I accept input from homeowners, plumbers and water districts.
One good report is the MaP testing done on toilets using waste like media in a lab setting.
I don't know exactly how rating toilets has become "hoity-toity" so I'll just take it as your best compliment. Thank you.
== Answer == Ive installed many water closets and for the money GERBER 1.6GPF W/C are your best bet
== Answer == I personally think the Brazilian made American Standard toilets are garbage! I cannot comprehend a toilet flushing mechanism that incoporates the use of magnets and springs! It may win the flush test at 1,100 grams of solids per flush but with that mechanism your going to need the 10 year guarantee. I have installed several customer purchased champions I tell them before I start if its defective I still get paid for the installation. I actually had 1 that when it was made there was a hole in the back of the base clear through the trap way. They put some kind of putty on it glazed over it and sent it on down the line. I installed it and it leaked! I'd say Toto is the only way to go!
== VIPER == I pick neither! I already don't like the American Standard models I have bought in the past. The toto I really wanted but didn't want to spend an arm and a leg. If there was a distributer nearby I would have. I bought a Crane all in one toilet. It was warped, leaked and low quality. I tried a gerber Viper for half the price, under $150.00 including the accessories and have never been more impressed with a toilet. IT fills quick, NEVER plugs and is quiet. Occasional skid marks are the only complaint.
you cannot get a better toilet then a toto ,,, get the Ada height drake
ANSWER
As in most things those that have complaints will always complain and will be the most vocal and those that are satisfied rarely step up and state their satisfaction. This is the case with this question and almost every answer. Toto is being unfairly raked over the coals when in reality it is a major popular brand offering some of the most unique technology in an old and long unimproved product. he thousands of people that have bought them, paid the premium price and are truly satisfied are not being represented here and so the product appears to be bad. As a knowledgeable owner, user and satisfied customer I say the Toto's are superior to any on the market. I especially feel that the ADA compliant model that we have is unmatched. As a matter of fact, I am so happy with the ADA model and being disabled really needing one, I just wrote an article on my own personal blog about them.
Sorry that the folks above have had a bad experience but there are those of us who would have nothing else and someone needs to step up and say so.


== Answer == I sold toilets for six years. We carried American Standard, Kohler and a couple of house brands--Pegasus and Glacier Bay. Kohler was our best brand. American Standard was good too, but the Kohler seemed to work the best.

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Regarding Toto toilets, we have 2 one-piece commodes and the above noted "Occasional skid marks are the only complaint" is our experience precisely. This yucky residue annoyance was not an issue with the cheap AS toilets our Totos replaced, and I had no inkling that this would be a problem with Totos, but it IS.

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First answer by Rickingram2462. Last edit by DocMaggot. Contributor trust: 2 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 231 [recommend question].