What’s your opinion of the build quality of this Mansfield Summit 3? -PICS-

**stephenk** · 11-20-2012, 10:08 PM

I know some people here don’t say a lot of nice things about Mansfield, but most of the complaints I’ve read are about the builder-grade Alto toilets. I’m moving into a new home in a couple weeks and I will be replacing two toilets. One of the models I’ve been considering is the Mansfield Summit 3. This model is a 1.6 gpf unit that's made in the USA. A local big box store was running a sale on the ADA elongated bowl for $149 + tax (regularly $179). It includes a seat and hardware. I picked it up since the sale ends tomorrow. I’ll have a couple weeks to decide if I want to keep it and install it or box it back up and return it.

I don’t have access to any other toilets like the Toto Eco Drake (one of my other top choices) to compare the build quality to this Mansfield unit.

So, how does the build quality on this look, considering the price? Does anyone have pics of other brands to compare?

Because of forum rules on the number of linked images in a post, I'll have to break this into multiple posts.

Bowl
You can see one small pock mark in the glaze on the back and a small nub, but I don’t know if the nub is supposed to be there or not. It may be normal and leftover form manufacturing.

**stephenk** · 11-20-2012, 10:09 PM

This is a closeup of the passage that carries the water from the tank to the bowl. I don’t know the correct term for it.

Closeup of the transition from the bowl to the trapway.

**stephenk** · 11-20-2012, 10:10 PM

Here are some closeups of the outlet on the bottom of the bowl and inside the trapway.

**stephenk** · 11-20-2012, 10:12 PM

Tank
The back of the tank isn’t glazed very well, but I’ve read that’s pretty normal on toilets, since that part isn’t seen once it’s installed.

**jadnashua** · 11-21-2012, 08:11 AM

The thing I look at is the shape and path of the drain in the toilet...see how yours tries to make the waste make a sharp right-angle bend to go down the drain? That does two things...slows things down, and if you happen to deposit long or hard logs, they can get caught there.

The back of the toilet tank is somewhat irrelevant for most installs. You can tell it is a builder's grade toilet as they didn't take much time to finish it nicely. Now, will you notice it while in use, maybe not unless it clogs.

**Terry** · 11-21-2012, 09:09 AM

In that price range, a Kohler Wellworth would have looked better.

And TOTO would definitely look better! But then you didn't pay much, and that's a factor.

**stephenk** · 11-21-2012, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by jadnashua

The thing I look at is the shape and path of the drain in the toilet...see how yours tries to make the waste make a sharp right-angle bend to go down the drain? That does two things...slows things down, and if you happen to deposit long or hard logs, they can get caught there.

I did notice that. It seems like the actual bends inside the trapway may be smoother curves than it looks like from the outside. They don't seem to be sharp turns when I look inside. But that's just based on the small amount I can see/feel.

I was also a little surprised to see those sharp turns on the outside of the trapway, because the schematic on the box and on the Mansfield website shows the trapway appearing differently.

Originally Posted by Terry

In that price range, a Kohler would have looked better.

And TOTO would definitely look better! But then you didn't pay much, and that's a factor.

Thanks for the response. The problem is I can't really see a Toto in person. I can see the Kohlers in person, but without opening a box I can't see things like the inside of the trapway.

It doesn't seem people post too many close-up pics of inside the trapway or other areas to compare, they often just post an overall picture from a medium distance.

**Gary Swart** · 11-21-2012, 11:09 AM

I find it impossible to believe that in the entire area of KC you can't find a Toto.

**stephenk** · 11-21-2012, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Gary Swart

I find it impossible to believe that in the entire area of KC you can't find a Toto.

I'm not in Kansas City, I'm in a town about an hour outside of KC that doesn't have a Toto dealer. There are some Toto dealers in towns that aren't too far away, but they're plumbing supply stores that don't seem to have showrooms. I could ask them to bring one out to look at, I suppose. But I don't know how keen they would be on letting me rip open a box and look at one up close.

Originally Posted by jadnashua

The back of the toilet tank is somewhat irrelevant for most installs. You can tell it is a builder's grade toilet as they didn't take much time to finish it nicely. Now, will you notice it while in use, maybe not unless it clogs.

Here's thread showing an unglazed rear of an Eco Drake. People posting there indicate it's normal. You can tell the glaze on this Mansfield appears to be applied a little more sloppily.

http://www.terrylove.com/forums/show...ot-as-expected

**Terry** · 11-21-2012, 05:32 PM

I think you should stick with the Mansfield.

I'm normally throwing them away. Swing by and I can load your van up.
That would save me a bunch on dump fees.

**wjcandee** · 11-21-2012, 06:05 PM

Meeeow!

Actually, the guy did say that he knew you were pulling out a lot of the Altos, but wondered if this allegedly-higher-grade Mansfield was any good. I think he got the answer.

SK: I think some of these photos sort of answer your own question. The Toto castings do have some non-functional, non-visible areas that aren't perfectly-glazed or perfectly-smooth sometimes (i.e. right at the outflow horn), but mine definitely looked a lot better than this. And certainly so on the visible and functional areas.

I also think that the trapway design and functionality is going to be better on the Toto, for not a lot much more money if you were to get say a regular Drake on sale. Oddly, the actual toilet they gave you really doesn't match the drawing, not that it's that important. What's in the box is what's important.

**Gary Swart** · 11-21-2012, 06:15 PM

FWIW, I live 140 miles and one mountain range from my Toto dealer, and I wouldn't consider anything but a Toto. I have 2 and they are awesome.

**stephenk** · 11-21-2012, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Terry

I'm normally throwing them away. Swing by and I can load your van up.
That would save me a bunch on dump fees.

I definitely appreciate hearing your opinion, but to be fair, are any of those you're throwing away the Summit 3 models or are they the cheaper Alto models? I've read some of the things you and others have posted about the Altos, and they don't sound too good.

**Gary Swart** · 11-21-2012, 11:52 PM

You seem to be looking for some one to endorse the Mansfield Summit 3. Well, it isn't likely to happen on this forum at least. Most of us are pretty well sold on the Toto line. But, it's your money and your choice. Perhaps you'll be happy with the Summit 3. And yes, Terry does haul a lot of Mansfield as well as other brands to the dump.

**stephenk** · 11-22-2012, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Gary Swart

You seem to be looking for some one to endorse the Mansfield Summit 3. Well, it isn't likely to happen on this forum at least.

Well, I was more looking for someone to either endorse it or condemn it based on actual experience with this model, but it seems more that people here have no experience with this specific model, good or bad. I guess that in itself could be an anti-endorsement. And, a couple members did raise good points in this thread about it.

Here's one thread I found where a member here likes this specific model, but it's really the only thread I could find about the Summit 3:
http://www.terrylove.com/forums/show...field-Summit-3

I guess I'll just think about it some more before I decide whether to return it or install it. We take possession of our new house next week, so that's when the work will really start.

Anyway, happy Thanksgiving to anyone reading this thread. I'll be contemplating toilet purchases while sitting at the dinner table tonight.