Toto Drake toilet product review

[dtinEnid]

I have been using the Drake Elongated ADA for several months. Yes, it flushes like a champ, is difficult to plug (happened once...), and refills quickly. Solid waste DOES leave its mark, though. Another flush doesn't wash it away and it usually needs brushed.

Do any of the other models clean better while keeping the famous flush?

PS The flush is noisy but may be due to a 3" drain under the toilet that isn't vented well.

[Mikey]

I've had one clog requiring mechanical assistance to clear, and one "stall" of a hot-dog (with bun) - sized poop, which cleared on its own, in the late part of the flush. Still, it beats the record of any other low-flow toilet I've ever had (except for the PA models). Flush is noisy, but only the final "glurp" as the trap clears. No problems with smears or marking. One frustration is the shape of the bowl makes it look dirty, even though it's clean, especially around the waterline. I think it's a light-and-shadow thing.

[Terry]

We have plenty of TOTO Aquia toilets for the Seattle area now.
We just picked up 40 of them.
11/6/2007

[Notahandyman]

Hi Terry,

I'm hoping I can get some immediate help here & have forgotten how to post a new question in the forum!

I'm ready for the Toto Drake toilet...I've been waiting on the contractor doing our bathroom remodel & there's seemingly a hitch.

The recommended distance from the floor to the water supply line on the toilet is 8 inches. We only have 4''. I just read at another website of a fellow that had this problem & the plumber didn't pay any attention & he ended up having to tear the wall out & re-do everything.

I don't want a make-do situation with the plumber, I want it done properly, but I really don't want to have to tear the wall out either!

Can you offer me any advice on this?

Thanks,
Notahandyman

[Terry]

With the Toto Drake and the Ultramax, the water supply can be 3" to the left of center.

The Vespin and Carlyle need 7" to the left of center for the water supply

The Gunivere and the Soiree can be 5-1/2" to the left of center.

[skhndrsn]

We needed an ADA (comfort height) toilet on short notice for a family member when a flare in her rheumatoid arthritis made the standard height impossible to use. I called a local plumbing company and let them talk me into the Kohler Cimarron they had in stock to install that day. BIG MISTAKE! I knew from reading the forums that the Cimarron had bowl wash quirks, but this was horrible, unless I was willing to clean after every use (and I was SO not). And I could smell it. Immediately. Ugh. Called them back and found out they could have gotten me the Toto Drake I asked for in 24 hours, which is what they did after I insisted. What an improvement! Flushes everything, a snap to install, and no odd smells. As to cleaning, it needs no more than our old water hogs needed. For anyone with handicapped or otherwise weakened family members, both of these new low-flow toilets were too stiff for our family member to flush. We installed a foot pedal ($30. Foot Flush), which worked great but eventually caused knee problems on the flushing leg. We then went to a wireless automatic flusher (Auto-Flush for tank toilets $144.) It's just super. Anyone with kids or with toilet-trained cats will like this option too. Very easy install and wonderful hands-free flushing on our Toto Drake. We're planning to install Totos in the rest of the house. Couldn't be more pleased.

[Terry]

All toilets have rim wash.
If a bowl has the siphon jet, then most of the water for the flush goes through the low part of the bowl, but there are always holes punched around the rim for bowl rinse.

Some comments about bowl wash, are mainly if you are comparing a post 1992 toilet to a pre 1992 toilet.
It has been 16 years since you could buy a 3.5 bowl, and even longer than that for the 5.0 bowls.
When someone replaces an old bowl made before 1992 with a new bowl, then yes, they notice more bowl surface exposed, and less water to rinse.
That is true for all brands.
Of the new toilets reviewed, the Toto Drake flushes well, and has a 360 around the bowl rinse.
It is the top seller I have.

Drake Pepper Test

[jim nelson]

This is not a reply but a question-I am not a plumber-and until yesterday I had never heard of "toto drake". It seems however in the little research I've done since then, to be the best toilet made. Do you recommend one over the other. We have a 1200 square foot house-3 bedroom-2 bath and most days-it's just me & my wife. Recently had toilet checked by a plumbing company who said everything is working fine-my toilet just "sucks". My word there not theirs. It is working properly but that is not good! He recommended the "toto drake and gave me an installed price of $587 out the door. Do you agree with his recommendation and does the price seem fair? Thanks for any advice you have the time to give-jim

[Terry]

The Drake is one of the best that I sell.
Pricing depends somewhat on area.
If you were in the Seattle area, my pricing would look like this.
I also have will-call in Anchorage AK, Wasilla AK, Mount Vernon NY, and Claremont CA

http://www.easycarts.net/ecarts/terr...s.html#CST744S

[suceress]

Hi,
I have a few questions about this toilet. I am thinking of getting two to replace the 30-year-old ones in a couple of my bathrooms. I know that this toilet has a 12" rough-in, but will it work with a 10" rough-in? Or is there any way to make it work with only 10" without having to tear out the wall? It is extremely difficult to get a plumber out here now that our original one has gone blind and become ill.

Also, is the SanaGloss resistant to mineral deposits that are actually in the water? I have a well and pump system and the water has always come out slightly discolored. It leaves horrible red stains on everything. We've tried every septic-safe cleaning product we could find, but nothing has worked (the stains were already there when we moved in).

I would really appreciate a response. We are hoping to get new toilets by this Friday and need to know asap.
Thanks in advance.

[Terry]

You need at least 11-1/8" from the back wall to the center of the drain.
If you have less than this, you can try the Toto Vespin with the optional 10" Unifit, this lets you have a rough-in of 9-1/4" or more.

The Vespin has a coating of Sanagloss in the bowl, which is better with bad water. CST764SG

The Drake can also be ordered with Sanagloss, model CST744SG

[Reader Review]

I purchased two Toto Drake toilets about a month ago. I never thought I would rave about something as mundane as a toilet. But this one really works and it stays clean, cleaner than any toilet I ever used. Naturally, I ordered it with the special coating. Not once has either toilet required the use of a plunger or a toilet bowl brush and
they flush quietly and quickly without leaving anything in the bowl. I love Terry's sight for steering me in the right direction. When my other two toilets are ready for replacement I will certainly order two more Totos without hesitation. My plumber had recommended a Kohler toilet, but after I did my research I thought I should go with a Toto. When the plumber came back to install it, he said they are the best toilets he has ever installed and only recommended Kohler because most people never heard of Toto and are reluctant to purchase a brand they don't know. Well, I'm spreading the word. This is one toilet that deserves its reputation.

Harriet, Indiana March 13, 2008

[suceress]

You need at least 11-1/8" from the back wall to the center of the drain.
If you have less than this, you can try the Toto Vespin with the optional 10" Unifit, this lets you have a rough-in of 9-1/4" or more.

The Vespin has a coating of Sanagloss in the bowl, which is better with bad water. CST764SG

The Drake can also be ordered with Sanagloss, model CST744SG

Ohhh! It's to the CENTER of the pipe! I thought it was from the wall to the beginning of the pipe. It is about 12" from the wall to the center. That should make the Drake fit in well. I had already ruled out the Vespin because of the reported difficulty to install in small spaces. We are installing the toilets ourselves. We are having to replace the subflooring due to water damage. Is there something we should put on the floor or underneath to protect it from moisture (we will put flooring over it, but want it to be water resistant just in case).
Do you know of any cleaners that are good to use on the SanaGloss finish that won't damage it and that won't harm septic tanks?

Thank you very much!

PS. I was watching a program on the history of bathrooms on the History Channel and it mentioned Toto as the best quality producer of toilets. I think the model they were showing was the Ultramax.

[Redwood]

Imagine that... Toto has earned a spot in toilet history!

The sketch below shows rough in dimension.

[jadnashua]

I've installed several Toto's with the Unifit adapter. It isn't really a big deal. Yes, you do have to drill a few holes, and if it is into tile, you need the right bit, but shouldn't be a major deciding factor. I have both a Vespin and a Carlyle in my condo...both work well. I wanted a color for the one, so I chose the Vespin which was a little less, but used white with the Carlyle. The one-piece has fewer places for dirt to hide. The plastic inserts Toto (at least used to) supplies for the Unifit seem to be designed for a metric hole...the nearest US equivalent fractional bit is a little small making it hard to get them in a tight hole. You can do it, but I found it easier to just buy some inserts designed for the fractional drill bit I had. If it was vinyl and a wood subfloor, it wouldn't matter, but in a hard tile, it is. This was several years ago, maybe they've updated what they supply. A small nit.