: I was all set to buy a Toto Ultramax toilet and then I read the recent (October 2002) Consumer Reports review of low-flush toilets, which gave the Toto Ultramax a low rating. The review rated the Briggs Vacuity 4200 as the best buy and best overall, while I gather from your site that you are just so so on the Vacuity. What�s the deal?

Andy,
I was wondering the same thing.
Many of the products on the top portion of their list do work well.
I and others have always felt that pressure assist toilets perform well.
The Flushmate equipped tanks are similar in performance with the 3" flush valve of the Toto Ultramax and other G-Max Toto's.

However, not everyone likes the sound curve on the pressure assist toilets using the Flushmate.  .
Some do, and some don't.
I call it the Tim Allen, "Home Improvement" syndrome.
"More Power! Arhgg! Arhgg!"

When you consider that maybe half of the population sits down while flushing, it becomes a real issue.
Maybe in a large warehouse and surrounded by other men flipping levers, it's not a big deal.
But many use their toilet in the quiet confines of their own home and like the privacy and predictability of the G-Max noise curve.

You will note that on their page, they list the Toto Carlyle toilet as very good at waste removal while they list the Ultramax as only "fair"
Both of these models are almost identical in form and function.
What happened to their testing methods?
How can such "similar products" that get the G-Max rating test out so differently on their tests?
It's hard to accept that the highest rated model by plumbers and consumers is only "fair" while the companion model rates a "very good"?

Homeowners and plumbers feel that the G-Max Toto toilets with the 3" flush valve are the best.  

The report I've provided is based on homeowner and plumber feedback.
It's hard to argue with what people truly like.

Or maybe, this is just some unfinished business between them and I?
Read the link below for more on that.

Terry Love's review on toilets

• [Random-bits] Trademark dispute on Consumer Toilet Report