Toto Vespin II Vs. Toto Drake II – Reviews and Comparisons

Last Updated on September 30, 2023 by toilethaven

Which is Better, Toto Vespin II or Toto Drake II?

Toto toilets are, without a doubt, some of the best flushing toilets in the market. There are, however, so many Toto toilet models, and choosing the right one is not always easy.

The Toto Drake II and Toto Vespin II are some of the most popular and best Toto toilets. But which is a better toilet between the Toto Drake II and the Toto Vespin?

What is the difference between the Toto Drake II and the Toto Vespin II? Which one of these 2 toilet models should you buy? Those are the questions I will be answering in this post.

The main difference between Toto Drake II and Toto Vespin II toilets is that the Toto Vespin II has a skirted bowl while Toto Drake II has a non-skirted bowl. This makes the Toto Vespin II adjustable to a 10 or 14-inch rough-in toilet using Toto’s unifit adapter.

The rough-in of a toilet is the distance between the toilet’s rear finished wall and the center of its drainpipe. 12 inches is the standard rough-in of a toilet. Some toilets, however, have a 10 or 14-inch rough-in.

Toto does not manufacture 10 or 14-inch rough-in toilets. Their skirted toilets can, however, be converted into either 10 or 14-inch rough-in using a special adapter. Skirted Toto toilets include Toto Vespin II and Toto Carlyle II.

Toto Vespin II Vs. Toto Drake II Comparison Table

Toto Drake II Review

Toto Drake II is a single flush, two-piece elongated, and comfortable height toilet. It is the upgraded version of the original Toto Drake.

The main difference between Toto Drake and the Toto Drake II is that Toto Drake uses the G-Max flushing system while Toto Drake II uses the E-Max flushing system. Toto’s G-Max flushing system uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush, while the E-Max system uses 1.28 gallons per flush.

As a result, the Toto Drake cannot be sold in some states like California and Texas, while the Toto Drake II can be sold all over the United States.

These states (California and Texas) require that each toilet sold have a rating of 1.28 gallons of water or less.

Toto Vespin II Review

Toto Vespin II is simply the skirted version of the Toto Drake II. Apart from its skirted bowl, all of their other features are similar. It, however, looks way more elegant and sleeker than the Toto Drake II.

One Toto toilet model that is also considered when buying the Toto Vespin II is the Toto Carlyle II. So, what is the difference between Toto Vespin II and Toto Carlyle II?

Toto Carlyle II is the skirted version of Toto Ultramax II. The difference between Toto Vespin II and Toto Carlyle II is that while the Vespin II is a two-piece toilet, Toto Carlyle II is a one-piece skirted toilet.

Let us now look at the Toto Vespin II and Toto Drake II toilet features in detail.

Toto Vespin II Vs. Toto Drake II Features and Specifications

Is there any other difference between Toto Vespin II and Toto Drake II apart from their bowls being either skirted or non-skirted that set them apart? What else should you know before making your final purchase?

Let us look at all their similar and different features and specifications.

1. Toilet Flushing Power

Toto uses 2 different types of flushing systems to describe a toilet. The first one is based on how much water the toilet consumes per flush, and the second is based on how the water enters the bowl from the tank.

Both Toto Vespin II and Toto Drake II use Toto’s tornado flushing system. This system involves the use of two nozzles on each side of the toilet bowl instead of the usual rim holes all around the bowl rim.

During flushing, water from the toilet tank enters the bowl through this nozzle and vortexes around the bowl like a tornado before flushing the waste away.

Apart from being one of the best flushing systems, the tornado flushing system is also very good at scrubbing and rinsing the bowl.

Both Toto Drake II and Toto Vespin II use 1.28 gallons of water per flush and can hence be sold all over the United States. They are compliant with the requirements of both EPA’s WaterSense and CalGreen.

Due to their low water consumption, both of these toilets fall under the Toto E-Max flushing system.

In short, neither the Toto Vespin II nor the Toto Drake II toilet is better than the other in terms of flushing power. Both of them have equal flush power.

The surface of both of these toilets is coated with Toto’s Cefiontect glaze. This inhibits the adherence of waste on the toilet, making cleaning them a breeze.

2. Toilet Rough-in

As I stated earlier, a toilet’s rough-in is measured from the wall behind the toilet to the center of the toilet’s drainpipe. It is very important to measure your bathroom’s toilet rough-in before buying a new toilet.

A toilet with a rough-in of 10 inches can only be replaced with one with a rough of 10 inches. If, on the other hand, a toilet has a rough-in of 14 inches, it can be replaced by a toilet with a rough-in of 12 inches, but a 2-inch gap will be left between the toilet and the wall.

Both Toto Vespin II and Toto Drake II have a standard rough-in of 12 inches. The rough-in of the Toto Vespin II can, however, be adjusted using a Toto’s unifit adapter to fit a bathroom with a rough-in of either 10 or 14 inches. The unifit adapter works just like an offset toilet flange.

Toto Vespin II is, therefore, the best toilet option for anyone with a non-standard 10 or 14-inch rough-in old toilet that they need to replace with a modern, water-efficient, and powerful flushing toilet.

3. Toilet Dimensions

Other than the toilet rough-in, there are other toilet dimensions that are vital to know before buying a toilet. You want to be sure that the toilet you will be buying will fit in the space you have in your bathroom.

Both the Toto Vespin II and Toto Drake II have equal depths, total heights, and toilet bowl heights. Their widths are, however, slightly different.

They both have a depth of 28.5 inches, a total height of 30 inches, and a toilet bowl height of 16.125 inches. The width of the Toto Vespin II is 16.5 inches, while that of the Toto Drake II is 17. 25 inches.

Although these toilets are sold without a toilet seat, their seat height will increase to 17.25 inches once the seats are installed. They are, therefore, comfort-height toilets and hence comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

4. Cost

Toto Vespin II is more expensive than Toto Drake II. Apart from the total cost of the toilet, you will also have to buy the unifit adapter if you have a non-standard rough-in toilet and want to buy the Toto Vespin II.

Another cost you might not have thought of is the cost of installation. It is easier to install the Toto Drake II than the Toto Vespin II. In fact, all skirted toilets are hard to install.

Due to this fact, most buyers of skirted toilets like the Vespin II often prefer hiring a plumber to install it instead of installing it themselves. This brings in an extra cost.

5. Visual Appeal

Although it is often said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, there is more consensus in this case that the Toto Vespin II is more attractive than the Toto Drake II. This is due to the fact that the Vespin II does not have the crevices found in the Drake II but rather has a smooth mirror-like skirt that bounces off the light and, hence, glows.

In the same light, I will also add that it is way easier to clean the Toto Vespin II compared to the Drake. There are fewer spaces for dirt to hide and accumulate in the Vespin II, which is not the same case with the Drake II.

Conclusion

Both the Toto Vespin II and Toto Drake II are excellent toilets. They have a powerful flush and are from a reputable toilet manufacturer. Buying either of the 2 will be a great choice.

Although I said that the Vespin II is more attractive than the Drake II, that is not to mean that Drake II is an ugly toilet. It is actually one of the best-looking toilets in the market, just that I feel the Vespin II is slightly better looking.

For those who would like a little bit more luxury, I would advise that you buy a Toto bidet seat (also known as a washlet). You will completely get rid of toilet paper from your bathroom, and bidets, in any case, do a way better job than toilet paper.