Toto Carlyle II vs Toto Vespin II – Which is the Better Toilet?
Last Updated on May 18, 2022 by toilethaven
Difference between Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II
Toto toilets are some of the best flushing toilets in the market. They are beautifully designed and although a little pricey their performance is as advertised.
Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II are 2 of the high-end and best flushing Toto toilets. But what is the difference between Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II and which is the better toilet to buy?
Toto Carlyle II is the skirted version of Toto Ultramax II while Toto Vespin II is the skirted version of Toto Drake II. As such, Toto Carlyle II is a one-piece toilet while Toto Vespin II is a two-piece toilet. Both of them use 1.28 gallons of water per flush.
Apart from their design difference, Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II have almost all other features similar. But what are the pros and cons of buying a Toto Carlyle II vs Toto Vespin II?
Toto Carlyle II vs Toto Vespin II
| Feature | Toto Carlyle II | Toto Vespin II |
|---|---|---|
| Style | One-piece | Two-piece |
| Toilet bowl | Elongated | Elongated |
| Flush rate | 1.28 GPF | 1.28 GPF |
| Flushing system | Tornado flush | Tornado flush |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Ease of installation | Fast | Time consuming |
| Ease of cleaning | Very easy | Easy |
| Rough-in | 12 inches, adjustable to 10/14 | 12 inches, adjustable to 10/14 |
| Maintenance cost | Lower | Higher |
| Aesthetics | Very attractive | Attractive |
Toto Carlyle II
The only difference between Toto Carlyle II and Toto Ultramax II is that Toto Carlyle II has a skirted bowl while the Ultramax II’s bowl is non-skirted. All f their other features are similar.
Toto Carlyle II with a Washlet
This specific model comes with bidet toilet seat (washlet) for added luxury and comfort. You can choose any of the many Toto washlets to go with it hence the price will vary. There is also a choice between the 1.28 GPF model and the 1 GPF model.
Toto Vespin II
The diffrence between Toto Vespin II and Toto Drake II is that the Toto Vespin II is a skirted toilet while the Drake II is not. Toto Vespin II is also slightly more expensive than Drake II.
Toto Vespin II with a Washlet
You also opt to buy Toto Vespin II with a washlet instead of a regular toilet seat. There are several washlet models to choose from with each having a price tag separate from that of the toilet.
The Pros and Cons of Toto Carlyle II vs Toto Vespin II
Should you buy the Toto Carlyle II or Toto Vespin II? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Let is have a look.
1. Aesthetics
Both Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II are beautifully designed toilets. I however hold that Toto Carlyle II is sleeker than Toto Vespin II although someone else could have a contrary opinion.
The one-piece design of the Carlyle II creates a seamless integration of the tank and bowl unlike the little gap between the tank and bowl in the Toto Vespin II. This just makes the Carlyle II so elegant and more attractive.
2. Ease of Cleaning
Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II are relatively easier to clean compared to other toilets. The skirted bowl designs removes the nooks and crannies where dirt can hide making cleaning them really easy.
It is however easier to clean the Toto Carlyle II than the Vespin II. As I have already mentioned, the one-piece design of the Toto Carlyle removes the gap between the tank and bowl, as is the case with Toto Vespin II. You therefore don’t have to struggle getting rid of dirt in that tiny gap.
3. Ease of Installation
Installing a one-piece toilet like the Toto Carlyle II is faster than a two-piece toilet in this case the Toto Vespin II, but not always easy. This is because you need to install it in one go, unlike the Toto Vespin where you install the bowl then the tank later.
The challenge with installing Toto Carlyle II is that it is heavy and delicate. Attempting to install it on your own is risky since you can easily drop it and break it. You would therefore need an extra pair of hands to help you with the lifting.
Installing the Toto Vespin II takes longer but can comfortably be done by 1 person. The ease of installation may not influence your decision that much but I reckon it is worth knowing.
4. Repairs and Maintenance
Toilets will from time to time leak water between the tank and the bowl. This is often caused by loose tank bolts, worm out tank to bowl gasket, cracked flush valve or worn out washers.
If you buy Toto Vespin II you will deal with the above issues at some time in your toilet’s life. They are however non-existent with the Toto Carlyle II since it does not have the above toilet tank parts.
The danger of buying Toto Carlyle II is that if one piece (the tank or the bowl) cracks you will have to replace the entire toilet. On the other hand, if you have the Toto Vespin II you will only need to replace the broken piece.
5. Toilet Dimensions
Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II have all of their dimensions equal apart from their heights. Toto Vespin II is about 2 inches taller than Toto Carlyle II, making the Carlyle II more compact, as is the case with all one-piece toilets.
Both of them however are comfort height toilets, and are hence compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each has a bowl height of 16.125 inches which translates to 17.25 inches seat height.
6. Cost
Toto Carlyle II costs a little more than Toto Vespin II. This is also something you will notice when comparing Toto Ultramax II vs Toto Drake II as I did on this post. In general, one-piece toilets generally cost way more than two-piece toilets with the same features and specifications.
You can also buy each of these toilets with a Toto washlet (bidet seat) instead of the regular toilet seats. Their prices will significantly go up however. If you do not want a Toto washlet check out some of the best bidet toilet seats in this post.
7. Shipping
Toto Carlyle II will be shipped to you in one big box while Toto Vespin II will be shipped in two separate boxes, one with the bowl and the other with the tank. Does it make a difference though?
Due to their odd shape and weight, one-piece toilets tend to break more during shipping than two-piece toilets. Although toilets these days are nicely wrapped and hardly ever breaks, the chance of a one-piece toilet breaking during shipping is higher than that of a two-piece toilet.
On the other hand, there is usually no guarantee that both boxes of a two-piece toilet will get to you at the same time. It is not unusual for one box to arrive first, then the other one after a day or two.
Similarities between Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II
Although Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II have so many similarities, there are a few which are more important than others. Let us have a look at them.
1. Flushing System
Toto Carlyle II and Vespin II uses Toto’s Tornado flushing system. The Tornado flushing system is designed to deliver a powerful flush while using as little water as possible, which is an improvement of the popular Toto G-Max flushing system.
It does so by using an extra-large 3-inch flush valve and 2 powerful nozzles, one on each side of the bowl. A large flush valve ensures that water is dumped in the bowl faster and forcefully while the 2 nozzles eliminates the usual rim holes.
When you flush the toilet, water enters the bowl through the 2 nozzles forcefully and in a cyclic movement, which forms two cyclones (double-cyclone) in the bowl. Apart from being a powerful flushing system, the Tornado flushing system is also very effective in bowl scrubbing and rinsing.
Both Toto Carlyle and Toto Vespin use 1.28 gallons of water per flush. They are therefore compliant with the requirement of WaterSense, a program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.)
CalGreen has also certified these toilets as compliant with their requirements. They can hence be sold in California and other states with tough water laws like Texas and Colorado.
2. Toilet Rough-In
The rough-in of a toilet is the distance between the toilet’s rear finished wall and the center of the drainpipe. Most and modern toilets have a standard rough-in of 12 inches, but there are toilets which either have a 10 or 14-inch rough-in.
Both Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II have a rough-in of 12 inches. What is interesting however is that both of them can be converted into either a 10 or 14-inch rough-in toilet with the help of the Toto unifit adapter.
If you have an old toilet with a non-standard rough-in that you need to replace with a modern toilet then you can consider one of these 2. The Toto unifit adapter only works with Toto skirted toilets.
Conclusion
Both Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II are beautiful and powerful flushing toilets. None is a better flusher than the other. If you want a one-piece toilet then the Toto Carlyle II is the toilet for you. For a two-piece and slightly cheaper toilet then the Carlyle II is your best pick.