Toto Drake CST744SL#01 Toilet Review

by Dan | Last Updated: March 10, 2023

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Toto is among a few other best toilet brands that won’t miss out on any list of the manufacturers with the most efficient and highly reliable toilets.

This Japanese bathroom giant is famous for developing the washlet (a feature that jets water towards your backside after using the toilet).

Toto is also world-renowned for its sleek models that boast a modern design marketed for most contemporary homes.

This Toto Drake CST744SL#01 toilet review brings one of this brand’s most coveted commodes in the plumbing world.

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About The Toto Drake CST744SL#01

The Toto CST744SL#01 is one of the most highly-rated toilets in Toto’s Drake collection. This is a 2 piece elongated system utilizing the G-max flushing system to offer you powerful and thorough flushes enough to tackle almost any level of challenge.

Worth pointing out is that this is among a few other Toto toilets from the brand that qualifies for the ADA certification. This feature alone helps it beat out most of its other siblings including the TOTO CST744SG#01.

2 Piece Elongated Drake Toilet

The latter has received negative feedback from its past users for a few reasons. The major complaints include failing to meet ADA height requirements and low flushing performance. It has also been accused of leaving unsightly streaks that necessitate a cleanup followed by a re-flush.

As far as competition is concerned, the Toto CST744SL 01 seems to compete well with the most coveted American Standard 270AD001.020 Cadet 3 toilet. Though somewhat cheaper than the Drake and also highly recommendable, the Cadet 3 has to be installed at the corner due to the shape of its tank. It’s not necessarily a flaw if your bathroom supports that, but it may bring in other plumbing requirements and costs to some homeowners.

What’s In The Box?

Toto Drake CST744SL Specs

What Makes The Toto CST744SL-01 Worth Going For?

  1. Variety Of Colors

    With a worldwide following, Toto seems to understand the importance of offering this model in a variety of colors to match different bathroom schemes. The available options include bone, ebony (more of black), colonial white, cotton white, and Sedona beige.

    Importantly, these shades also differ in prices. If you are looking for a model that won’t soak your budget, the colonial white and cotton white might please you. What I like about a white toilet bowl is that it blends quite easily with everything else in the restroom. It’s also pretty easy to paint it to another color whenever you feel that your bathroom is worn or just uninviting.

    If your budget allows, you could also get the Sedona Beige or the Bone colored toilet. Though relatively pricey, these hues are just exceptional and might be a good bet for anyone who wants to give their bathroom a luxurious appearance.

  2. Flushing Performance

    While it’s important to match your toilet with your bathroom walls, let’s agree that what matters most is how good the toilet flushes your ‘rectum warriors.’

    What most people like about the CST744SL-01 Drake is that it never disappoints when flushing, thanks to its G-max flushing system. In case you didn’t know, Toto uses different flushing systems for its toilets including G-max, E-max, Double-cyclone, and the Tornado.

    While E-max is arguably the most eco-friendly, the G-max is the most popular. In fact, most industry benchmarks argue that toilets with the G-max system have the best flushing capabilities on the market today.

    You may ask, ‘’What’s so unique about the G-max system?’’

    What makes the G-max quite superior to other systems is that it utilizes a 3-inch flush valve which is 125% larger than the 2’’ valve used in most conventional toilets. It also boasts a fully glazed trap. These two components are then reinforced by a powerful siphon jet with over 8psi pressure to ensure that all waste goes down the drain with no clogs whatsoever at the turn of the knob.

  3. Single Flush

    The market shows some favoritism to dual flush toilets since they allow you to use water at your discretion. Most homeowners steer clear of single flush toilets since they use a lot of water for both solid and liquid waste.

    Luckily, the Toto CST744SL-01 is designed to utilize 1.6 gallons of water per flush. At 1.6 GPF, this toilet does an excellent job of slashing your water bills. Though the market has several toilets that prove more water efficient at 1.28 GPF, the Toto CST744SL-01 beats most conventional toilets that use up to 5 GPF and might, therefore, be a good option if you are running away from one of these.

  4. Comfort

    Another reason why you might want to go with the Toto CST744SL-01 is that it has a universal design. As an ADA-certified model, this throne has a height of around 17 inches – from the floor to the top of the bowl. Most people find these slightly taller toilets a bit more comfortable than the conventional 14’’ fixtures since the added height makes sitting down and getting up lots easier.

    If you or any member of your family, for instance, the elderly and people with arthritis experience challenges using low profile toilets, the Toto Drake 01 might be the solution.

  5. Installation

    I wouldn’t say that installing this toilet is a ‘piece of cake’ considering that it’s a 2 piece fixture. However, it might be easier if you have done it before. Luckily, it comes with precise instructions. So, you could still mount it if you a real DIY aficionado.

    Speaking of installation, do know that this toilet does not come with the wax ring and the nuts. You’ll need to purchase these beforehand to avoid inconveniences.

  6. Ease Of Cleaning

    One piece toilets are easier to clean. The 2 piece units such as the CST744SL-01 might require more time since they have more nooks and crevasses.
    But this does not mean that the Toto CST744SL could take you an hour cleaning it. In my opinion, 10 or so minutes might be enough.

 

Toto CST744SL#01 Pros & Cons

Pros

  • G-max system has powerful and efficient flushes
  • Has a wider trap diameter to eliminate clogging issues
  • Has quiet performance
  • It’s water efficient at 1.6 GPF
  • Has a comfortable height

Cons

  • The seat is sold separately
  • Does not ship with installation supplies

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Is The Toto CST744SL-01 Drake Your Perfect Toilet?

This unit might be an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a commode that is not overly priced and that which does not compromise performance for affordability. It’s also a worthwhile choice for a homeowner who wants to save some bucks on water bills.

However, do know that some States have laws that require toilets to use utmost 1.28 GPF. If you are a citizen of such countries, this Toto Drake elongated might not work for you.

You might want to consider the Kohler 3810-0 Santa Rosa instead. This is a one piece WaterSense-certified toilet with a compact elongated bowl. Its one piece design makes it much easier to install than the Toto CST744XL. It’s also easy to clean. The only downsides are that it’s a little bit pricier and its round front bowl is not ADA-certified.

How To Choose A Toilet That Everyone Will Love

What Features Should You Keep An Eye On When Shopping For Your ‘Perfect’ Toilet?

Rough In Size

This is, hands down, one of the most vital measurements that you should understand especially when replacing an old toilet. It simply refers to the distance between the wall behind the toilet and the closest nut. As simple as I make it look, getting this measurement incorrectly could cost you big time.

The standard toilet has a rough in distance of 10-12 inches, but some models could go as high as 14’’. As a rule of thumb, go for a unit that either fits where your last toilet was or go smaller. Going higher could result in extra plumbing costs or moving walls at worst.

Elongated vs. Round Toilets

Round toilets are notorious for causing discomforts to the elderly and large users. But they edge out the competition where space saving is vital.

One big reason why you might consider an elongated toilet is its universal design that fits most adults and kids. However, ensure that it’ll not be blocking your bathroom door or cabinets.

Good Flusher

Getting a toilet that flushes your ‘business’ with precision is key. Whether it’s a single or a dual flusher, it also needs to be quiet and water efficient. On this note, consider how much gallons it takes per successful flush (GPF). You may want to go for a system that uses as less water as possible if cutting your water bills is a top priority.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Toto CST744SL has almost everything that a homeowner would be looking for in a mid-range toilet from a powerful G-max flushing system to a universal design that offers all users a comfortable experience.

I really like that it has a wider trapway that eliminates all issues of clogging and it’s also easy to install. If these are some of the factors at the top of your must-have list, the Toto CST744SL might be worth going for.

 

Dan is the editor in chief and founder of this site, after running into troubles with his own old toilet a while ago. Discussing toilets is not your everyday topic, so let’s talk toilets today.