We read with interest yesterday how a luxury Japanese toilet was found to have security flaws, which could lead to pranksters logging into other people’s systems and causing havoc.

This got us thinking here at Bathshop321, do people really need to spend a reported £3,821 ($5,686) on a toilet, just because of a few fancy features? We’ve done some research.

The Toilet

The main use of the toilet is to, erm, be a toilet. While the model from Japanese firm Lixil will set you back nearly 4 grand, the most popular toilet in our range is only £120 – that’s quite a bit of leftover change.

Let’s take a closer look at the features.

Automatic Flushing

Now we know people like their gadgets and gizmos, but does an automatic flushing toilet really save you that much time or effort? We scientifically calculated (read: did a quick poll in our office) that it takes less than 3 seconds for you to start the toilet flushing. Is automatic flushing really worth four thousand pounds to you?

Fragrance Release

The fragrance feature really addresses a problem that hasn’t been solved so far. Oh, apart from air freshener sprays, potpourri, scented candles, stick on fresheners and general fresh air. All are available for under £5.

Bidet Spray

Many people are fans of the bidet as a more hygienic way of cleaning, so you would expect a £4,000 toilet to come equipped with a bidet spray. But what about people looking to save money via more traditional means?

Well, cavemen managed to get by, and they didn’t even have lovely double quilted toilet paper, which can be picked up for about £2 a pack. If you’ve got your heart set on a bidet, then we sell them ourselves, at much less of a price than our Japanese counterparts.

Music

We’re not convinced that a musical toilet is entirely necessary. While uploading the tension-setting music from Jaws to the toilet could make for a bit of fun, it doesn’t exactly convey a feeling of relaxation. A perfectly-good smartphone dock won’t cost you more than £50 if you’re really keen for music in the bathroom.

Total Spend

So what’s the total cost of buying a traditional toilet along with a few extras? Under £200.

That’s a lot of leftover change when compared to the luxury Japanese model at £3,821.

And what could you do with your remaining £3,621? Well…a holiday to Japan seems quite fitting.

Bon voyage!