Just wondering I could only imagine how boring the atx would be....I specifically wanted the 5 spd because it saved me like 500 bucks or something, This would be my 1st 5spd but it's a blast to drive.

I love it and I wont go back

I went from an auto to a 5spd and sometimes I miss the auto, especially in the mornings when I'm tired and just trying to drink my coffee and coast into work. But I will say, having the control with a 5spd is my favorite aspect.

love it. could use a 6th gear though, haha.

These cars are really peppy with the 5spd you can run out 1st gear and 2nd and 3rd without having the auto doing the shifting for you I went from a 99 t/a to a 2010 focus se coupe :)

Yes that's no doubt that we can use a 6th gear especially at 80 running around 3000k on the highway

theres one thing I gotta do and thats the urethane mounts defiently!

I know I'm glad I got it!

Yes that's no doubt that we can use a 6th gear especially at 80 running around 3000k on the highway

svt 6spd is over 3500k @ 80mph

I love my focus 5 spd, can't ever seeing myself going to an auto, unless it has some legit paddle shifters [;)]

svt 6spd is over 3500k @ 80mph

Yup. Sometimes I kinda wish I only had 5 lol.

5 speed focus is awesome.

But I'm so glad I have an auto for a daily driver.

Wouldnt have it any other way. Besides, women love seeing a man in control. lol
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I've ALWAYS liked the manuals and I always will.... BUT keep in mind that the dual-clutch (new generation autos) will quite possibly out-perform a manual. There's a vid on the net where they take a VW GTI 6-speed vs the DSG (auto) and the auto will beat it to 60 at the hands of a professional driver even though he notes that the manual still FEELS faster...

Who ever said automatics can't be faster than manuals? most of the fastest cars in the world leave the shifting to either a computer completely, or do everything BUT flick the paddle to hit the next gear. 5 speeds just have a nice feel to them, obviously an auto is going to be the most consistent. its getting them not to use up so much damn horsepower thats the problem.

Matt

It is commonly thought that a manual will out-perform the automatic version that the factory offers (we're not talking about dragsters here). That's because, up until very recently, it was true...

The newest dual-clutch automatics DO NOT leach up as much power (cp to older, inferior designs) and they shift as fast or faster (than a manual in the hands of a pro). I'm less familiar with Ford's version than some other carmakers but I'm guessin' that Ford's is good. Still loving my 5-speed but I don't dare try the things I try while I drive the fiance's automatic...

Only one driving situation where I dislike my manual. Stop and go traffic. Nothing worse than being on the highway with cars on either side of you and having to stop and go every 30 seconds.

Other than that, it was my only other requirement when I bought my Focus other than only wanting two doors. It makes driving fun

I love it..but it does get annoying in rush hour traffic.

dorve a manual focus while in germany throught to hungary...it was fun and all but try smoking a cig or drinking coffee or talking on the phone...got the wif ean atx cause she doesnt know how to drive a manual....got Tom's tune to it and it is actually more fun to me. but to each his own.

I love my manual. I haven't driven a D/C trans yet, but I can't imagine it being more fun than a manual. If you read any of the car mags, R&T C&D etc, a lot of the drivers and writers are against the demise of the manual. I don't smoke or drink coffee so my hands are not otherwise occupied. My wife can't drive a manual, so it's all mine. HaHa

I have never and will never drive an automatic. Manual or bust.

loved the 5-speed i had, love the 6-speed even more.


just wish the SVT had a taller 6th. revs are nuts on the FWY.

I love a manual, My first car I learned to drive on and owned was a 91 ford F150 5speed, And then a 5 speed 87 saab 9000, and my girl has a 5 speed in her 03 zx3, and I plan to do the swap to a mtx75 in my auto wagon.

Love the 5 speed, and can't wait to swap my wagon to a 5 speed.

Almost all the cars I have ever owned have been manual transmissions. The only car that was automatic was an 82 Buick Skylark which was a complete piece of shit. Only paid $200 back in 1990, not bad for a first car though. After that, all I have ever driven has been manual. The vehicle I took my driving test in was a 1974 F-250 with a 4 speed manual.

One more thing, I have always said, " in a auto your just riding along, in a manual you are actually driving". If that makes sense to some of you?

Makes sense to me.

You're actually part of the car when driving a manual. Autotragic, you're basically just sitting there. Steering. And braking. That's about it.

Exactly^^^[clap][clap][clap], well put sir.

Autotragic, you're basically just sitting there. Steering. And braking. That's about it.

but for some people thats almost to much to do along with talking on cell phones, putting on makeup, eating, reading, etc [?|] LOL


I went from an auto to a manual and won't go back. But a finely tuned auto will shift faster than a manual I believe; thats why so many super cars have the flappy paddle gear box. [thumb]

Yea but some people still try to do them all while driving a manual, And yea that's what they use in funny car and dragsters, cause it is like a auto in the sense of anyone can go back and fourth fast, but no power loss from it. Also it makes it so the biggest comp is getting off that line fast, and keeping it straight.

The newest dual-clutch automatics DO NOT leach up as much power (cp to older, inferior designs) and they shift as fast or faster (than a manual in the hands of a pro). I'm less familiar with Ford's version than some other carmakers but I'm guessin' that Ford's is good. Still loving my 5-speed but I don't dare try the things I try while I drive the fiance's automatic...

I'm waiting patiently for the 2012 Focus with PowerShift for this reason. Although the Fiesta is just as fun. Hopefully the new Focus will come with paddle shifters at the very least. But I have a feeling that will only be reserved for the Titanium trim level.

Switching from an automatic 4-speed '02 ZX3 to an automatic 6-speed Rabbit... and obviously the difference is huge. I love cruising freeways at 70 mph with 2400 RPM now. But I'd be willing to trade one gear if it meant having a dual clutch with paddle shifters. No amount of additional gearing is going to make up for a slushy torque converter that saps power from the crank.

I don't know if I like the paddles on the steering wheel if that's the one your talking about?

I don't know if I like the paddles on the steering wheel if that's the one your talking about?

Yep. Even a manual mode on the shifter... ANYTHING. The PowerShift equipped Fiesta has neither of those, unfortunately.

I know many of you refuse to ditch the clutch pedal, and I can totally understand that, but at the very least if you're stuck with a rental car you'll find that feature more bearable. Am I right on that assumptoin?

The 2012 Focus has SelectShift in the SEL and Titanium models, so you can have control over shifting without needing to play with the clutch. This to me is an almost perfect compromise between wanting control and having to deal with the clutch while in stop and go traffic. Since you can't get SelectShift in the S or SE, this also makes sense since those who have an S or SE can have the manual transmission.

The dual-clutch automatic has two clutches, one for even gears, and one for odd. This allows for the smoother and faster shifting. Fuel economy is actually better with the automatic than with the manual as well, and as others have said, you can get better acceleration with the SelectShift automatic over a manual since the engine can handle the clutch faster than a human could.

I agree that up until now, the manual has been MUCH better than the automatic, but with the new automatic that Ford has come up with, I don't see any real advantage to the manual with the 2012 Focus. The fact that the new Focus will also have a 6-speed automatic compared to 5-speed manual isn't the issue since I believe the 6-speed manual would still be beaten by the new automatic transmission.

As far as women preferring men who drive a stick, that may simply be because most automatics can't get the acceleration of a manual.

So wait the 6spd svt is running higher rpms at fwy speeds then my 2010 5spd? Whats the final gear on a 6spd svt?

Yep. Even a manual mode on the shifter... ANYTHING. The PowerShift equipped Fiesta has neither of those, unfortunately.

I know many of you refuse to ditch the clutch pedal, and I can totally understand that, but at the very least if you're stuck with a rental car you'll find that feature more bearable. Am I right on that assumptoin?

I don't know, I will personally have to crash, get a rental car, and hope it's got paddle shifters and decide for myself. [dunno]

So wait the 6spd svt is running higher rpms at fwy speeds then my 2010 5spd? Whats the final gear on a 6spd svt?


http://www.myfordfocus.com/images/svt/layshaftchart3.jpg

So wait the 6spd svt is running higher rpms at fwy speeds then my 2010 5spd? Whats the final gear on a 6spd svt?

yes it is. I looks like 6th gear final gear is 2.88

The new Getrag box is a curious piece. Look closely at the gear ratios listed in the spec box and you'll notice two different final drive ratios. Confused? The Getrag box is what is known as a dual layshaft design. Normally, you would have an input shaft with six gears on it meshing with an output shaft that also has six gears on it. This would make a very long transmission, however, and besides the packaging constraints, long shafts tend to be weaker than short ones. In the Getrag box, there are only four gears on the input shaft and there are two different output shafts. Second and third gear, for example, might share the same gear on the input shaft, but second would be a larger gear on one side of the input gear, and third would be a smaller one on the other side of the same input gear. Both output shafts drive the differential through different final drive gears, resulting in a 2.88:1 final drive for first, second, fifth and sixth gear, and a 4.25:1 final drive for third, fourth, and reverse.
http://www.modified.com/roadtests/0106scc_ford_focus_svt/index.html

I love my 5 speed. I never would've gotten into the 12s with an auto, not without some work. I mostly drag race so I would hate the 6speed. Too much shifting = slower E/T. That and the getrag is a heavy biotch!

Nice info.

One more thing, I have always said, " in a auto your just riding along, in a manual you are actually driving". If that makes sense to some of you?

As a Chauffeur, I have to respectfully disagree. A number of My clients would also disagree, as I have very effectively driven My Lincoln Town Car(ATX, says Captain Obvious) out of situations that required split-second decision making, not shifting.

That said, I would not trade My manual ST for anything else, as it is just fun to drive, and is far more interactive than an auto trans.

Oh, and I took a Taurus SHO out for a spin a few months back, and it shifts so smooth One can barely tell when it happens, which is a very nice little feature in My line of work

svt 6spd is over 3500k @ 80mph

Yup. Sometimes I kinda wish I only had 5 lol.

You wouldn't like my Saleen then. Only a 5 speed, but over 3000 @ 80 mph. Tach sets right at 3000 @ 70 mph.

I wouldn't trade my mtx for anything. I'm sure the dual clutch setup is nice and all, but there's just nothing like slamming that shifter around and banging through the gears. It's just fun!

You wouldn't like my Saleen then. Only a 5 speed, but over 3000 @ 80 mph. Tach sets right at 3000 @ 70 mph.

I wouldn't trade my mtx for anything. I'm sure the dual clutch setup is nice and all, but there's just nothing like slamming that shifter around and banging through the gears. It's just fun!

Same with My ST, on both points.[thumb]

I have a friend locally who owns an SVT and He took My ST out for a spin right after I got Her, and at least part of Him wished He had a 5 speed transmission as well.

I have tried a few different auto stick or sports stick type transmission and never really been impressed with this is a feature. Hopefully the 2012 Focus is different but my expectations are low. In the meantime I love my auto as a daily driver/commuter 5 days out of the week and some weekends.

Moving your left leg and right arm is not always a better overall driving experience. In some situations its a bigger challenge to learn where your car likes to shift and adapt your driving style

i love my 6 speed :)

**DISCLAIMER: im not being an ass at all**

this thread is kind of funny. when you think about it, everyone who has a 5 or 6 speed manual transmission probably had to do some digging around to find it. in most cases they arent readily available... hell i had to buy a demo model because there were no SE's with a stick, sunroof, and abs within 75 miles; 3 features i had to have. its almost as if a manual is the optional feature even though its standard on many cars! since we had to search for it or hold out for one to come in, you know we are happy with it, especially since manuals as a whole are becoming so rare as it is.

i love my manual... i love the (manual) 6-speed transmission in the 2011 gt better though!!

80mps in 6th is at like 2200rpm... its crazy!!

$500 manufacturer discount for purchasing a car with a manual transmission. My dealer gave that to me as a parting gift. I guess I should feel a little bad because I ignored their phone calls for a few years. I guess they aren't used to someone who orders a car, and then doesn't purchase one every 2 years.

I enjoy the manual transmission now, but not when it comes time for replacing clutches. I'm hoping I can get 160k out of this clutch. 120k so far, and no slipping that isn't related to a sticky slave cylinder.

Since I drive TWO Fords with manual transmissions,I can tell you that I haven't had any regrets about buying them. Both vehicle have given me excellent reliability,acceleration and fuel economy. Plus they were cheap to acquire as well(the 2010 SE coupe I bought for $11K,the 2003 F-150 for under $5K.

I have the 5spd...I had to buy my car new because that was the 1 thing I wanted. I love it. Am I preaching to the choir?

5 Spd all the way. I went from an ATX Focus to a MTX Focus, first auto I've driven, first manual I've driven.

I'm all about the driving, so I don't care about not being able to do other things while shifting. Besides, I don't like talking on the phone whilst driving, and if I'm smoking a cig or sipping coffee, I'll wait till im in my cruising gear. Not that hard to coordinate...

personally my favorite part of having the 5spd is the 2 seconds you shave off the 0-60 times (check C&D short takes).

it's nice blowing away people at lights and on the freeways that think "oh that's just a focus". passing on 2 lane highways has never been so fun :D

have a 04 ATX and a 00 MTX. i love the 5 speed for zipping around, but getting up at 6am to get to school and i got to think. its going to 4.5k and i go shit gotta shift, lol. but anyways atx will be swapped to 5 speed when i get the $$ and no early morning exams and crap. so 5 speed all the way.

had a five speed and loved it!!! my girls got an auto and makes me miss my five speed fofo. only thing better than a five speed is a six speed!! had a six speed 08 GT Eclipse... awesome but i lost my job then lost my car.....FML!!![bawling]

I refuse to drive a car that doesnt have a mtx. the only caveat to that is that sometimes a mtx sucks ass in heavy traffic.

5 speed is awesome the best wouldnt go back to automatic

I'm so happy I found this thread. I almost started to make one like it. I had an auto focus and it was nothing compared to my 5 speed ST! I love it! Only thing I don't like sometimes is early morning driving when I'm not so into it all. Really slow traffic sucks too. It's like "Hey! Move it, not everyone can just coast along!" lol.

^^^lol while in rush hour, im the guy in front of you that leaves like 10 car spaces just so I don't have to keep braking and pushing the clutch in and out. Annoys the heck out of most people who blast by me real quick. Whatever.

Haha I have a similar traffic strategy
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I will never own another automatic!

I do the same thing when on i95 I leave like 10 spaces LOL my main concern though is rolling back into the car behind me I'm not in a hilly state ala florida but some of the off ramps have an incline, Thank god I havent though LOL yeah I'm a lil rusty :)

so much fun being able to drive the car how I WANT TO and not how the car feels i should be.

And the only driving assist i have is the Power Steering... i got nothing special after that!

lol

I do the same thing when on i95 I leave like 10 spaces LOL my main concern though is rolling back into the car behind me I'm not in a hilly state ala florida but some of the off ramps have an incline, Thank god I havent though LOL yeah I'm a lil rusty :)

I'm still afraid of that happening. lol. Could you imagine living in San fransisco?

yeah lol

I've never purchased a vehicle with an automatic transmission and hope I never have to.

I've never purchased a vehicle with an automatic transmission and hope I never have to.

I have a automatic in my Powerstroke, so, hah! [lockdance]

Great on gas, really puts the fun back in driving !!! easy to maintain too...

I'm finding out a manual car driving in snow/slush inspires more confidence b/c you're in more control. It may be also that Focus' are good snow cars. I do like the fact that the car sits a little higher than most small cars. Driving this 5-sp is a blast!

I have an auto, and after a tune, it's not too bad at all!

I must admit though, i take any chance i get to drive my family's 5-speed Suzuki :P

I must have a manual. I tend to break automatics (or they tend to break on me? (semantics!)). Now, tween the war of auto's and manuals. Can we assume the manual has won? The new twin clutch 'automatic's' are nothing more than mechanized manuals. I will watch how they do closely over a few yars. But for now, I will stick with "the man pedal". [burnout]

Manuals are way more fun. I wish I got one. But I do like just cruising to work in the automatic drinking coffee...chilling. Stuck in traffic in a manual is the effin' worst though. I think if I have more than 20min stop and go traffic everyday, then I'd never get a manual.