The 6 speed manual is only in the ST and 5 speed comes in the regular flavors so your picking a car for beyond a transmission choice.

 

For the good, the 5-spd in the MkIII is teh same transmission you liked in the '06 ZX3.

For the bad, a 6-spd is ONLY avail. with the 1.0 or in the ST model, so you need to choose engine/performance types before knowing which would be avail. in the car of your choice.

I'll move this to the MkIII section so it can get more comments.

 

There are three different manual transmissions in the MK3 Focus in the current model year.

The 2.0L I4 GDI is only available with the MTX-75 5 speed mtx from the early 1990s.

The 1.0L I3 GTDI is only available with the IB6 6 speed mtx.

The 2.0L GTDI is only available in the ST with the MMT6 6 speed mtx.

So if you want a 6 speed your only choices are slow (for the SE the only available EcoBoost engine is the 1.0L I3), or torquey and a bit of a hot hatch (Focus ST).

The 5 speed is definitely the oldest gearbox of the three, and going back and forth between this and the 6 speed in the ST takes some getting used to as the clutch feel is completely different and gearing is close but not identical in the lower gears at least at low engine speeds, the 6th gear in the ST is geared closer to that of the DCT, but still a bit shorter than this, and taller than the 5th gear in the MTX-75.

 

You will not regret buying a 5 speed manual MTX-75 hatch. So what if the transmission dates back to the 90's. It is a rock solid transmission. Car and Driver summed it up better than I can:

The manual’s action is direct, the engagement is positive, and the throw length is just right. Clutch effort is well matched to the resistance of the shifter and gas pedal, something too many manual setups simply get wrong.

Ford Focus SE Manual Hatchback Test ? Review ? Car and Driver

 

That was one of the reviews that led me to my 2012 SE which was almost identically equipped to that one and was the only 5spd on the lot that day and just happened to be the color my wife wanted. I lucked out on finding exactly what we wanted which kinda was on a whim to replace our '09 SE.

 

I owned a 2012 SE sport Focus with the 5 spd manual for three years. Now I have a 2014 ST3
I also had the MTX75 in a Contour SVT I owned for 13 years..

The MTX75 is a very nice transmission. With also saying it works best if the shifting is 'deliberate' Meaning full and complete, not rushing it. Trying to shift too fast, and sloppy will get you missed shifts. The tranny is not happy with a 9/10's shift (where you expect it to finish itself) Nope. It ain't gonna work out for you.
So if you are used to a tranny where the engagement finishes itself.. You will have to learn to do it yourself.
If that is not a problem, then the MTX75 is a joy to use. If it IS a problem, then the MTX75 can be a PITA.(for missed shifts.. which are 100% operator error for reason listed above)

As far as gear ratios.. Both trannies need a slightly higher top gear IMO, for 65 and up freeway

I have learned to be a bit 'slow' shifting, even when 'in a hurry', so the tranny is happy. Like I wrote, a deliberate shift is required. that last 1/10 .. 1/20 of the movement is really important in the MTX75.

In the ST.. I have to say having owed the MTX75 type for sixteen years.. I still shift a bit slow and deliberate.. So I do not know if the ST tranny needs it or not.

 

Excellent description of what seems to make it happy & feel good to shift.

 

i had a 07 focus with the mtx-75 5 spd. it was great. definitely a good trans. you can only get the 6spd if you get a ST or the 1.0T engine. So if you are getting a standard SE you will be getting the 5spd which is the same one they used in the 06 you drove.

 

The 5MT in the Focus is a solid unit that won't have you wanting for more. I've driven a Dart with the 6MT just to see what I was missing and I agree with the OP's sentiments. I've also driven the 2015 6MT Honda Fit and found its one-inch shifts disconcerting (easy to miss) along with the mismatched ultra-soft clutch.

OP, too bad you live in Anaheim, VA instead of Anaheim, CA or else I'd invite you to come over and exchange cars for a day.

 

2015 Ford Focus: Build and Price | Ford

for the 2015 models the 5 speed manual and 6 speed manual are both available. the 6 speed is an up option for the SE. it bumps the price almost 900 bucks. but still cheaper then the Auto option.
this must be a new edition then for most of your older members. but the SE is offered in both a 5 speed manual, 6 speed manual and the 6 speed auto. this is my dilemma.

 

I'm seeing about $800 difference (from the trans selection section) and if you check the "details" you'll find the 6-spd automatically selected the 1.0 engine on that page.

 

ok, you helped me settle my own thread,lol. i didnt even notice that.
that would explain why it was so hard to find a 6 speed Manual 2.0,lol. i test drove the 1.0 and 6MT, it felt very good for what it was. sad part is, it felt better and more usable then the 1.4 manual that i test drove.

 

I used your link to see what they're advertising now instead of just repeating what I'd heard about it.

Interesting to see how they're selling it now. Once you pick SE over titanium or ST the only mechanical choice given is transmission. Engine selection is automatic based on that & you don't even SEE it unless you click on "details" under the model. They make it easy to continue blissfully picking options right to the end without ever looking at what you selected without knowing it engine wise.

 

I'd pass on the small motor & go w/ the 20 motor, if not the st.

 

I have had many manual transmission vehicles over the years including Toyota Celicas, Vw's, Datsun 200SX, 240z, Contour Svt and others and the 5 speed in my 13 hatch has been one of the best. I just checked out my dealer's inventory and out of 85 Focii in stock there is only 1 manual in stock, 6 speed 1.0. They do have 7 ST's in stock also. I like Elizabeth's comments, you need to keep the transmission happy. I get the best shifting when the clutch pedal is depressed as far as it will go. This slows it down and makes the trans happy like Elizabeth said.

 

I drive a 2014 Focus SE with the MTX.

It's a solid transmission overall, but it seems to be picky with how you shift. It needs to be perfect to be smooth. I feel some jerkiness when shifting sometimes, but I think it's a problem with motor mounts on the 2.0 GDI engine; they make the car jerk unnecessarily, even after I've performed a shift change. Alas, that's the only problem I have, and it only really occurs at lower RPM's.

The 6 speed I've tried in my friend's ST and that was a great shifter as well. I think if you had to choose between the two, I'd go for the ST because you can get an ST3 model from 2013/2014 for pretty cheap nowadays (at least in south TX).

 

I have a 12 Ti with the 5 speed and my previous car was a 99 Contour Sport V6 with the same 5 speed. I agree you need to be deliberate in shifting. So I put in the Steeda short throw shifter bracket. It has improved the overall feel of the shifter and it is 'happy' with quicker shifts now. Perfect for back-roads running!
However, if your are drag racing, you still wouldn't be able to slam the shifts fast enough for that situation.

 

that was the problem with the Darts Trans vs the focus' trans. the clutch for the MTX was about 3-5 inches in motion from top to bottom. and the dart has about 6 to 9 inches of play in the clutch depression. the clutch is so finicky with the C635 that that here is basically the problem with that trans. you literally have to move your foot almost a FOOT(lol) to shift gears. when you are driving agressivly, the C635 sometimes will reject a shift all together. i have lost drag races due to the 3rd just all out refusal to go into gear. the clutch is soft and has no real engagement feel. that is the main problems i have with that trans. the Ford trans (Romanian 5and6 speed) had very good feel. assertive, precise and very accurate. when i shifted it felt like a weighted shifter and didnt have slop between shifts. the MTX i drove was very close to those and had none of the engagement problems the FIAT terd had.

 

The MTX75, MMT6, and I think even the IB6 manual transaxles are all built in Germany, not Romania.

 

MTX-75 does have a weighted lever at the trans end for the fore & aft throws, explaining why you get that feel (also used on other trans models).

 

I agree the 1.5 turbo would be perfect in the Focus. I think the dart could be cool but they either need to make it lighter or add some power. the 2.4 has I think 180hp, the car is just so damn heavy.

 

the Dart 2.4 is a great car if your ONLY wanting a point A to B car. its very comfortable, it has good room for a sedan and has great options for what you pay, the suspension is amazing for the GT and i love taking sharp corners quickly. but the lack of care you get from Chrysler, dealerships and the forums is unreal. aftermarket is horrible for the NA models and the 1.4 tops out around 220WHP. the transmission starts to slip when the 1.4 is maxed out for both mods and the transmission is Fiat, what can i say other then its a failed design. no car should have problems from 260W FT LBS. the 1.4 guys are literally Elitists and think that they own the road. they try to push about how they are better then the ST even though they are slow as hell. the community is not helpful, they are rude, and there is no real comradery. the 2.4 GT i have has NO real Tuning available. i went to the track stock and ran a 16.4@88 mph then i went back with Coppers(gapped to .o53), Velo stack, Full CAI, 2.25 Exhaust, a 35% STS, grounding kit and new continentals. i ran a 16.8-17.1@ 83mph. regardless of tuning you should not go slower in the 1/4 mile. not slower in ET but the Trapspeed is terrible.

 

2015 Ford Focus SE 1.0L EcoBoost Sedan Test ? Review ? Car and Driver

I test drove a Fiesta 1.0 and spent $800 more to get a Focus. From what I'm seeing, mileage differences in real life come down to 2 mpg give or take. I easily get 31 combined in my Focus 2.0, and 0-60 of the 2.0 (the fastest car in its class) with a 5MT is 7.3 seconds, while the 1.0 EcoBoost Focus is 9.4.

Agreed with everyone that the Focus should get the 1.5/1.6 turbo. I love my 2.0, but I could use the torque much sooner.

 

I think a NA engine but with like 20 more hp and tq would be perfect too. For example the 2.5 in the mazda 3 which I think puts out about 184 hp and 180 somthin tq.

 

I think what it comes down to is this car needs about 20 more hp from the factory and it would be perfect for daily driving IMO.

 

I think what it comes down to is this car needs about 20 more hp

Snorkel delete + K&N air filter + free flow exhaust.

Voila.

 

If the 6spd is a Getreg, you can keep that trash.

 

The DPS6 may have skewed some people's perspective but the German firm Getrag makes some very high quality transmissions. They are the largest supplier of transmissions in the world. Bear in mind the DCT in the Focus was a joint venture between Ford and Getrag.

 

i had getrag 6spd in my r56 mini cooper s and it was awesome. shifted perfect.