I have a 2017 26fe and it is great. If they discontinue them the other options are much higher priced so I bet that helps the used value of my Freedom Elite.
Sometime in 2016 they switched the trans. Mine has the 6 speed. The easy way to tell is if you look on the dash where it shows what gear you are in the 5 speed has a 1 2 3 and on the 6 speed its has a 1 2 4.
Its very common for the coach to be a different year then the chassis. My 2017 has a 2016 chassis.