the automatic car that loves to dance on ice

hothothot_3

Recently bought an automatic and find it so difficult to drive in these ice conditions. Whenever pulling away from junctions, unless I go at really snail pace it slips and swerves. I really need to know - do you keep traction control on or off? and basically any tips - its embarrassing - especially when your at the front of lights. I want my manual car back

movilogo

Put winter tyres on.

LandyAndy

hothothot wrote: »

Recently bought an automatic and find it so difficult to drive in these ice conditions. Whenever pulling away from junctions, unless I go at really snail pace it slips and swerves. I really need to know - do you keep traction control on or off? and basically any tips - its embarrassing - especially when your at the front of lights. I want my manual car back

Go at a snail's pace then.

Losing control and hitting someone will be a hell of a lot more embarrassing.

I've had a couple of autos (Vauxhall Senator, Jaguar Sov) neither of which had traction control. I don't recall either being too difficult in the snow. Featherfootedness is the answer. I would leave the TC on.

vikingaero

Some cars such as Vauxhalls have a snowflake button. This makes the car start off in 3rd gear to reduce the torque. If you car doesn't have one, then select 3 or 2.

On most automatics there is creep built into the car so why not just let it roll along first before flooring it?

pookienoodle

which gear are you selecting? you should drive in 2nd if your car has it and has no special ice setting.
go slow in ice regardless of what other people may do its not a race.

Inactive

hothothot wrote: »

Recently bought an automatic and find it so difficult to drive in these ice conditions. Whenever pulling away from junctions, unless I go at really snail pace it slips and swerves. I really need to know - do you keep traction control on or off? and basically any tips - its embarrassing - especially when your at the front of lights. I want my manual car back

Just allow the car to creep away, then increase your speed very gradually, there is nothing difficult about driving an automatic properly, I think you may find that your manual would react in exactly the same way on ice, it is actually quite slippery stuff.:rolleyes:

hothothot_3

it is a vauxhall with the snowflake button. but I was only told that was for really serious situations. my car got stuck in snow, and the tyres kept turning on the ice. The snowflake button just managed to get me out of it. But for normal roads that are clear, except there might be some black ice - i have gears D 2 and 3.......which is best? it is only starting off that is the problem, from slow speeds. Also must say that when traction control is switched off, it seems to automatically come on at times when i apply to much pressure (light flickers, as oppossed to always being on).

Exemplar

Definitely 2 or 3. This is just the way that automatic cars are. The reason you have the ability to select 2-3 is for towing or snow/ice.

Just be grateful you dont have a CVT box!!!

vikingaero

hothothot wrote: »

it is a vauxhall with the snowflake button. but I was only told that was for really serious situations. my car got stuck in snow, and the tyres kept turning on the ice. The snowflake button just managed to get me out of it. But for normal roads that are clear, except there might be some black ice - i have gears D 2 and 3.......which is best? it is only starting off that is the problem, from slow speeds. Also must say that when traction control is switched off, it seems to automatically come on at times when i apply to much pressure (light flickers, as oppossed to always being on).

The snowflake button isn't just for really serious situations. If it helps you move off on ice then use it. That's what it's there for! Whoever told you it was only for serious situations is wrong. We've had automatic Vauxhalls for years.

On normal roads just leave it in D. One tip for driving an automatic on snow/ice is that when you approach a junction on snow/ice covered roads, push the gear selector from D to N, so that there isn't any engine force trying to push you against your brakes and sliding into traffic.

The Traction Control light does flicker when the TC is active. I think on Vauxhalls that it only illuminates constantly when ESP intervenes.

kaya

i have a merc auto turbo diesel estate with a winter/summer button--when it snows i either walk or stay at home now as its impossible to drive, the traction control decides that as there is no traction it wont supply any power at all, completely useless bit of german junk which will be on flea bay shortly

hothothot_3

kaya wrote: »

i have a merc auto turbo diesel estate with a winter/summer button--when it snows i either walk or stay at home now as its impossible to drive, the traction control decides that as there is no traction it wont supply any power at all, completely useless bit of german junk which will be on flea bay shortly

im sort of agreement here, but hoping I was just not using the settings properly.