Automatic v Manual?

elsien

Possibly ignorant question.
If it snows and I’m getting stuck, I will start in second rather than first to try to avoid wheel spin.
How does that work with an automatic? 

Not a regular occurrence, I’m just curious.

MattMattMattUK

I have only ever owned manual cars, although have driven automatics and EVs. From a cost perspective manuals are cheaper to buy and generally less goes wrong with them, the expense I have known people incur with failed automatic gear boxes are eye watering. It has never bothered me driving a manual, who after the first few driving lessons even realises that they are changing gears, it just happens as a background task for one's brain. 

That being said my next car will be an EV with no gearbox so that will technically count as an automatic, but that is not a factor in the choice of car, just a side effect. 

MattMattMattUK

elsien said:

Possibly ignorant question.
If it snows and I’m getting stuck, I will start in second rather than to try to avoid wheel spin.
How does that work with an automatic? 

Not a regular occurrence, I’m just curious.

From where I live and with the people in automatic cars, they seem to be a disaster in the snow unless they are AWD. I think the simple answer is that most do not allow that to happen. 

Northern_Wanderer

elsien said:

Possibly ignorant question.
If it snows and I’m getting stuck, I will start in second rather than to try to avoid wheel spin.
How does that work with an automatic? 

Not a regular occurrence, I’m just curious.

Currently changing gear to reduce speed rather than breaking on the ice, I certainly can't do that with an auto.

400ixl

elsien said:

Possibly ignorant question.
If it snows and I’m getting stuck, I will start in second rather than to try to avoid wheel spin.
How does that work with an automatic? 

Not a regular occurrence, I’m just curious.

You put the auto in second as well.

If I wanted a track car I would buy a manual, maybe for a tow car as well. Otherwise an auto with manual (semi auto) controls and have the best of both.

Northern_Wanderer

400ixl said:

If I wanted a track car I would buy a manual,

Always want a track car

Iceweasel

facade said:

I got rid of my last manual car in 2019.

I wouldn't buy another, unless it was really, really cheap, or it was something I've always wanted that only came in manual, e.g. a Haflinger.

Haflingers are great.
My dad had one back in the 70s.
A bit small though - try a Unimog - 16 forward gears and 16 reverse too - pretty near unstoppable.

Ayr_Rage

Northern_Wanderer said:

elsien said:

Possibly ignorant question.
If it snows and I’m getting stuck, I will start in second rather than to try to avoid wheel spin.
How does that work with an automatic? 

Not a regular occurrence, I’m just curious.

Currently changing gear to reduce speed rather than breaking on the ice, I certainly can't do that with an auto.

Most automatics allow a selection of a lower ratio to help BRAKING, can't comment about how EVs behave.

Even my dad's 1967 Austin Cambridge automatic allowed that.

As for pulling away in snow, turn off traction control and be very gentle on the loud pedal.

Frozen_up_north

A DSG (VW group auto) with all season tyres.

I gave up on manual boxes after picking the wrong gear a couple of times on roundabouts with a 7 speed manual… manual boxes with 4 or 5 gears were OK, but all too easy to select the wrong gear with more than 5.

Summer tyres are dangerous in snow and ice. Narrowly avoided a collision on a patch of ice with my brand new car a few days ago, switching to all seasons as soon as I return from an overseas holiday. No problem with a DSG auto in snow/ice with tyres made for cold climates.

daveyjp

elsien said:

Possibly ignorant question.
If it snows and I’m getting stuck, I will start in second rather than first to try to avoid wheel spin.
How does that work with an automatic? 

Not a regular occurrence, I’m just curious.

Modern cars now have far more sophisticated systems for dealing with slippery surfaces and these work best with auto boxes.  Hill descent control, snow settings etc which work with the throttle and ABS system to cut power or brake individual wheels if slipping is sensed.