FACT or FICTION: Does A Manual Gearbox RULE In The Snow?

CAR Magazine reports:

"We don’t often get heavy snow in this country, but when we do I find myself longing for one thing in a car, and it isn’t four-by-four; it’s a manual gearbox. Another bout of snow hit CAR HQ yesterday, and I'm glad the Scirocco R I was heading home didn't have a DSG 'box.

Much as we marvel at the smoothness and frugality of each successive generation of dual-clutch gearbox, they simply don’t give you the level of control you get with a manual. Last March, for instance, I couldn’t leave my own street because the Jaguar XF’s slusher was stuck in first gear and its rear tyres flailed helplessly, ditto an Audi R8 R-Tronic on a snowy Spanish hillside. With a manual I’d have slotted second gear, job done.

Then this year the cold snap finished off a relative’s ageing battery, but she couldn’t bump-start it because it was – ta-da! – an auto..."

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HSCenterconsole - 2/19/2010 11:33:20 AM

+3 Boost

I feel that the 6MT in my car, under any driving condition, gives me more control than an automatic would.

r_driver04 - 2/19/2010 12:04:45 PM

+2 Boost

Yes. The driver can gear down to slow the vehicle w/o brakes or gear up to reduce wheelspin when starting out. It's not that a manual gives you more options, it just allows the driver to dictate the gear selection depending on the situation.

Think Toyota will start making more standard tranny Camrys?

stone - 2/19/2010 12:05:45 PM

+2 Boost

I've been thinking alot lately about how much I miss driving a 6MT. I still haven't gotten myself a DD yet but when i'm ready, a few nice used 6MT sedans are definitely high on my list of cars to drive.

pennfootball - 2/19/2010 12:55:10 PM

+2 Boost

I like my manual gearbox in the snow but what helped me MUCH more was snow tires in my WRX.

Joe_Limon - 2/19/2010 1:36:28 PM

+2 Boost

In my experience it's much easier to rock a car with an automatic. I live in Canada, and I believe it's not so much driving on slippery pavement that is the problem, but it is the getting out of snow drifts.

Shredmo - 2/19/2010 2:33:14 PM

+1 Boost

In town, my manual transmission Subaru rules over my automatic G8. On the highway, I feel more confident driving high speeds in the 'yuk' in the G8. This is due to ESP. Both are equipped equally as far as tires are concerned.

theman440 - 2/19/2010 3:19:09 PM

+3 Boost

Wouldn't the smoother application of power afforded by an automatic be better?

veyron1001 - 2/19/2010 8:51:07 PM

+1 Boost

only if you lack clutch control

theman440 - 3/5/2010 5:38:33 PM

+1 Boost

You keep telling yourself that...

upwards - 2/19/2010 10:35:29 PM

+3 Boost

Uaw is right control of the wheel is more important than the tire spin in the snow or black ice.

XYZZ - 2/27/2010 6:58:14 AM

+1 Boost

yup.

XYZZ - 2/27/2010 7:02:21 AM

+1 Boost

me too. along with full-size pickups, 4x2 AND 4x4. i see a few every winter on the 3-mile drive up and down my curvy hill.

HEAVY VEHICLES, regardless of drivetrains, are the WORST to try wrangling around curves.

XYZZ - 2/20/2010 5:13:59 AM

-2 Boost

a good driver should be able to make do with WHATEVER he has.

that said, some combos will be more driveable in slick conditions. for years, i've managed winters with 2wd pickups, with studded snow tires.
and sticks.

for the last 9 years, i've also had fwd sedans with automatics. i now prefer these year round, using the truck ONLY for trucky tasks.

TWO-foot driving, with either type, serves as a great "poor man's traction control."