I will be moving to a higher elevation in the mountains out here in CA (3000ft) where it snows a little ( maybe 10 days a year), sometimes very little, but sometimes several inches or even a foot of snow. I have a 6 manual 4cl and have been told that navigating snow is easier in a manual rather than auto. Fortunately, I have the type of flexibility such thaton those days when it's bad I won't have to leave the house. But if I had to, I'm curious as to why driving a stick is better in snow than not.

 

You can stay in lower gears. The car doesn't try and move into high gears just cause the engine is reving higher, as such you can stay in a lower gear, with more torque, and usually avoid sliping (moreso). At least, this is how I think it's better.

 

I actually found a manual handy in snow because you can put it in a higher gear where the engine is producing less power,providing a steady amount of power to the drive wheels tominimize traction loss. At low RPM, the engine can't overcome what little friction there is between the tires and the snow. Putting it in lower gears just feeds excess power to the wheels and you do more spinning than anything else. This is one of the few cases where keeping your engine OUT of its powerband is actually better.

Conversely, lower gears help with stopping when it's slick...a steady 'retardation' using engine compression rather than just immediate lockup of the wheels when you lay your foot on the brake. 17 years in Wyoming taught me a lot of tricks.

 

Thanks. I will keep that in mind and perhaps take it up to higher elevations on nice dayssome time soonto practice.