First automatic I've ever had, any advise on how best to proceed in the cold nastiness we have on the way

Edited 1 December, 201213 yr by Mr Milo

Yes - Get some winter tyres!

Otherwise manual mode and do it as old school as possible, changing into a high a gear as possible....which isn't easy with the DSG.

Never felt the need for winter tyres personally. It's far better to slow down a little, and plan ahead much more than normal - observation of possibly changing road conditions is the best policy. Winter tyres may offer an advantage, but once you've lost control, it's straight to the scene of the accident regardless of tyre type.

My previous experience of the DSG box in a 140BHP Golf Estate through winter in the depths of the Scottish highlands, is that it works just fine provided you don't ask it to perform miracles. No type of gearbox will get out of trouble someone who is ham-fisted with the steering wheel, or who treads on the pedals as if they were switches!

It's all about smooth inputs of steering, throttle and brakes. The better you plan, the better the outcome.

Yes, I agree with you on that, smoothness is key, you cannot engage a winter mode on the DSG and start in second gear, start in first with a gentle bit of throttle and the car will go up to second very quickly and pull you along.

Ian

Makes me wonder why some eu countries have to have winter tyres by law then if they aren't needed.

I know which car I would rather be in if I had the choice having experienced both. Its very difficult to lose control with winters compared to normal summer tyres. I know, I've tried!

Smooth and steady is good practice all year round (I am an advanced driver so have had it drilled into me) but at least I have an extra aid at my disposal meaning I can actually get on my drive in the snow instead of being forced to park on road for the smallest dusting.

Well said JRW!

winter tyres make a HUGE difference... it doesn't mean you drive faster or take more risks, you just drive carefully like you normally would, but have a much nicer safety margin..... you cant go wrong with that....

start in first with a gentle bit of throttle and the car will go up to second very quickly and pull you along.

Ian

I agree. This will be my 7th winter with DSG and I've found that any instances of wheel spin (up an incline for example) are short lived as the gearbox will change up to 2nd or 3rd as required to get you moving again. Traditional autos get a bad press (sometimes rightly) for snow driving as they can disengage the gears when you lift off and can change gear when you're not expecting it in a corner and unsettle the balance of the car. DSG is permenantly engaged/provides engine braking and as the changes are near instant and smooth it doesn't unsettle the car.

As for winter tyres (although OT) I haven't used or needed them, but if I could afford an extra set of steels and four tyres I would change to them every year.

Edited 1 December, 201213 yr by artichoke273

`OT`?

Sorry Mike, "off topic": i.e. the original poster (OP) was asking for feedback on using DSG in snow/ice and not winter tyres, which has it's own thread. In the case of my post it was just an acknowledgement that I was doing it, in case the OT police came along and got upset.

Sorry Mike, "off topic": i.e. the original poster (OP) was asking for feedback on using DSG in snow/ice and not winter tyres, which has it's own thread. In the case of my post it was just an acknowledgement that I was doing it, in case the OT police came along and got upset.

Ah, I see. Thanks.

The DSG box must be linked electronically to the other car systems ABS, DSC, whatever other driving aids it has and therefore would be permanently monitoring and computing various systems from the various ECU's and engaging whichever combination of driver aids are required for a particular circumstance.

So in the case of wheel slip in loose conditions then the car will be automatically selecting the options it best thinks are needed and most of the time I don't think driving in winter conditions will need much thought other than normal winter driving techniques.

Next bit is OT: I treat winter tyres as just another driving aid to be used during winter months and they work with the rest of the car to provide more safety.

If you haven't used Winter tyres, then it's very easy to dismiss them as not required, this may be true depending on the type of Winter driving undertaken (personally I think people dismiss Winter tyres based mainly on cost rather then the obvious and plentiful amount of studies into the benefits, personal experience has proved those benefits for me).

I do approx 30,000 a year (15,000 miles during Winter months) being self-employed I need to get to work to earn my living, so Winter tyres are a no-brainer, I wouldn't go back, even for lesser miles, Winter tyres provide as much feedback and confidence in the Winter as Summer tyres in the Summer, they are predictable and things rarely get out of shape as they do on Summer tyres in Winter.

I never found moving off in snow in a dsg a problem, foot of both- stick it in D, foot of BOTH pedals and let the "creep" get you started moving, then ease on the gas.

If in doubt just slip it into manual mode and you are in control.

And another big believer in winter tyres here - but I can understand that it will take more to persuade you if you live on the south coast, but once you had used them you will not go back.