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Nutmegdog1959 t1_j5c0b56 wrote

Reply to comment by Smirkly in reliable older model used cars for Vermont weather by bramletabercrombe

The trick is lowest gear possible (mines a 5spd) then scrape off some speed by dragging the rear wheels using parking brake. You still have steering control and you can still pump brakes if need be.

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Maleficent_Rope_7844 t1_j5caewq wrote

If you break traction while using your transmission as a brake, it takes a lot longer to regain traction than if the wheels lock up from braking too hard. Unless you drive a manual, like yourself, but barely anyone does these days.

Pump the brakes and don't shift down.

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Smirkly t1_j5d093k wrote

Oddly I borrowed the Subaru because the roads were slippery and once on the road it was good. At the bottom of my hill I would have been better off with my ancient VW Jetta with 5 speed. I met this hill in 1967 so I go very slow but sometimes that just doesn't matter. Big storms are okay but those odd moments where nature greases the wheels can be entertaining.

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