Starting in a pile of snow/ice... First thing I do is turn off VSA. If not, the car will try to stop the slipping wheel from spinning, resulting in going nowhere.

I've been using 1st gear, and letting the clutch out slowly. I figure I don't want a ton of wheel spin. Have you guys been using 2nd?

When the tires finally catch traction on pavement, there's somewhat of a jolt due to the sudden surface switch. Any way to prevent this, or is it ok? It's hard to predict so you can't exactly clutch in, or feather the clutch.

On a slushy road, do you leave VSA on or off?
I've been turning it back on as soon as I get the car going, and turning it off if I have to start from a standstill on a slippery surface.

 

I live in Colorado, where we deal with some serious snow, but with my winter tires, (Michelin Alpins), I don't need to worry about wether the VSA is on or off, I just go. My 6MT TSX rarely slips in ice or snow when starting in first gear.

Do you have winter tires or all seasons? ...and how new are your tires? Maybe the tread is not substantial enough?

(As a side note, I leave the VSA on in the winter but often switch it off in the summer, if I want to drive fast on winding roads, and in the canyons, etc. The folks at Car & Driver got me to start doing that and the handling is much more engaging & predictable. Also less brake wear on the rear discs, as the VSA engages the brakes if it thinks you are going around a corner too fast...and "too fast" is not that fast, if you know what I mean.)

 

Yeah, Boulder makes a good point about winter tires. I'm using the new Blizzak WS70 and they are AMAZING. I don't worry about VSA on/off at all and I never start in second. Pulling in/out of buried parking spots on my street is effortless. I also agree in turning off VSA in the summer when cruising the mountain passes. But in the winter, invest in a good set of winter tires and leave VSA alone.

 

I have all season "performance" tires (Falken 912's).

Apparently not very good in the snow if my VSA is going crazy when I try to start.

 

I'm familiar with the Falken 912's...very good on dry pavement, also rain...not so great in snow.

 

Yeah. They're great tires, but definitely not "all-season" though. I'd ride it out for now (groudhog's shadow and all), but next winter get some tires for it.

 

I just picked up my 2006 6MT last Monday, then was greeted by the blizzard up here in Michigan. I came from a 2006 Mazda3 with winter tires and I'm still learning. My car was a CPO and the dealer installed Yokohama ENVigors, which rate fairly well on tirerack.com, but they absolutely suck in snow. I will definteily be getting winter tires next fall. As for accelerating, I'm finding myself using 2nd gear when its slick out. The clutch in the TSX is stiffer than the Mazda3, so that doesn't help me. I leave the VSA on, unless I really get stuck.