when and why would luse2nd or 3rd? l like the carbut l do find it slips on slippery roads especially the back..is it because it is too light?

Do sanbags work..thanks

drive,and do not ride your brakes just go with the flow at your own speed

Put it in drive, & let the transmission determine what gear to be in. If it is working correctly, it will select the right gear.

A tip for driving in slippery, snowy, icy weather - drive like there is an egg between ur foot & the pedal. Accelerate easy, no jackrabbit starts. Brake easy - do not try to mash down hard at the last minute. Let up on the gas early well before you're going to stop, & coast a bit. It is better to drive a little slower & safer & get there a few minutes later, than not get there at all.

Also - sand bags do work if the car is light, esp. in one end. l will put some in the back of my truck very soon. You can put some in the back end. The sand will work well under the tires as well if u need the traction.

Use third this will help slow your engine down
and always try to keep your gas tank at least
three quarters full. l drive a 4cyl subie also
and have driven front wheel drive cars in deep
snow with all season tires. Keep some cat litter or sand in a bucket if you are worried it will help
you get out of a rut if you get stuck and don't
forget a shovel.

Are u sure the AWD is working? Which model do u have?
It should not feel like it is slipping. Drive according to the conditions. Leave it in drive unless u need more power than use the 3rd gear temporally. You can put sandbags in the rear, if u want. The car is suppose to grip the road . With the AWD & the horizontally opposed 4cyl. boxer engine u should have great handling id slippery conditions. Again drive according to the conditions. Good Luck & if u r not sure of the car call the dealer & ask them questions or send me a note.

Do u use 4 winter tires on the slippery stuff? It makes a big difference. Even with them, however, l have also noticed the back is slippery if you're not careful. ( l drive a '96 Legacy, by the way). It is because of the power being sent to the rear wheels & can usually be corrected or prevented by counter-steering & avoiding abrupt application/release of the gas pedal. l would not recommend sandbags, mainly because most Subarus already have a greater percentage of weight over the rear wheels than a front-wheel drive car.

l use 2nd or 3rd only for engine braking when going down hills. Putting it in 2nd locks the transmission in second gear regardless of speed, while putting it in 3rd is like having it in D except that it wo not shift up into 4th. I've never had to use 2nd to prevent wheelspin in the winter--in fact, I'd say just leave it in D for winter driving.