However, there are very limited circumstances where you might *indirectly* influence gear selection in a modern automatic:
* Very steep inclines (in some cars): Some cars allow you to manually select a lower gear (like 2 or 1, often labeled L for Low) to increase engine braking and prevent the car from rolling backward or struggling excessively on a steep hill. This isn't about speed; it's about engine power and control. Most modern automatics will do this automatically if needed, but the manual override can provide extra control in extreme conditions.
* Towing (in some cars): Similar to steep inclines, towing a heavy load might require manually selecting a lower gear to help the engine manage the increased strain. Again, this is less about speed and more about managing engine power and preventing overheating.
* Engine braking (rarely used and usually unnecessary): In very limited situations, you *might* use a lower gear for engine braking to slow down, but this is usually unnecessary and potentially harmful to your transmission in most modern cars with advanced braking systems (ABS, etc.). Modern automatics usually handle engine braking efficiently on their own.
In short, you shouldn't be thinking about selecting first or second gear in a normal driving situation with an automatic transmission. The car's computer is far better equipped to handle that than you are. Only consider manually selecting a lower gear in the exceptional circumstances mentioned above, and even then, it's usually not required.
