I definitely agree that it's all about the good snow tires. I was out once with my summer dunlops in about an inch of snow, and it felt like i was on ice. Having had Blizzaks since the car was new, I can honestly say that the contour is one of the better fwd cars that i've driven in the snow. Two years ago I got through an unplowed street with 10 inches of snow on it. My bumper was pushing a path through some of it, but the car was still going.
Granted, when it's really bad out, I just take the F350...