Winter driving cars?

You can have those factors, but they don't help much with a light rear end, such as a Mustang.

 

That's why you load up stuff in the trunk/hatchback. If a truck, throw some snow in it. Worked well for me for a two-week spell where I was driving a compact pickup in a decidedly non-winter place (at least by northern standards ... ).

 

Sandbags, baby.

But on some Canadian winter days, even that doesn't help ...

 

I gotta disagree here. While 4WD doesn't make you invincible, and doesn't do shit for stopping your car, it will help you get up a slick road, and depending on if you have all wheel drive that can move power from wheel to wheel, it can help your car correct if a couple of wheels get loose.

That being said, way too many SUV/Subaru drivers drive like jackasses in the snow because they think their car can't possibly crash, but I still think 4WD can help.

Oh, and get good tires. With front wheel drive and good snow tires, a Civic should get through most conditions.