With due respect to my learned friend Nial (can't you tell that I have watched too much C-Span) I have to qualify a few of his statements. All things being equal he is quite correct, however there are two major variables: Tyres and the loose nut behind the wheel.
I too have a rear-wheel drive wagon, a BMW. As with any wagon, the vehicle is heavier than its saloon-car variant, the extra weight being over the rear wheels.
I have a set of BF Goodrich Traction T/A tyres on my car, and this was the first winter when I have not felt the need to bolt on my snow tyres. You know that Wisconsin has not had an easy, snow-free winter, either. It never does!
Drive with respect for the conditions, mount the right set of rubber, maybe consider snow tyres on a set of steel rims, and you should be fine. I have gone past front-wheel drive vehicles that were all over the road, and more than one SUV in a ditch, using those all-season radials on my car.... and I would bet serious that Nial would be able to out-drive 99% of the population on New Jersey on snow, no matter what he was driving. His racing experience gives him that edge.
Volvos are designed and built in Sweden, where they get more snow than most. So are Hakkepelita snow tyres.
I rest my case /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif