good snow tires and a two bags of concrete do it for me.

 

I'm in Halifax and drive my 98 GT year round. A decent set of snow's and a bag of sand are it. And I consider the sand as part of my "winter emergency" kit (first aid kit, blanket, small shovel, etc).

Only problem is on some side streets where they don't plow properly. With the car lowered a bit over an inch, you have to be careful clearing large frozen chunks of snow.

 

Dunno 'bout where you are, but 20 mins on the highway turns into 45 mins in good weather around Toronto.. and an hour easily if there's any white stuff around.
Best tips I can think of are: allow plenty of time to get there if its snowing, keep the loud pedal soft, and let the ricers pass you.. you'll pass them when they end up in the ditch.

 

Are studded tires legal out East???

If so...I can't see you having many problems in the snow or ice.

I ran a set on my 86 4-banger back in the day...and the thing could stop on a dime on pure ice

 

I drove my '87 last winter, it was horrible. I had broke the truck (spun a timing gear) and hadn't got the new motor into it yet (88 302HO). I had my sub box in the back, used discretion, didn't drive it when it was bad out, but really missed the truck (88 F-250, awesome in snow), which will go basically anywhere and handles in the snow a lot better as well.

The best winter vehicle I've had by FAR was my '97 Explorer 4x4, that thing was the SNOW LEGEND! It would go anywhere.....never even hinted at getting stuck or being unpredictable.....still sticks in my mind to this day just how good it was.....

 

I picked up my V6 as a daily driver last year and I drove it last winter.
I had 4 Blizzak tires (I hear the compound is soft so they don't last) I had no issues what so ever.
As said in a previous post, just be light on the gas pedal in deeper snow.
I was able to accelerate quicker at a street light than a fwd car.
This kid was rooster tailing snow from his front wheels. :laughhard Perhaps he was trying to do that.

I still have MUCH tread left on my Blizzaks and believe they'll be good for a couple more winters.

Good winter tires, do not cheap out and some common sense you'll be fine.