You're right, I've been corrected by a couple people it's front wheel drive. I didn't need to know either way down here, but in harsher conditions I do. It's my girlfriend's car. I have a motorcycle (but I drive regularly, just don't need a second car since I already have transport).

Ha funny you were also living here. I moved from NYC (where we mostly don't drive) to down here for a job (ironically paid better than the one I had in NYC, more senior too).

I talked to a friend who used to live there (now she's in parts of Canada in similar weather), and people here have encouraged it as well, so I'll be getting some Nokian snow tires. I just wanted to make sure I really needed it, and the benefit outweigh the cost, which it does. For some reason I had thought each tire would cost me $500. For years I keep hearing people tell me "I just changed tires and it cost me $500!" with no specification if it was per tire or 4 tires. But $500 for a set of 4 tires for much added peace of mind and actual real safety. I can deal with that.