[SmoothTalker]

"Small cars are useless in getting thru snow clogged streets."

Not one with AWD. I live in the south where people can't drive in the snow. The funny thing to me is that whenever we have snow, the people who end up in ditches are generally the ones in 4WD's. Why? Because they aren't smart enough to understand that while 4WD or AWD will help you get up to speed better, it won't do anything to help you stop, or turn in the snow. So they end up going twice as fast as is safe and end up in a ditch. Very predictable.

[eraser2005]

I remember a snowstorm in Detroit a few years ago. The scene would have been tragic, but thankfully no one was hurt, so it was somewhat funny. The reporter was standing with a highway overpass in the background. Along comes a little midsize sedan, slowly making its way down the highway. No problem. And another. Then comes an SUV at breakneck speed, spinning out, and rolling down the embankment. Driver gets out unharmed(thanks to the 4 feet of snow). Another small car - no problem. Wait, here comes another large SUV rolling down the embankment. And another. And another.

By the end of the newscasts, there were a dozen or so SUVs that had rolled down the embankment, yet not a single car.

SUVs WILL get you through the snow. They will NOT allow you to go any faster than in a comparable vehicle. You still need just as far to brake (or even more than a standard car), and your turning ability is generally worse than a car.