...the dead of winter thru ice? I wanna go see grandma this weekend with a friend. Wanna take my volvo, but the mountains are treacherous and its a long drive. Think I can make it? Or maybe rent an SUV in NYC. Hmmm.
My 98 S70 GLT does well in the snow and ice, up here in the state of Maine which is pretty wild this winter. I'd say you'd be less apt to flip a Volvo but then again 4WD would be the "best" decision considering the possibility of uphill climbs on ice. Responsible driving would get you there in a Ford Aspire on bicycle pedals. Adjust your choice based on your patience and timeline. Drive slowly!
If it is FWD or AWD, it certainly has the ability. However, if you're driving through a lot of ice, ANY car should be equipped with snow tires. The S70 performs well on ice as far as I've experienced. I had a 98 S70, FWD, and on the two days out of the year it is actually icy in Texas, it gave me little trouble with control. Just make sure you have the tires for it, and drive it in W.
Does your Volvo have 4 wheel drive or snow tires? If not, I wouldn't really recommend it. It's possible though. I drive a 10 year old grand am that doesn't have 4 wheel drive or snow tires.. sometimes I can make it and sometimes I cant.