I haven't tried it in my '82 yet.  I did try it in my old '75 bus once,
and found it couldn't do proper donuts -- the front would always wash out
before the rear broke loose.  I hear the traction Vanagons get isn't
nearly as good, though.  The '75 was great in the snow, once you got used
to its unique handling charcteristics.  I drove mine around Houghton,
Michigan in the winter, where they get 200 inches of snow a year and have
some of the steepest hills you'll find in the Midwest.

I wouldn't worry too much about tipping, as long as there are no dry,
grippy spots in the parking lot.  I used to do the occasional donut in my
Ford Club Wagon (with all the weight in the front, and the drive wheels in
the back, it did good ones), and it would heel over a bit, but less than
it did going around curves on dry pavement.  If you suddenly catch solid
grip while sliding sideways you may go over, though.  Watch out for curbs
and light poles, too. ;)

I didn't find snowy parking lots much fun in my Honda until I discovered
now nicely the rear end would swing out with a tug on the handbrake. ;)

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "BSD is for people who like UNIX.  Linux is for people
 |___/             who hate Microsoft." -- Brendan Howes