My car made it through 3 winters in Houghton with no modifications, I'm sure you'll be fine. Snow tires are a good investment up there, in fact I still use them in the winter in Detroit. Came in handy in GR a few times, too. Oh, I do have rubber floor mats and mud guards too. Those are really nice, prevents all the slush on your windows.
Where in Kent County are you? I grew up in Grandville, worked in Zeeland and Holland in school, then at our office in GR on Cascade Rd. Then I moved to Metro Detroit, and I miss GR.
Oh yeah, it's already snowing in Michigan, just not south that far.