Yet strangely the Germans, Italians, Austrians and Swiss appear to manage ok with driving them up and down the occasional Alp.
Mine* only ever came to a halt once, stuck behind a timid line of FWD drivers that didn't know what to do when we had a freakish 2 cm's of fluffy snow on half of the road.
But it is good fun, getting it all out of sorts on snow and ice and getting a feel for what happens and how to fix it. Every car driver should head for the nearest rugby field or golf course as soon as it snows and get a proper feel of how their car reacts.
Then go and get the proper tyres or snow socks (mine cost £30 and have lasted 4 years so far) so they can drive home safely.
* I say 'mine' like I've got an E Class estate too, no mine's an old C class estate, rear wheel drive and automatic - surely the worst ever car on snow? No, it's fine.
It would probably fit inside Tegis' car if he ever had to rescue one!