The amount of proper 4WD (not mere Haldex) equipped cars I was seeing immobilised at the side of the road facing various directions every year during my 4 years living close to the French Alps is astonishing. Incidentally, like golfdave I was also in a MKII Fabia (a vRS), there might be something there
I had from new a very early 2001 MK1 Elegance, before the vRS was built...sold it in 2015, & still going ok.
Oh & yes amazing the amount of people who forget the importance of those four black rubber circles that a car has...
don't care how fancy the electronics are, the 4wd systems is, how big the engine, your dick, your ego is....if it can't get grip because of the wrong tyres it ain't going anywhere.....simples...