Patience rquired, this is not in the wrong forum.

I lay my cards down. I do not know engines apart from a few little basics. Last year I bought a fabia greenline with a dpf engine and tootled here and there, enjoying the high mileage/gallon. Yesterday I had the warning lights and the car had to go in for regeneration. I am an <8k a year driver these days and the salesperson knew it before buying. I knew nothing about the consequences of dpf and received no literature, explaining the required driving style

Naturally I have now done lots of research re dpf and am horrified that my new ocatavia, ordered a few days ago also has the dpf engine. This sales person, different dealership, also knows our low mileage. Panic stations now, no way do I want another dpf.

Luckily for us the order cannot be placed on their site until early next week, so I am in process of changing my order

Do these charming young people get training re advising customers on engine type suitability etc?

So am I a happy skoda driver? I used to be after driving our 1.9 octavia for 3 years. Not at the moment though, as not at all happy with the first dealership and not terribly impressed with the second

Nothing much the dealer can do.Many modern diesels have a DPF,that's why modern diesels are so clean.When you bought the car you should have had a tag hanged onto the interior mirror explaining that the car's got DPF,how it needs to be driven and re generated when the light comes on.The DPF light will come up occasionaly but it doesn't mean a trip to dealer everytime,to re generate drive at a steady speed of between 60 to 80 for around 10 mins for it to re generate.

The only Octavias to feature DPFs, are the vRS, 4x4, Scout, the greenline and any model with the 1.6CR TDi engine. None of the other PD/CR models have a DPF.

I agree it needs to be very clear (although it does say in the brochures, but IMO that's not enough). I nearly bought a diesel with DPF but luckily came across posts on here about DPF before I found one....made me change my mind and go for a petrol as I like you, do low mileage/can't guarantee my usual journey to work will allow regen.

I asked a dealer when i was out hunting for a new vRS if the derv is ok for short runs and commuting, "no problem" and a nod was the reply. I ordered a petrol! They won't turn a sale down!

Wtf are you doing buying a derv if you only do 8,000 miles a year!?

DPF's are no problem as they are easy to regenerate by following the instructions in the owners handbook, it is only if the warning lights are ignored that the car goes into limp home mode and has to regenerated by a dealer, the latest common rail engine automatically regenerate the DPF so there wont be the same problem with these engines as they finally take over from the old PD's

Wtf are you doing buying a derv if you only do 8,000 miles a year!?

Depends on how much the vehicle costs to begin with. If theres not a lot in it then deisel can be cheaper even for a low mileage driver - low tax, better mpg (and fuel is now pretty much at parity) etc etc. Also some people just plain prefer the "drive" they get from the oil burner.

My dad drives a 1.3 Panda Multijet. One of the most advanced deisels on the market with super low emissions, good power, chanin driven camshaft etc etc. He paid slightly more than the petrol model but got more kit on the car, pays £30 a year road tax (gutted!) and get 65 on a long run! He does maybe 5K a year but it still made loads of sense. Oh and the car will be worth more than the petrol when he comes to sell.