Having purchased a new Octavia 1.6 TDI estate some four weeks ago, I was starting to wonder if something was amiss with the Engine management.

I thought that occasionally when declerating ready to turn a sharp corner, the car seemed to 'speed up' even though my foot was off the accelator. As an experiment, in a large empty car park, I put the car in 2nd gear and took my feet off both the accelator and clutch and found that the car moved slowly forward without stalling (engine was warmed up to normal temp). I then changed into 3rd and again without feet on clutch or accelator, the car picked up speed to between 20-25mph, when I chickened out, and applied the brakes. Thinking that this was not right, I went back to my local Skoda retailer from whom I had bought the car, and spoke to one of the mechanics, who politely explained that he fully understood my concerns since he had experienced the same thing with his own car (other owners of VAG cars seem to have experienced similar situations). The simple explanation is that these modern cars incorporate an 'Anti-stall' facility, so that the car detects when the driver is going too slow and about to stall (even though he might be about to dip the clutch and change gear), and slightly increases the speed of the car to compensate. For older drivers like myself, who are used to the engine doing the braking, this just means a slight change in driving style, to ensure that the foot is on the brake, and the clutch dipped, when approaching either a sharp bend, or line of standing traffic, so that you do not continue into the back of the car in front. Now I know this, I am OK, but I thought there might be a few other drivers out there who are not aware of this feature, and are worried that their car, or their driving, is at fault. To anyone in Skoda who is reading this, could you perhaps ask your Sales people to explain to us older drivers who were brought up on the older driving methods, that they may experience this 'Surging' but that it is just part of the experience of driving what is still a very comfortable, and hopefully very economic car. Many thanks to the helpful mechanic at my local Skoda dealership for not treating me like an idiot, and explaining what was raelly happening. I hope this will put other minds at rest also.

Yes this is normal. The first time I slowed down and the rotation was about 1000rpm and lowering, the car started to push forward.

WTF, it was scarry especially with cars in front of you. After this it´s simple, if reducing speed and engaged and if you find the rpms are going to lower below 1100rpm( on the safe side), just put your foot on the clutch.

After a few actions of this, it will come natural to do soo.

Cars have done this for years. My 97 golf had it.

Begs the question why you are straining your engine by letting the revs get that low though.

True all cars do it, my ex models did it at the idling rpm not 1000rpm.