Yes it is, which means that if you don’t do regular runs at highway speeds, the filter is prone to clogging up and requiring either cleaning out or even replacement. The filters for this car are advertised for anything from $200 to $800 for a second-hand DPF, but you could be buying one that is well past its best.

In a more general sense, any second-hand Epica would need to be super cheap before you’d consider it, as they were a slow seller and not a particularly good quality car even when brand new. Unloved then, they’re unwanted now. There are definitely better choices.

The warning lights are indicating there is a problem with your car’s engine/emission system, and it needs to be checked by a mechanic to determine exactly what it is. By all means check the oil level in the engine, by removing the dipstick and seeing the level indicated on it, but I doubt that is the problem.

A delay of two seconds or more is excessive and needs to be investigated. Try to find another car you could drive to see if yours is consistent with others or has a problem that others don’t. Once you’ve done that approach your dealer and ask for a meeting to discuss the issue and work out what they can do to fix your car. If that fails you could try the new national consumer protection laws and see if they can force a satisfactory response.