Well the same point was made on Top Gear last night when they tested the new 3-series. As a piece of engineering its a remarkable car, but it just doesn't have the sort of kudos which people seem to think anymore. I mean, who wants to look like a sales rep ffs?! What I like about the ST is the fact that it can embarrass a lot of considerably more expensive machinery and the look on the faces of the so-called smug BMW and Audi drivers is priceless when they realise whats just gone past them. And don't tell me they don't care either, how many Beemers do you pass just to find that 30 seconds later they're right up your arse again, itching to get past...

That said, I can kinda see what you're trying to say though Gandalf, if I could've afforded something like a Golf (GTi) then I would've bought that over my ST without a second thought.