Thanks for the warm welcome! I wouldn't be going for the stripes - a nice shiny black one would be my choice. Our Yaris TS is black and it looks luvverly when it's clean and polished up.
Obviously I wouldn't dream of buying a car like this without a test drive. I'll be arranging test drives on all three of the cars mentioned in the coming months.
I quite like the Ibiza FR but that dash is awful , the Polo GTI is classy but it's at the top end of the budget. So the chubby little ST is definitely on the list.
I once swore to myself I'd never have another Ford, after suffering with an unreliable Escort MkIII and surly service - I hope this has improved? After the bomb-proof reliability and 'nothing-is-too-much-trouble' service from Toyota, I wouldn't want to find myself facing a 'what-the-bl**dy-hell-do-you-want-now' service manager of old!
In the meantime, I value you guys' opinions and advice. If it's OK I'll lurk on the froum and see which way the wind blows.

EDIT: I've just spent some time reading through the forums and it seems Ford dealers haven't improved much over the years. The 'Alarm' thread about the GEM module is depressing, and the stories about delivery delays and dealers' excuses and fob-offs make me think twice.
We've had Toyotas for several years and never had a problem with delivery (always 2 weeks promised, always less then that), the one recall we had on our Corolla TS was quick and efficient and we got a free tank of petrol and a bottle of champagne out of it! It seems Ford never learns....