Mate the ST3 is a monster!! Uber quick!!!
I came to the Civic from an Mk1 ST170 which was such a fun car!! Looked amazing in the Imp blue too!!
The reason I went for the Civic over the new ST - I'll side step the asthetics
1. The reliability of the ST was shocking - Ford build to a price and several bits weren't up to the job. Its not going to be much different - it just isn't - you pay your money and you take your choice - you can't get performance like Ford offer for that price anywhere else and for that its ace - it really is!
But there is going to be compromises. Oh and trim standards etc aren't comparible - really.
2. Residual value - oh lord - that word still shakes my bones. I got a very good deal on my ST but the list price was £17.5k for my spec. 1 and a half years - count em! - I got 9k for it. 9k!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm not saying this will be true but Glass's have put a 50% residual value on a 3 yr old Civic. The Ford was about 30-40% - think a 3 yr ST was about 6-6.5k. With the 3.5k discount you may be able to negate this a bit though - worth lookin at though mate!!
3. Petrol - I don't know what you've got now but my ST returned just under 30mpg. It was costing me £200 a month in petrol!! The Civic 2.2 is about half a second slower but the torque is incredible and I get 50+ MPG!!
4. Performance wise - the new ST is immense and the handling will be better hands down. You'll probably have more fun too!!!!
Paint wise don't go near the Performance / Imp blue - undercoat is white and the paint is thin - I used to cry when I saw my bonnet sometimes as it was blue and white in places!!
Anyway - what ever you do you'll be sure to love the one you choose!!!!
J!!