just seen this post,
I have just traded my ST after 6 years of owning for a new mk3.5 1.5t estate .I bought the car at 2 years old and 21k on it. Ill give you a bit of back story to my ST experince.
The day after buying it i installed the DSCI map from dreamscience(which im going to be selling 4 lives left) the unit has 5 maps performance, performance+, race, race+ and DSCI all these are step ups in power and torque. A week later i fitted an airtec intercooler as this was brilliant for the summer months that i had bought the car in so as not to loose of power. Next on the list was the Dreamscience induction kit. this sounded fantastic and was worth the investment at £300. Last was a sports cat to give it a bit more of a growel.
I admit i have a heavy right foot so need two new tyres every year and got about 19mpg. I mainly done short journeys to work 10 miles or so.
The first major issue i hit was new oil filter hosuing was required as i had the 56 plate focus it had a weak membrane that was replaced on the mk 2.5 models thats was £150 fitted myself, then my bonnet lock went £170 fitted by ford, this was a common problem on the mk2. Then both my driveshafts going in 2013 that was £1k for new ones. Then almost a year later the clutch at 68k so it had the most powerful map from the start and lasted 47k miles. It was roughly £1k all in for parts labour to put the RS in. From memory the clutch was changed to chocolate in the 2007 models.
The last straw unfortunatly was the MOT it just had, £300 for various bits and pieces to get sorted then the alternator went on the way home. With a 3 1/2 year old and a 4 week old time to get a sensible family car.
I have not regretted spending any money ont he car to keep it on the road and it will be missed but need must. Every time i got in the car it bought a smile to my face.
Although the other half has said i can modify the new one so im hopping Mountune work there magic, like they did on the 1.6 engine as 200bhp would be fine.
any way any other questions ill be keeping an eye on the thread.
best of luck and enjoy the car.