Thanks for the comments

i'm relieved everyone thinks the red looks alright.
Daz - i used halfords caliper paint at £10 a tin.
Stomper - heavy use of a wire brush & loads of brake cleaner on the calipers. If i did it again i'd wear a mask, the amount of dust can't have done me any good

Cleaning wise i did this...
washed the car with fairy liquid to remove all prior wax
clayed it (everyone should own a claybar, they are amazing!!)
Zaino car wash
zaino anti swirl wax
zaino gloss enhancer
zaino show car wax
zaino gloss enhancer
zaino show car wax
zaino gloss enhancer
meguaires trim detailer
autoglym tyre stuff
rejex alloy wheel wax
I'm not sure what paint cleanser does, but to remove swirls i'd either use some kind of anti swirl wax, or just give it a good polish, maybe with a gentle cutting compound if its really bad. Farecla G3 brought the mars red paint on my old mk1 up really well. Definitly use a clay before you do any polishing, i was sceptical about them, but after using them i'm now a big fan.
Camboose - cheers, i wasnt sure if it was a bit loud? Perhaps the red is a bit light. Maybe other brands of caliper paint might be a bit darker. Red calipers go quite well with the red 16v badges. Otherwise i think i'd go for for black/green.
Carl - thinking about some ice next, then maybe some TT 5-spokes like yours! i think they're my fave rims for a black mk3
ps. i remember you saying you used 10mm lowering caps on your front shocks? how d'they work?
cheers all
