Bit of background first.... I'm at Uni doing Engineering, I'm young and I drive an E46 330i Sport. I love it, but it does cost a fair amount to run, and I hate parking it down some of the streets around where I live near Uni. I travel home every weekend to work. So doing some man-maths I've worked out I can save money buy running two cars instead of one.

I would just stick with one car, but I've become quite keen on the whole StanceWorks and also the drifting scene recently (blame Jonny), I'm also quite keen just to have a shed and generally a more appropriate car for my age. Love the BMW and intend to keep it for a long time, but I'd just like something cheap and fun, that I can mess about with, possibly lower to the floor, maybe weld a diff where appropriate and possibly have awesome sounding exhaust. I don't want to ruin the BMW doing any of this to it. I'd also like to get my hands dirty a bit, and maintain and look after a car myself, again I like my FSH on the BMW too much to touch it.

So I'd like something else for under £1000 and cheap to insure as a second car, I've long been in love with 5pots and boxy Volvos so top of my list is a Volvo 850 T5 Estate with a manual box, with that I'd probably just sort a remap and a tasty exhaust and be done. I've looked at MX-5s but they all look a bit doggy for under £1k. I've also thought about things like Mercedes-Benz 190Es. (Yes I like my big solid heavy cars ) and then of course there is the E36, which has so much potential for everything I've mentioned above. I'm not looking for anything in particular, as long as the car has one stand out point, or one defining thing about it. So here's my list and what I think that stand out point for each is...

Volvo 850 T5 - Speed and noise
Mazda MX-5 - It's an MX-5
190E - Solid barge wafty-epicness
E36 - Good looks and potential stanceability/driftability
Volvo 240 - old school coolness and driftabilitly
Old Landy - learn car mechanics on and off roading
Something classic? - again to learn more about car mechanicals and the joys of an old car

I've seen a few people on here who have been at Uni and have had more than one car, and advice from any of you?

Any ideas for what else I should be thinking about? Oh and some advice for dealing with parents who don't even like the idea of you having one car let alone two would be great.

Ha ha, I was just about to suggest the Volvo.

I've had mine for a year now and love it. I'm kicking myself for not getting one sooner.

The problem is, you're going to be sinking a lot of time and effort into something that is, however you cut it, end of life.

The sort of landie you'll get for a grand will be biblically screwed. T5s and E36s will be full of time expired black-box wizardary and 1.8 and 2.0 190s are very slow and 2.6s are out of your budget. What about a 740 or even a 340?

Clio 172, do it!

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/4125203.htm - it's even had the cambelt change!

The last time i was in that situation I got an Alfa 164 3.0 24V. Was pleasently surprised by it, 100% reliable and totally rust free, a gorgeous V6 noise and somehow a much nicer steer than the Saab 9000 which shares the same chassis.

I Just yesterday bought a Volvo S60 2.4T for £1150. Needs a few bits but its a lot of car for the money.

Out of the list you've given, the top 3.
Additionally, most things mazda and nissan, as they are a neglected brand.

such as..
nissan.. primera, almera
Mazda... mx-6, 323f, 323, xedos

also octiavia.

£1150. Its red and has a slight ripple in one of the doors from a previous repair, condensation in a headlight, needs a new tyre and a service, a dashboard bulb needs replacing but drives excellently and only has 75k miles on the clock.

I guess i must have missed that part (had afew too many beers). Primera still stands though, primera GT. but on your list, I'd go for the top 3 that you suggested. There's also volvo c70. If you are extremely lucky, you could get a lexus IS200 or 7th gen celica for that price too.

Nissan Almera GTi