I too still have my first car (2002 Astra 1.6 SXi), had it just a few weeks shy of 5 years now. Bought it for just under £2k, first year's insurance cost me almost the same but even a smaller, older car wouldn't have cost me much less and I'd been saving money with the intention of getting the car I got. Made sense for me at the time and it's been pretty reliable over the years and only let me down once on a drive to Bristol.
The fact I haven't felt compelled to change cars until now also suggests that it's probably been more economical in the long run too, I'd have probably wanted to change up from something smaller, slower and older quite a while ago if I'd gone that route.
That being said, I was 21 when I bought it, if I'd been 17 or 18 I'd no doubt have had no other choice than to go for something cheaper.
The fact I haven't felt compelled to change cars until now also suggests that it's probably been more economical in the long run too, I'd have probably wanted to change up from something smaller, slower and older quite a while ago if I'd gone that route.
That being said, I was 21 when I bought it, if I'd been 17 or 18 I'd no doubt have had no other choice than to go for something cheaper.