If you want a 2500 dollar civic, it will have 150K+ on it. Your not going to see anything low mileage/maintenance free for that price. I have been screening craigslist and the paper for a new car for the wife and havent found much under 5 grand with low mileage.
Here is what you can get
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/car/459463696.html
Thats actually not a bad price for a civic, chances are someone bought it already .
I would not count out domestics, everyone has it in their mind that civics/imports last forever so they have high resale values. I would bet a well maintained taurus will last just as long as a maintained Honda accord. Both could last you well into the 200K mileage range and you can pick up the domestic for half as much. There are so many more domestics around here so Supply>Demand.