your asking for decent mileage, decent power, and under 2500?

your going to have a hard time finding it. as its your first car just buy a beater your not going to worry about scratching up. odds are you will have it a max of 2 years before something happens to it. buy the cheapest piece you can to get you started. then start saving for a nicer car.

like snoops said id look for a 92-95 civic. insurance will be inexpensive and if you must have mods well the support is huge.