180,000 miles is just too many miles to take a $8000 chance on-unless you are adept at DIY.
A used low mileage used Corolla or (Prizm-Chevy badged Corolla) is a much better bet.Civics are great little cars, but used Civics hold their value so well that it is pointless to buy one used.
You can buy a new auto trans Civic for as little as $14500+TTL
Corolla-new-maybe $13500.
Hunt for an under 50000 mile Corolla for $8000 or less(say from 2000 on).
Don't pay $8000 for a high mileage car-you are asking for grief.Luck,Charlie
PS-Normal wear items-CV joints($600 maybe)-brake job($500)-timing belt($400) Valve adj($150)tires-($300) suspension/struts $500- are all likely to be due or long overdue on a high mileage car.If the car is from the NE or midwest there is a fair chance it will have a lot of corrosion on the fasteners-this will make it a bigger pita to work on.If it is from the south then the AC will be ready to punt after 180,000 miles ($1000 repair)-muffler/cat con/exhaust($600+). The battery pack would be a big concern of mine-it isn't that expensive, and you can get a salvaged one pretty cheap-it probably is a lot less likely to be ready to die than the other normal wear items.