VTEC does not equal performance. VTEC makes a small engine do a bit more without sacrificing fuel efficency. Why do you only want DOHC/VTEC? What's wrong with single cams in a daily driver? SOHC profile engines get better gas mileage (most of the time) than DOHC engines, they make more torque and that helps with 0-30 accleration (stop and go traffic, this is where your engine hits a lot of revs cycling through low gears, especially since nobody drives slow)

I'll tell you what you want. You want a comfortably equipped Civic, since they're all pretty cheap pick one out. Make sure to check the front tires for unusal wear, make sure to take it out on the freeway so you can comfortably check to see if all of the gears are in proper order..etc kids like to think they're hotrods and beat the living shit out of them.