Maximum would be changing the steering pump, that shudnt goes top 1k. See another good and fair price mechanic. Or atleast ask that guy what is wrong and what for he is quoting 2500 dirhams and then compare with another workshop. Better drive down to rashidiya or al quoz, plenty of good garage in one place to do proper comparison.
For such a classic engine, you got to search and wait long. Hope you tried scrap in shj in JNP signal, behind american university, behind al fallah plaza. These are 3 diff scrap places.
Any day used car if its maintained well and from a good workshop with the service history, no accidents and should not be a very old model then a used car is what i would vote for.