Those repairs are the deeply-embedded, systemic problems that creep up and ambush you one day before work, forcing you to decide between a $1k car repair -- often the barest minimum-cost repair you can find and negotiate -- or forking over a few times that much for an entirely different car to drive.
I can usually get a rental for ~$20/day, which buys time to find a better vehicle. A teenager can't get a rental, but they can probably borrow a car from their parents for a few days/weeks until a decent opportunity comes up.
$2000 will get you a pretty decent vehicle and is probably a better investment than a $1000 repair.
