The vehicle may of cost you 2k but what's it really worth once in good nic? What condition is it in. For a 96 wizard to cost 2k I would expect very high mileage and quite rough. Typically in Wellington they get 7-10k in the dealers for nice ones.
Try going to
www.carjam.co.nz and type in your rego. You get a report on your wagon plus at the bottom you get an estimate of what an average car like yours would sell at Turners auctions which is a wholesale price.
Also everything you fix wont need fixing again. I had to make this decision a few years ago with the bighorn. Its hard justifying spending 1600 fixing a car which in good nic will only be worth 2k and it aint ever going to qualify as good nic again.
Sanding your knuckles before starting work can help. That way you cant skin them