Does it ever make financial sense to purchase a new vehicle solely because of repairs?

I hear people all the time say they got a new (not brand new, but new to them) car because they needed such and such repairs done. To me, it never makes sense to buy a new car just because of repairs. In most cars the repair will be cheaper than a different car. Even a major repair like a new transmission is cheaper than a used car. To me, a new car is viable when your family dynamics change (kids) or purely luxury purchase with cash.