Aston Martin offers a rare hypercar in its lineup, the Aston Martin Valkyrie , which boasts an incredible 1,155 horsepower and is equipped with an electric motor. This enables drivers to comfortably cruise through Low Emission Zones in various countries thanks to its ECO label .
As noted by Motorpasión, the catch is that this vehicle costs over three million euros , making it an unattainable dream for most car enthusiasts. For the few who managed to afford it, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare that nearly cost one person’s life.
A Gem with a Surprise
According to an article published by the German newspaper Handelsblatt, a wealthy German car enthusiast purchased one of the 150 units of the Aston Martin Valkyrie produced by the British firm in 2022 for three million euros . After driving just 441 kilometers , the owner expressed his frustration, stating, “I am fed up with Aston Martin.”
The troubles for this Valkyrie owner began almost immediately, with an electrical fault warning lighting up early in the journey. This is not the first case where this model has reported such faults, as it has been plagued by technical issues since even before it went on sale, as highlighted in reports by Bloomberg.
As if the misfortune of a new car malfunctioning wasn’t enough, damage occurred during its transport to the workshop for repairs.
Once repaired, the car exhibited another failure in the Rocket Locker system, which maintains consistent pressure in the car’s hydraulic suspension, preventing it from sagging when stationary for extended periods. The user claimed that this system malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to sink due to suspension loss . With every passing issue, he lamented the three million euros spent, stating that the Valkyrie had more flaws “than all my other cars combined.”
The Last Straw That Almost Cost Him His Life
However, the final straw came in 2024 when the owner nearly got hit by an ambulance racing down the street with sirens blaring. The deafening noise from the colossal 6.5-liter V12 engine, developed by Cosworth, drowned out the ambulance’s siren.
As the Valkyrie owner recounted, “only thanks to the swift action and driving skills of the ambulance driver was a fatal accident avoided.”
The acoustic insulation found in the Aston Martin hypercar is virtually non-existent, prompting the manufacturer to devise a headphone system connecting to external microphones. This setup is designed to cancel out noise from the roaring 12-cylinder engine while amplifying external sounds. Unfortunately, the system failed, and the Valkyrie owner did not perceive the presence of the ambulance until it was literally upon him.
Faced with this string of faults and Aston Martin’s refusal to acknowledge them, the millionaire decided to sue the brand, seeking to revoke the purchase, thereby requiring Aston Martin to buy back the vehicle. When confronted by the owner’s attorney, the company merely stated that the Valkyries are highly complex vehicles needing special service and careful handling and were delivered as “impeccable vehicles.”
Aston Martin mentioned that if the owner were to return the car, a discount of approximately 64,000 euros would be deducted for the 441 kilometers driven. This equates to around 145 euros per kilometer traveled.
Legal Jurisdiction Issues
Recently, the Valkyrie owner encountered a non-mechanical issue—an administrative one. His attorney filed the legal claim in a court in Aachen, Germany. However, Aston Martin argued that it should have been submitted through a UK court since the purchase occurred in that country, as stipulated in one of the purchase contract clauses.
The owner’s attorney contends that as a private European consumer, various consumer regulations permit the lawsuit to be filed in his residence’s jurisdiction, irrespective of the purchase country. Presently, after nearly three years of persistent technical failures , the hypercar dream cherished by many remains parked in the owner’s garage, untouched since the incident with the ambulance. It’s a cautionary tale – be careful what you wish for.
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Image | Aston Martin