Cobra Experience Cape Town

Disappointed

I booked the Cobra Experience as a birthday gift for my husband — we were very excited for the 8-hour self-drive on 13 September 2025. Unfortunately, the day turned out to be disappointing for several reasons: • Deposit transparency: Before booking, I repeatedly asked about deposits and was assured there was none, only a R10 000 excess in case of damage. Yet on the day, after signing paperwork, I was suddenly told to pay a R7 500 holding deposit. This was not stated anywhere before and only appeared on the website later. While I did receive the refund as promised, this should have been made clear upfront. • Route: We planned a 110 km route, but were told we could only drive Chapman’s Peak from one side due to previous damage incidents; this messed up our entire day’s plans. • Speedometer: The speedometer doesn’t function correctly (showing 40km/h even when the car is standing still). Considering the client is responsible for any speeding fines, this feels questionable. • Fuel policy: I was told beforehand we’d simply refill the fuel we used. On arrival, we were told we must add 15L for 55km or 27L for 110km, regardless of actual usage. When we asked about this policy, we were told some clients “have a heavy foot”. It is unfair for us to pay for a client’s “heavy foot”. • Car condition: The side mirrors were non-adjustable, making them impossible to use and making driving with only a small rear-view mirror difficult. The handbrake was disconnected (which makes the car legally un-roadworthy and unsafe), and the suspension made knocking sounds even on small bumps. These issues affected both safety and confidence in the car. • Staff attitude: The staff we dealt with seemed annoyed and somewhat condescending, which added to the negative experience. The overall experience made us decide to cut our day short and return the car after only 3 hours. On a positive note, the car’s interior was clean and neat. However, given the number of issues we encountered — from safety concerns to misleading information — I cannot recommend this company for a self-drive experience.