Fiat spotting in Ghana

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Fiat spotting in Ghana

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Hi,
I’ve been in sunny Ghana in West Africa for nearly two weeks and have been indulging in a bit of Fiat spotting. There are far more modern cars in Ghana than when I first visited 8 years ago. It seems that Fiat hare no longer popular. The list so far (in order of popularity) is:
Tipo (classic) 6 + 2 "spares", 4 were taxis
Punto Mk1 4, 3 were taxis
Cinquecento 1
Croma ie (classic) 1
Brava 1
Marea Weekend 1
Multipla 1
Albea 1
500 1 (Modern, being repaired).

Strange to see old Fiats still earning their keep as taxis. Most newer taxis are micro mpvs /city cars like the Daewoo / Chevrolet Matiz and Hyundai Atos. Opel are also popular along with Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia. More American cars are seen along with a smattering of unknown Chinese/Indian and Korean models.
Don’t think about coming to buy an old car for restoration, they are generally well used and driving here is a semi contact sport. Most are imported second hand and many will have been written off after accidents in their original country. Maintenance is “creative”. The friend we are staying with has an ex Netherlands Suzuki Ignis. On my last trip, two years ago, I did a few repairs and noted that the air filter was almost completely blocked. I showed the owner how to change it and when I got home bought one and sent it to her. This time she had a MIL showing and very poor performance. I took the filter cover off and there was the old filter from two years before. She still had the new one in its box. Apparently her mechanic said it didn’t need changing! I fitted the filter and cleared the MIL and apparently it drives much better now.
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Robert G8RPI.
 
Hi,
Sorry no pictures. The spotting was mostly done on the move and all the Fiats bar the 500 were moving. Even if I had a camera ready the traffic is so chaotic that getting a shot would be near impossible. Just spotting and confirming model was difficult. The Fiat count went up on my last day by one Punto and one Albea/Palio neither in Taxi colours.
Back home now and the Chroma started first turn dispite the snow and sitting for two tw.o weeks.

Robert G8RPI.
 
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