Doug Demuro always sounds to me like he's deliberately playing a character, loosely based on Emo Philips: The way his voice rises and drops at completely the wrong moments and places is just annoying - God forbid that that is actually how he really talks!
It could have been left simply latch-able, without a lock , but that would not have helped prevent fuel theft. Pininfarina decided that the simplest way to latch the the louvres AND lock off the fuel filler was with the locking latch.
Both louvres needed to be lockable for the points I've mentioned above and probably also to comply with international design rules for every country too.
I saw him being interviewed on a podcast and he spoke normally. I found him very informed and interesting... without the weird antics. But I suppose the antics gives him views for the young folk.
So please explain, using your superior and irrefutable logic, why the left side louver on the GTB doesn't lock.
Wrong. Again. https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1983_ferrari_308-gtb-quattrovalvole_1983_ferrari_308-gtb-quattrovalvole_53de605b-4042-4ec3-8b9c-4b70da72c6ed-zMExcd-81227-81228-scaled.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365 https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1983_ferrari_308-gtb-quattrovalvole_1983_ferrari_308-gtb-quattrovalvole_ce90e794-1447-428d-8034-b2740cbe20a6-6c5Tf2-81236-81237-scaled.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365 https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1977_ferrari_308-gtb_1977_ferrari_308-gtb_Web-40305-77-Ferrari-308-84-25401-6PfDgf-25673-25673.jpg?fit=2048%2C1152 https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1977_ferrari_308-gtb_1977_ferrari_308-gtb_Web-40305-77-Ferrari-308-85-25396-DRL68m-25677-25677.jpg?fit=2048%2C1152 https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1976_ferrari_308-gtb-vetroresina_image-2024-04-08T144219.224-02167-scaled.jpeg?fit=2048%2C1368 https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1976_ferrari_308-gtb-vetroresina_image-2024-04-08T144213.237-02161-scaled.jpeg?fit=2048%2C1368 I have a few more examples I can reference if you feel these don't provide a representative sample. - Dave
Fortunately, it's not the way he really talks. And I think the video you posted is very accurate! He likely is just playing a character. He has another channel that's basically just a vlog where him and a couple of other guys talk about cars, or there's also several interviews he's done on other channels and in those (as well as his other channel) Doug talks and acts like a perfectly normal human being (and not the weird character in his car review videos).
Since you insist on attacking me over something that's absolutely dumb, here you go. The OP posted a link to a video about a 308. You (and a couple of other folks) decided you should say how much you hate Doug. That's fine, I don't think anyone really cares, but if that's what floats your boat, then go for it. But you didn't just stop with your personal take on the video, instead you kept going with bashing him for a design element that (quite frankly) is baffling. There's literally no reason for that louvre to lock. I come in and explain who the target audience is for his videos and happen to agree with him that the locking louvre is pretty weird. What did you do then? That's right you attacked me (and by proxy anyone else who may enjoy his videos) by calling me "stupid". Oh wait, let me use your exact words because you can't comprehend that different words or phrases can mean the same thing: "You're very defensive of a guy many with any intelligence consider to be an absolute joke." Active words: "any intelligence" - because you think he's a joke thus anyone who thinks differently must be stupid. Real mature. Then you list three reasons why this louvre needs to be locked: "A/ walk past and pull it open till it brakes [sic] off." Okay, well, that lock isn't stopping anybody. It's a cheap little lock. Give it a good enough tug, or maybe use a screwdriver, and you'll break it right off. It's a theft "deterrent" not theft proof. "B/ needs to be secure enough not to accidentally open during hard cornering" LOL - First off, you know how many vintage Italian cars have seen their doors, hood, trunks, etc., just come open why they're driving? Italians weren't very good at securing things back then. Second, there's plenty of ways to secure a light-weight inconsequential louvre to a car without it accidentally opening. "C/ adds to the symmetry of the car." This one's even funnier than your other reasons. Symmetry? Is that what you're going with? What about all the cars that only had a driver's side mirror because that's all that was required (and that includes some 308s). Not very symmetrical as there wasn't one on the passenger side. Or the Bertone badge that is only on the passenger side of a 308 GT4. That's not very symmetrical either. Or the only gas door on one side of the car for the majority of Ferraris. That's not symmetrical. Or what about the Ferrari Monza SP1, that thing only has a driver side and the passenger side is sealed off… not to mention the huge bump behind the driver (like on almost every old race car). That's definitely not symmetrical. That lock isn't there for symmetry. Then, you tried to make a point about a "clip" not being strong enough to hold bonnets, doors, or trunks closed or unable to open without key… First off, that's a really lame comparison as there's things in those spaces of your car that can be stolen or vandalized, unlike the louvre on a 308 which conceals absolutely nothing. But I responded that they do indeed "clip" into place and no key is needed. To which you thought you were being real clever when you replied with "safety latches" - essentially thinking I'm an idiot for using the word "clip". Let's look at how I used that word: "…why does it need a lock? It could just clip in place." In that context, "clip" and "latch" are 100% interchangeable. I wasn't describing the mechanism used to hold it in place, I was describing the action which occurs when securing it in place. Anyone with any intelligence would know that a "clip" (in the context I used) is an action and not a mechanism (see what I did there?). There's literally hundreds of latching mechanisms that "clip" securely and hold whatever it is they're meant be holding. For example, open up your bonnet and you'll see things like electrical cables that "clip" together, yet if you need to disconnect them you have to pull or push a little—wait for it—latch for them to open. There's tiny little latch/clips like that, and big strong latch/clips with safety features that hold bonnets and doors closed. In hindsight I should have just said "It could just latch in place" but I honestly didn't think you were that dim. I stand corrected. But, let's entertain your view for a moment. You went on to pretend like no "clip" could possibly hold that lightweight louvre (that's also secured to the car at one end) in place. Did you know that there's suction cups that hold heavy duty cinema cameras to cars? Did you know that even consumer level gear like GoPro also utilizes suction cups and/or adhesives to secure their gear to cars? All those suction cups and adhesive mounts all have a "clip" system that hold these cameras in place (that is a little mechanism that "clips" into place much like the electrical connections mentioned above—just a different design). Those systems are used by many hobbyists and many professionals filming things like, I don't know, car races. So, yeah, I think there's a "clip" that could easily hold your stupid little louvre in place with very little effort. Side note: The first two years I owned my car, my door locks didn't work. Wherever I went, my doors were left unlocked and windows left down. Most people aren't going to mess with the car because they literally don't want to break anything because they think they can't afford to get it fixed. Those who are going to mess with your car… well, let's put it this way: a lock on a louvre isn't going to stop them. But something that was incredibly laughable is when you replied to someone else with this: "Both louvres needed to be lockable for the points I've mentioned above and probably also to comply with international design rules for every country too." International design rules? There's no such thing. I mean, there are safety standards and requirements that all auto manufacturers must comply with that are set to an international minimum and some countries (like the US) require more safety features than other countries. But louvre locks would not be one of those safety things. But "international design rules" that would say (read this in Doug's voice) "You must have a matching lock on the other side of your car even if it serves no purpose!" simply don't exist. It's not a thing. And don't try to say it's for symmetry here either because there's no "rule" anywhere that says a car has to be symmetrical. Also, asymmetry is a really big and prevalent design element in most things. Mock all you want, Mark R, I stopped earlier because no one really cares and it's just semantics. But you decided to call me back.
I've read your posts before Christopher. You've bought a 308 GT4 a few years ago and act like you own the place. If I never have to see another photo of a Pino Verde 308 GT4 post it will be too soon. You were also very dogmatic insisting that the 308 GT4 is not one of the unloved step children of the Ferrari family and that anyone with a different view (and the second hand monetary values) are all wrong. I don't have the time to write an essay above pointing out all your flaws in your response so I won't be responding. Enjoy Doug Demuro. I'm not at all surprised that you would find him entertaining or witty.
Agreed, so bland Doug Even Hoovie undestands he needs something to separate hisself and that is attractive to view soHoovie has brought the beautiful blonde to his show rather than to look at The Hoovie. Doug is not easy on the eyes, the ears, or facts.
Where did you get that from? Yes, I champion the 308 GT4 because (in my opinion) it's one of the best Ferraris ever made. But its "unloved" and "step-child" status is not lost upon me (that's one of the very reasons I wanted one—most of my favorite cars are the "unloved" model for their marque). I've written so much about it being an unloved and overlooked Ferrari, including on my own website—and it's even in print in Classic Motorsports Magazine. You can hold whatever opinion of me or the car that you want, but don't spread lies about me. Okay?
Tell us your thoughts on the context in this vid please . Ps - nothing wrong with Chris’s enthusiasm about his F car . Imho there’s significant justification.
I am gonna jump in here and say it - this whole argument is pretty stupid. It's going down a rabbit hole of facts that It was clearly said at the beginning - the reviewer serves a larger audience - probably why we are even commenting on it, because DD is youtube famous. Nearly all of the presenters get facts wrong or don't know what we would know. Yes he can be/is annoying, but that is his shtick. He knows it and knows it grabs views. He's not like that in real life - I've met him a couple of times at local events. That's his business. I am glad it's not mine. Whether anybody likes the guy is personal preference, and nobody will ever win that argument. No need to be directly insulting. Nobody "owns" this space. Trying to joust with someone who doesn't care what you have to say is pointless. We are all wrong at times and it is a matter of character of how one stands "corrected". If you don't like someone, you can block their content, click on their profile and click "ignore". This space is supposed to be here so we can help each other with our cars. This is one of the best model groups because we actually work on our cars, not just talking about how we spec them. What I will say - maybe there's a person or kid out there that didn't know about 308's and now they do, regardless of any inaccuracies. Maybe now they want one or shared it with a friend who now does, because they saw that annoying video. I think that's a good thing.
The one I like is JayEmm. When he reviews the 328 and others he does not claim to be the super expert one but he brings you along the journey of learning about them Plus the qaint British accent and demeanor is so easy to listen to
Couldn't agree more. I said the same on here some time ago. Sheesh, I got some abuse off one individual !!
I think it would be fair to say, his presentation style isn't universally liked over here in the UK (and that's an understatement ...) Try Harry Metcalfe chatting about his his Vetroresina :
