Selfish drivers shamed on Facebook for parking across two bays to PROTECT their beloved motors
Luke Varley is among a host of motorists who found a picture of his vehicle on a Facebook group named "Parking like a t***" after he left it positioned squarely in the middle of two spaces
SELFISH petrolheads have been shamed on Facebook for parking across two bays to protect their beloved cars.
Luke Varley is among motorists who found a picture of his car on a Facebook group named "Parking like a t***" after he left it positioned across two spaces.
But the 24-year-old, from Doncaster, South Yorks, admits he deliberately parks his £16,000 Astra GTR VXR in that way to prevent it being damaged by "clowns who can't park".
The shop assistant said he's not alone either and that several of his friends are using the trick to stop their cars getting scratched or dented by other drivers.
Fellow motorist David Bellis, 32, received a note on his car that read "P***k, learn how to park" when he left his BMW I Series worth £24,500 over two spaces, after being inspired to take up the tactic by petrolhead pals.
And mum-of-three Jessica Windsor, who spotted Luke's vehicle straddling two spaces at a supermarket car park and shared it on social media, claims she's seen other vehicles parked in the same manner in other places in the town.
Luke said: "I park like that every time if I am staying somewhere for any length of time. If I am nipping in a shop for a couple of minutes I might not do it, but if I know I'm going to be a while then I will do it.
"If there was a real shortage of bays available then I might not do it as I would see why people would get annoyed.
"I can see why people get annoyed when they see it. Someone who just can't park properly is annoying but that's not what I'm doing.
"People complain at me and I tell them I have not put it in a disabled bay or anything and it's not harming anyone as there are spaces free anyway.
"I have had comment from people who say things to my face as I walk away from the car but I generally just ignore it. I'm not bothered about what they have to say.
"Parking like that does work. However it does worry me as someone could be vindictive and deliberately scratch your car as friends have had that happen to them.
"I usually try to park near CCTV cameras so that might put people off doing that."
Luke's Vauxhall Astra, which boasts 280bhp and goes from 0-60mph in 5.9seconds, guzzles £50 in petrol money every week.
On top of the £16,000 already spent on the second-hand car, Luke has splashed hundreds more on tinting the lights and windows. He has also had the roof wrapped in black.
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Luke said: "Speed and power was what I bought it for. It is a performance car. And it looks great.
"It was with my old Astra that I started parking like this as I used to park normally but after washing it I noticed that it had really bad scratches and dents on the side of it. I realised it was from being parked in car parks – but no one was leaving a note.
"It really annoyed me. I wasn't having it any more, especially not with my new car when it was £16,000 as a scratch or dent can really damage the look of the car.
"A lot of the time it's because they don't even care about their own car. If they don't give a damn about their own, or know how to drive it, they certainly won't care about denting yours.
"They can't drive properly or park properly.
"If I bumped someone's car like that I would check the damage and even if I couldn't see any I would leave a note with my details and an apology. Not all damage is visible straight away.
"The car is definitely my pride and joy, absolutely. Everyone knows me as a real car enthusiast.
"I always turn heads and it is one of those cars that everyone looks at. It surprises a few BMW and Audi drivers with its speed too."
Jessica, a 37-year-old cleaner, who was out shopping when she spotted Luke's Astra, said she understands why he does it but does not condone it.
Jessica, also from Doncaster, said: "To be honest I have had my car scratched in car parks when parked in normal parking bays and if you own a posh car then I can see where they are coming from.
"But I wouldn't say it's a good idea. If everyone did that it would be chaos.
"Someone could choose to get revenge on you if they think you're parking like that to be lazy. We are in Doncaster and there are some nasty people about.
"I think older people will definitely be more likely to take offence to it."
David Bellis, who works on off shore wind turbines and lives in Prestatyn, North Wales, says he parks over two bays all the time – despite fellow motorists leaving angry notes on his car.
David said: "Twice in the past I have had chips in the door. I have had to get the door resprayed costing £110 each time.
"It's really annoying as I don't know who has done it. No one takes any care whatsoever so I park like this now to make sure it can't happen.
"I had seen other people doing and asked them about it and they explained why. So I thought I would do it too. At first I thought they were just being lazy – but now even my mates are doing it.
"When I got the note on the car calling me a p***k for parking like that I just had to laugh. I take it in good humour. I don't let things like that annoy me.
"I think they wanted me to be upset – they must have been fuming.
"If I had got chance to speak to them I would explain about the damage that people have done and how I don't want that to happen again. I like to think they wold understand me if I explained."
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