Gulf Coast Mitsubishi claims that customers are there number one priority and they strive for 100% satisfaction, but like most businesses these days - it seems more like the political thing to say than an actual way of doing business. The salesman at Gulf Coast Mitsubishi was very anxious, bordered on being rude, but ultimately suckered me into buying the little blue Nissan Altima with the chrome rims. Sure, the rims were a bit flashy for my taste, and as a real estate broker, probably set the wrong impression, but it was something I was willing to live with and figured if it became an issue, then I could always remove them and replace with stock wheels later. Moving on with the story, I felt an obligation to use the salesman at Gulf Coast Mitsubishi because he was the one I talked to when I came in and gave me the sob story about how he just moved down here and was trying to “get himself together”, plus, as a man in sales myself, while i had the urge to say give me a different salesman, I still felt compelled to use this guy because he showed the initiative to approach me first.

Moving into the Sale:
While negotiating the deal, the salesman ran a bunch of numbers by me and promised to get me more for my trade than Allen Toyota would have. Allen Toyota offered me $18k, Gulf Coast Mitsubishi offered me $19k, but little did I know they were jacking up the price of the car I was looking at in the background. I know this because I ultimately ended up paying almost $15k for the vehicle when the online sales price, which I found later, was just under $14k, ultimately meaning they gave me the same thing Allen Toyota would have, but I know from several vehicle purchases through Allen Toyota that I would have probably came out better the other way - hind site is always 20/20, right?

The gripe about sales tricks aside, now we come to the vehicle itself. It was a rainy, overcast day when I purchased the vehicle, and spending almost 3 hours haggling didn’t help my ability to see any better, however, I did notice that the real taillight was busted and since there was a car bra on the vehicle, I had them put that they would buff the front end and replace the taillight. After putting me off several times, the service department was finally able to get me in several days later to get the front buffed out, but I have owned the car for over a month now and after numerous excuses have still yet to get a taillight for the vehicle.

To compound issues, when I got in the vehicle the day after bringing it home, I got to see all those things that you miss when buying a car in overcast, semi-night light. The inside of the vehicle was nasty - i actually felt nauseated that I drove home in that. It took me 4 hours, scrubbing the headliner with a water and bleach solution to get the stains off the ceiling and had to pressure wash the mats, and scrub the seats, upholstered/vinyled surfaces, and much more. You would have thought that detailing would have taken care of that but I later found out that their detail guy looks to be only about 20 years old and did not seem to have the greatest work ethic.

Did I mention that those rims I spoke about are a little too big for the vehicle and the low-profile tires actually scrape the wheel wells making the vehicle unsafe to drive? When I brought all of this to the attention of the sales and service staff, I was extremely unimpressed with their nonchalant attitudes and apologies that got nowhere. I know that had I bought this same vehicle from Allen Toyota, where I bought my last 3 or 4 vehicles, that I would not have had these problems.

At first, I thought that maybe I should give Gulf Coast Mitsubishi the benefit of the doubt, thinking that they cannot possibly do business like this and still succeed, but after a few inquiries with other dealers in the area and other people who have bought from Gulf Coast Mitsubishi, I realized that this seems to be more of a standard of practice than an isolated incident. At one point, while waiting for the service manager to get his stuff together to FINALLY order my taillight (this was at least two weeks ago, possibly longer), I met a couple of other customers who had similar experiences and heard the apologies from the service manager, assuring them this was not a regular occurrence, but this one guy, there with a friend, was waiting on his vehicle to be repaired (which he had to pay for) because the ignition switch went out only a couple of weeks after he bought his car. (I told him about this site in our conversation so hopefully he will see this and maybe comment below or email me through the site - I am curious as to how this played out).

Some basic tips if you just have to buy a car from them:

1. Check the online price before committing
2. Don’t deal with a pushy salesman, it is okay to request someone else (I have talked with another salesman out there that seems nice, his name is Leon Gavin - tell him Damion sent ya if you go)
3. Check comparable prices for similar vehicle from other dealerships such as Allen Toyota, Pat Peck Nissan/Honda or the numerous other dealerships in the area.
4. Don’t let trade-in value fool you - compare the bottom line
5. Be weary of companies that use hard sales tactics to loop you in

All in all, I like my car. It is much better on gas and very comfortable. I do feel that I could have gotten a better deal, and a better vehicle, had a did more shopping around, I will be switching the rims on my vehicle shortly ot the tune of about $2,000 and hopefully one day in the coming months, Gulf Coast Mitsubishi will be able to get me my new taillight.

I would be interested to hear other people’s experience with Gulf Coast Mitsubishi, whether they were sold a lemon, or if you believe you were scammed.

While earlier thoughts were that Steve Wynn was going to buy it or possibly that another major player would come in, there have been no “official” news of the situation. I contacted the Beau Rivage press office and got the “no response” which is so typical. My sources, which include several higher-ranking employees say that the sale has gone through and that the purchaser is Penn National Gaming, which also owns other casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Sources also stated that Penn has bought the Mirage as well.

I will be attempting to get more information on this soon as well as a definitive answer from either the Beau Rivage or Penn National Gaming. Until then, keep an eye out here for the latest information I am able to find.

[UPDATE]: According to the ReviewJournal, the deal with the Mirage was a no-go. I am still waiting to hear about the Beau. Based on user input and the lack of available information, I am leaning towards the fact that my sources may have jumped the gun. I am still waiting for an official response.

Everyone should wear shoes at all times when at the beach. Unfortunately not all beach goers clean up behind themselves and adhere to the “no glass rule”. This leaves your family vulnerable to dangerous litter. The tide also tends to wash up a few dead catfish on the beach. Catfish have a barb that is very sharp and will easily stab through or slice bare feet. Another fish that poses a danger for beach goers is the stingray. Stingrays are generally skittish and only sting if stepped on or provoked. The best way to avoid a painful sting is to slide your feet along the bottom of the water. This will allow you to kick any stingrays that are in your path and will send them scurrying away from you. The likelihood of getting stung is minute, but proactive measures of avoiding this painful experience are well worth the effort.

Children should never be allowed to play on any of the concrete culverts on the beach. They tend to be very slick and expose the children to a strong likelihood of a fall. Children should not play on rocks as they are unstable and usually just as slick as the culverts. Rocks also tend to have sharp edges that can cut feet and legs very easily. Fishing lures and hooks can also be present in the rocks and are especially dangerous to children during low tide when the rocks are more exposed.

Jellyfish are also a threat to beach enjoyment. While they aren’t as prevalent here as in many other areas, they do exist and seasonally can become a nuisance. Most fisherman who wade fish during a spike in the jellyfish population avoid the aggravating burning sensation of their stings by simply wearing jeans while wade fishing.

Remember to bring plenty of sun-tan lotion, your fishing poles, crab nets, cooler, blankets, and of course a bag for your trash. Please teach your children the importance of cleaning up behind themselves by helping them clean up a small area of the beach prior to turning them loose. This will help protect them from getting hurt and make them stewards of our great Gulf Coast beaches and the environment!

Following the wear your shoes rule will help ensure that your family will have a great time on your next beach trip!

Home prices in this subdivision start in the $130,000’s for a four-side-brick home with a 2 car garage. There are miles of walking trails, an Olympic size swimming pool, on-site daycare, a park & much more in this brand new subdivision. Mason Trendsetters is the custom builder currently building the popular subdivision and is well known for building a quality-affordable home.

Savanna Trails is a great subdivision for young families and is conveniently located to Keesler Air Force Base making it an outstanding option for Air Force personnel. The subdivision is also near historic downtown Ocean Springs where families can enjoy street shopping and dining at the ethnically diverse restaurants there.

For more information on homes available in Savannah Trails or to see pictures, please visit MSCoastRealty.com and use the “Search MLS” feature.

Established in 1927, Gulf Hills has long been an unparalleled community of Ocean Springs. Gulf Hills offers other amenities including a hotel and conference center and a large tennis court complex.

Homes in Gulf Hills usually start in the low $200,000’s and go up well over $1,000,000. Lot prices start in the $40,000s with waterfront lots selling at around $125.00 per linear foot. Gulf Hills real estate values have tremendous potential due to its incredible location and vast amenities.

For more information on homes available in this subdivision or to see pictures, please visit MSCoastRealty.com and use the “Search MLS” feauture. You can also find more detailed information on the subdivision itself there on MSCoastRealty.com.

Anatole Bay residents enjoy great access to the bay and Gulf. Located only 2 or 3 minutes from the white sand beach of Mississippi Sound, there are a wealth of shops and restaurants nearby and within walking distance.

Prices for townhomes in this community range from the high $170′000’s up to the $300,000’s. More inexpensive units are spacious and include more than 1400 square feet, balconies, a patio, and large kitchens. HOA dues are also inexpensive at $245 and include cable, trash, exterior insurance, grounds maintenance, along with water and power to your boatslip.

For more information on townhomes available in this community or to see pictures, please visit MSCoastRealty.com and use the “Search MLS” feature. You can also find detailed community information on Anatole Bay by by visiting MSCoastRealty.com.

Easy access to Interstate 10 (I-10) and the shopping at Crossroads Shopping Center, this subdivision is perfect for the person wanting easy access to all that Orange Grove has to offer while keeping a quiet atmosphere away from some of the noise and traffic of town. This subdivision is home to several Seabees as it is a straight shot down Canal Rd to the Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) in Gulfport, MS.

Home prices in this subdivision, at the time of this writing, start in the low $140k range and go upward to around $200k with other floor plans available and upgrades available through the builder, Mason Trendsetters. Mason Trendsetters is a custom builder but also builds “spec” homes in new subdivisions across the coast.

For more information on homes available in this subdivision or to see pictures, please visit MSCoastRealty.com and use the “Search MLS” feature.

BILOXI, MS (WLOX)-Gulf Coast housing advocates filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday over the controversial diversion of nearly $ 600,000,000 in HUD money to pay for port improvements.

The lawsuit was filed in Washington against the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and the current Secretary of Housing. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say it’s time to hold HUD accountable for what they say is an illegal diversion of funds.

Local attorney Reilly Morse is among the lawyers for the plaintiffs, which include the Gulf Coast Housing Center, Mississippi State Conference NAACP and four individuals: two home owners and two renters.

The lawsuit contends that $ 570,000,000 allocated for port improvements should have been spent to increase affordable housing post-Katrina.

“The most basic thing is that employers aren’t able to fill jobs here now because there is not enough housing,” said Morse.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast attorney and housing advocate has long argued that those millions of dollars diverted for port improvements, should be paying for affordable housing instead.

The lawsuit says HUD Secretary Alfonso Jackson erred in saying he lacked the discretion to review it.

“He said if he’d had that discretion, he would have turned this down and required Mississippi to spend more on lower income housing needs. We think Secretary Jackson was mistaken. He did have that discretion and we’re asking the court to look at that issue,” said Morse.

“This suit is not about telling the State of Mississippi what to do. It’s about telling HUD that it had an obligation under its own rules that it set, where certain things had to be, certain requirements had to be met before HUD could say yes state, you can use the funds. They didn’t do that here,” said plaintiff attorney Jim Wodarski.

You may recall this controversy attracted national attention this year. In early May, some members of Congress held a hearing questioning the diversion of HUD funding to the port. Then, in late June, the New York Times ran an editorial criticizing the allocation of funding.

Yolanda Howze is a member of the legal team representing the plaintiffs.

“When these kind of funds have been dispensed to the state, we want to make sure that the funds are used for the purpose they were intended for. Here, that purpose was housing, not commercial development,” she said.

“This is pro housing. And it is also not anti the concept of the port, it’s talking solely about the financing of it. How it’s being paid for,” says Morse.

The plaintiff lawyers say it’s likely the issue will be resolved out of court.

“We’re hoping like with all litigation, we’ll file it and create a context in which we can have an immediate and constructive dialogue with all the parties and try to find some way to resolve this as quickly as possible,” said Wodarski.

Port of Gulfport director Don Allee had no comment, at least until the port’s lawyer has a chance to review the lawsuit.

Governor Haley Barbour did make a statement.

“The port project has been part of the recovery plan detailed in November 2005 to the Congress, Administration, Mississippi legislature and the news media. It’s always been in the plan. Restoration of the Port of Gulfport is critical to recovery of the Gulf Coast from the worst natural disaster in American history,” said the governor.

The federal government has two months to respond to the lawsuit.

What are your thoughts?

The Haunted Trail is one of those places you can go back to over and over because things change up from one night to the next and you never know where the boogie-man is going to be that will get your adrenaline running next.

It all starts at the Success Fire Department (on School Rd., Saucier) where you take a hay ride, pulled by an old tractor down tot he starting point where most visitors are welcomed by real gun shots. yes, I said real gun shots - remember we are in the woods in Saucier Mississippi. From there, you are greeted with the story line (plot) and lead through the trail by a guide who can tell you the story but may not even know where the next “BOO” is coming from.

While I can’t give you all the spooky details, I can say that it is a great place to spend about an hour and have a good time.

The Haunted Trail is open Friday and Saturday nights through Halloween and is easy to find on School Rd., Saucier, MS (C’mon - you know how to MapQuest, right?).