I recently ordered a 2005 SWB. The dealer told me that he didn't yet have the prices for the 2005 models, but that he could put in an order. I told him to go ahead and do so. Put down a $2k deposit. I figure that if I'm sufficiently eager that I want to both customer order my options and also want to be the first to have one of the 2005's, then I'm pretty much at the dealer's mercy when it comes to price. I'll probably pay full sticker? I suppose I was asking for this. But is there any room for give and take here? Obviously I'm willing to splurge, but I'd rather not throw money away if I don't have to.
Any guidance for a negotiating strategy here?

...before you plunk down a deposit. Even if prices are unknown, you can always negotiate "$$ over/under invoice" etc.....

It is a little late now unless you can get your deposit back and you ordered the SWB with unusual options that nobody else would want (lime green exterior with hot pink interior...).

...so if the dealer wants to try to do well by me (while also maintaining the sticker price on the new car), he can offer me a good price on the trade. I suppose I'm relying on his desire to do well by a repeat customer. "CEB"'s advice is good, for those of you out there in similar situations: I should have negotiated some amount or percentage above/below invoice/sticker before putting down the deposit.

Doubt it would be non-refundable and would be the source of your bargaining power. Best thing to do is to go back soon and start negotiating your price. Get an idea of what you're willing to pay over invoice and nail it down in writing ASAP. If the dealer refuses, politely request your deposit back and move on to the next dealer.

no deposit that i've ever given was over $500. and you must also make sure that it is refundable. if not, walk away.

on the other hand, if you getting a ferrari 360, I would have no problem with you forking over a $5K non-refundable deposit ;) totally a different breed of car... them scuderia ferraris :D

a fixed price is interesting. Under these conditions would a dealer give you a good price because getting one on the road will help him sell more later (and get more product from the manufacture), or, is the price going to be unreasonably high because he knows you want one soooo bad plus a buyer has virtually no other product and dealers to negotiate with? The answer has to be the latter. For those of us who want a specific car NOW and have no Patience, pay a big price.

If your dealer sells new Audis over MSRP, fire him and find one that sells at MSRP. There are plenty around. E-mail me and I'll give you a list of 4 or 5 who will deal with you straight. there's no reason to deal with that kind of crap.

Hi, "tt966go". I have no reason to believe that the dealer intends to try to sell me the car above MSRP. My problem is (and it was my own fault) that in my enthusiasm to get my hands on one of these new cars, I went ahead and placed the order. The dealer made it clear to me that he didn't yet know the prices for the 2005s. Having given the dealer both a deposit and my word, I pretty much have to buy this car from this dealer, and don't have much of a negotiating position: I'm sort of stuck paying MSRP or at whatever the dealer wants to sell it at. Clearly if it's over MSRP, I can cry foul. But I would have thought I could do well below MSRP, but I probably blew my chance to negotiate this.

Rex,

Typically, new cars in their first year of release don't go much below MSRP. Audi dealers, in general don't put premiums on the cars. A dealer here in Seattle used to add a 'second sticker', untill he realized that he was losing business to the 3 other dealers in the area, who were selling at, or slightly below MSRP.
I hope your dealer plays it straight with your order.

Robin