Hi Coastal,<P>I was in the exact same position as you a few weeks ago and ended up buying the XC. <P>In general, I think you can get a better deal if the dealer has the car in stock, rather than ordering it or having the dealer try to locate the car you want. It's just easier for them to sell you a car they have on the lot, although I'm sure there are some dealers that will go out of their way for you and still give you a good price. <P>Once I decided I wanted the XC, I called dealers in my area until I found the dealer that had the color combination and options I wanted. I actually made the deal over the phone for 600 bucks (US) over invoice and picked up the car the next day. Honestly, I was a bit surprised myself at how easy the deal was to make. Of course, it was easy for the salesman, too, which he admitted when we finally met in person. He made a sale from a 10 minute phone call. So, to answer your question, yes, your dealer should definitely be willing to negotiate the price.<P>The other thing to keep in mind is the availablity of 2001.5 Passat Wagons. I don't know any dealer that has any in stock yet and when they do arrive I think you will have a harder time negotiating because of the limited supply. VW has a very strange and unreliable allocation process to dealers. The dealers are never quite sure what they will be getting or when they will arrive. (Just my experience - I also own a Jetta now and tried ordering a Passat wagon last year, without success.) But, I digress...<P>For me the difference in price between the two cars was about $5k US, which to me was worth it for the Volvo based on the difference in their warranties alone.<P>Anyway, I don't know if things work any differently in Canada, but that's my 2 cents and hope my thoughts and experiences help you make the right decision. Good luck.<P>Frank<P><BR>