So...ordering a GM Theta?

You answered your own question...it's harder to negotiate on price when making a special order since the dealer doesn't get the same kind of discount versus making an order of several at a time. The advantage is that you get exactly the color/options that you want....as long as you order one of the higher trim levels. For example: you can't order a base LS with options such as foglights, nav and leather....and I believe there are restrictions on the LT1 as well. If you have a good dealership that values your business...they will do the legwork and find a dealership somewhere within reasonable driving distance that has what you want...and do a swap with them.

Also, the biggest disadvantage of special ordering is that you may have to wait weeks or even months before you actually take possession.

The first car that I special ordered , it came through without a hitch, the first time. It turned out to be one of the best car I ever owned. That was a long time ago. The next time I did it, a VW no less, it came through just as I wanted, but the car was a disappointment with quality issues. The third time, a Chrysler product came through with the wrong engine.. I reodered the car and it came through with the wrong interior. That was the last time I did a special order. I was able to go next door to a Pontiac dealership to find a duplicate of what the Chrysler was to be right on the lot. ( It was the last time I ever looked at a Chrysler product) The next few new cars I found were cars on the lot with what I wanted.

My current car, an 06 HHR, I found on the lot with what I had been priceing out on line, so I bougt it. Currently I'm researching for its replacement. The NOX and Terrain are two that I'm looking at, but there have been limited numbers on the lots that have what I want and the dealers are reluctant to "deal" on these model. I'm also looking at some of the Korean cars as their prices are considerably lower than either the NOX and Terrain, plus their MPG claims seem to be obtainable. The comments on MPG for the NOX and Terrain seem to not meet the EPA claims by just about all the owners who post of this forum. Maybe I expect too much, but the gas mileage for my cars has been better than the EPA ratings for the past twenty five years.