Rich (richgit with the blue and black 1.8T Mk2) works for VW and sold the first one at his branch yesterday, or so ive heard 
Unlikely. Spec and price have yet to be finalised. He may well have taken a deposit against one, but sold one? No.
Spec and cost won't be finalised until the car is officially released. Is due to be launched at Frankfurt in Q4
First cars will not appear in UK until Q1 of '06 at the earliest.
On the basis of spec (leather, xenons, 18's etc) there is no way the car will retail at £23k ( similarly specc'd GTi would cost more than that).
Expect a minimum list of £26k, but most likley £28k