Have you considered shopping out of town? That's how I bought my first bike-- none of the bike shops in my town carried my size, and I was feeling impatient. One should fit in your average medium-sized sedan. Look for a shop that's not smack in the center of town, one that has lots of safe room for a test ride.
I bought my Raleigh Cadent for $450 on sale, but that was before taxes and accessories.